This document provides information about rising and falling intonation patterns in English. It discusses how intonation is used to convey meaning and emotion. There are two main intonation patterns: falling intonation, where the voice falls at the end of a sentence, and rising intonation, where the voice rises at the end. The document outlines when each pattern is used, such as for statements versus questions. It also provides examples of intonation used for different types of sentences and question tags. Sample dialogues are included to practice applying intonation.
3. A.) Introduction to intonation.
Intonation and stress are closely linked. In fact ıt’s
ımpossible to dissociate them. They go hand in hand.
Intonation is about how we say things , rather
than what say , the way the voice rises and falls when
speaking , in other words the music of the language.
Just as words have stressed syllaables , sentences have
regular patterns of stressed word. In addition , the
voice tends to rise , fall or remain flat depending on the
meaning or feeling we want to convey ( surprise , anger
, interest , boredom , gratitude , etc.) Intonation
therefore indicates the mood of the speaker.
4. B.) The two main intonation patterns.
There are two basic patterns of intonation in
English.
Falling Intonation
Rising Intonation
5. In the following examples a
downward arrow indicates a
fall in intonation and an upward
arrow indicates a rise in
intonation .
6. Falling Intonation
The pitch of the voice falls at the end of the
sentence. Falling intonation is the most
common intonation pattern in English.
It is commonly found in statements ,
commands, wh-questions( information
questions) , confirmly question tags and
exclamations.
7. Rising Intonation
The pitch of the voice rises at the end of the
sentence. Rising intonation invites the speaker
to continue talking . It is normally used with
yes/no questions , and question tags that are
real questions.
8. C.) The rules of both types of
intonation.
• Rising Voice at the End of a Question:
If the question is a yes / no question , the
voice rises at the end of a question.
• Do you like living in Portland?
• Have you lived here a long time ago?
• Did you visit your friends last month?
9. • Falling Voice at the End of a Question:
If the question is an information – in other
words , if you are asking a question with
“where , when , which , why , what/ what kind
of ……” and questions with “how” let your
voice fall at the end of a question.
• Where are you going to stay on vocation?
• When did you arrive last night?
• How long have you lived in this country?
10. •Question Tags
• Question Tags are used to either confirm
information or to ask for clarification. The
intonation is different in each case.
• Question Tags to Confirm:
If you think you know something , but would
like to confirm it , let the voice fall in the
question tag.
• You live in Seattle , don’t you?
• This is easy , isn’t it?
11. • Qustion Tags to Ask for Clarification:
When using a question tag to clarify , let the
voice rise to let the listener know that you
expect more information.
• Peter isn’t going to be at the party ,is he?
• You understand your role , don’t you?
• We aren’t expected to finish the report by
Friday , are we?
12. •End of Sentences:
The voice usually falls at the end of
sentences. However , when making a short
statement with a word that is only one syllable
the voice rises to express happiness , shock ,
approval , etc.
• That’s great !
• I’m free!
• I bought a new car.
13. When making a short statement with a word
that is more than one syllable ( multi-syllabic)
the voice falls.
• Mary is happy.
• We’re married.
• They’re exhausted.
14. •Commas:
We also use a specific type of intonation when
using commas in a list . Let’s take a look at an
example:
Peter enjoys playing tennis , swimming , hiking ,
and biking.
In this example , the voice rises after each item
in the list. For the final item , let the voice fall. In
other words , “tennis , swimming , and hiking” all
rise intonation. The final activity “ , biking ,” falls
in intonation.
15. D.) Example Sentences.
• Statements:
Nice to meet you.
I’ ll be back in a minute.
She doesn’t live here anymore.
Dad wants to change his car.
Here is the weather forecast.
We should work together more often.
I’m going for a walk in the park.
16. • Commands:
Write your name here.
Show me what you’ve written.
Leave it on the desk.
Take that picture down.
Throw that out.
Put your books on the table.
Take your hands out of your pockets.
17. • Wh- questions ( requesting information):
Questions beginning with “who , what , why ,
where , when , which and how”
What country do you come from?
Where do you work?
Which of them do you prefer?
When does the shop open?
How many books have you bought?
Which coat is yours?
Whose bag is this ?
18. • Question Tags that are statements requesting
confirmation rather than question:
Not all tag questions are really questions.
Some of them merely ask for confirmation or
invite agreement , in which case we use a
falling tone at the end.
He thinks he’s so clever , doesn’t he?
She’s such a nuisance , isn’t she ?
I failed the test because ı didn’t revise , did ı?
It doesn’ t seem to bother him much , does it?
19. • Exclamations:
How nice of you!
That’s just what ı need!
You don’t say !
What a beautiful voice !
That’ s a surprise !
• Yes / No Questions: Questions that can be
answered by “yes” or “no”.
Do you like your new teacher?
Have you finished already?
May ı borrow your dictionary?
20. • Questions Tags that show uncertainly and
require an answer (real questions)
We’ ve met already , haven’t we?
You like fish , don’t you?
You’ re a new student , aren’t you ?
The view is beautiful , isn’t it ?
21. E.) An Example Dialogue to Practise
the Intonation Patterns with Students.
• What’ s your name?
A: What’s your name ?
B: John Wood.
A: Where are you from?
B: New Zealand.
A: What do you do?
B: I’m a medical student.
Possible contexts: you are in a disco , one is trying
to pick the other one up; you are at airport
customs and have something illegal in your bag ;
you are a prisoner of war.
22. • You’re fired
A: ( knocks on the door)
B: Come in.
A: Hello , You wanted to see me?
B: Yes. Do you know why ı’ve called you ?
A: No.
B: Can you explain this? (shows a piece of paper)
A: But ı thought you said it wasn’t important.
B: You’re fired.
A: Fine , ı hated this job anyway.
Possible emotions and / or contexts: you’re nervous,
happy ,sad, afraid of the other ; you are a bit deaf.
Further speculation could be done on what the job
was, what the person had done wrong etc.
23. • I’m going to have a baby
A: I have something ı need to tell you.
B: What is it?
A: I’m going to have a baby.
B: No.
Possible contexts: you are a couple who has
been trying to have a baby for three years ;
you are a 16 year old girl confessing to your
mother ; you are a very old couple.
24. • Say something
A: Well , are you going to say something?
B: What do you want me to say?
A: I don’t know , anything .
B: I have nothing to say.
A: Nothing?
B: That’s right.
Possible contexts / emotions: you are in love ,
afraid , angry ; you are two criminals trapped
in prison ; you are in a courtroom ; you are
talking to your boss on the phone.
