Basic Emphasis Pattern (1):

Content Words
English speakers use a basic pattern for emphasis when reading or
speaking. If you get to use this pattern correctly, you will:

 Hear them better,

 Understand their speech better, and
 Be understood better.

Basic Emphasis Pattern (1)

Nouns Main verbs Adverbs Adjectives Question
Words
Content cat eat slowly pretty who
Words male quit quickly ugly where
truck clean nicely normal when

Pronouns Prepositions Articles “to be” Conjunctions

verbs
I in the is and
Structure you into a am but
Words Auxiliary on an are so
verbs at was yet
can over were
could of

Content words are easier to hear because they are given extra
emphasis on the sentence.

Examples:

1. This is a cat.
2. What does it eat?
3. Please come quickly.
4. You did excellent work.
5. Why did you write the letter.