Two-syllable

nouns and
adjectives

Examples

Your examples
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In most two syllable nouns and LEARning

adjectives, the first syllable
SEAted
takes on the stress.
ADvice
STUdent

Two-syllable verbs and
Examples
prepositions

In most two syllable verbs and reCEIVE

prepositions the stress is on the adVISE
second syllable.
aLONG
beTWEEN

Three-syllable in -er, -or, -ly

Your examples

Examples

Your example

The stress is placed on the first DIRector

syllable.
ORderly
MANager

Three-syllable words end in -y Examples

Your examples

If there is a word that ends in a RArity

consonant or in a -y, then the HOliday
first syllable gets the stress.
BAkery

suffix tells its own stress story Examples

Your examples

The stress is on the syllable just -able: ADDable, DURable

before the suffix. This applies -ary: PRIMary, DIary, liBRary
to words of all syllable lengths. -cial: juDIcial, nonSOcial
-cian: muSIcian, phySIcian
-ery: BAkery, SCENery
-graphy: bibliOgraphy
-ial: iniTIal, juDICial
-ian: coMEdian, ciVILian
-ible: viSIble, terRIble, reSIstible
-ic: plaTOnic, synTHEtic
-ical: MAgical, LOgical, CRItical
-ics: diaBEtics, paediAtrics
-ion: classifiCAtion, vegeTAtion
-ity: imMUnity, GRAvity, VAnity
-ium: HElium, ALUminum
-imum: MInimum, OPtimum
-logy: BIology, CARdiology
-tal: caPItal, reCItal

Words ending in ee, ese, ique, Examples

ette

Your examples
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The primary stress is actually

placed on the suffix.

-ee: jamborEE, guarantEE

-eer: sightsEER, puppetEER
-ese: JapanESE, cheESE
-ette: cassETTE
-ique: unIQUE, critIQUE

Prefixes

Examples

Your examples
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Usually, the prefix does not

take the stress, but there are
exceptions.

ex: EXample, EXplanation

in: INside, INefficient, INterest
mis: MIStake, MISspelled
pre: PREcede, PREliminary

Stress on the penultimate

syllable (count back two)

Examples

Your examples
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You put stress on the second

syllable from the end of the
word, with words ending in ic,
sion, tion, cy, ty.

iCONic
exTENsion
nuTRItion
demoCRAcy
TREAty

Stress on the anti-penultimate Examples

syllable (count back three)

Your examples
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You put stress on the second

geOgraphy
syllable from the end of the
ALlergy
word, with words ending in gy, NAUtical
phy, and al.