Falling tone

The falling tone is used at the end of statements (It's \nice.), special questions (What \happened?),
commands (\Call him.), exclamatory sentences (How \nice!), in the first part of tag questions (He
\works, \doesn't he?), and in the last part of alternative questions (Do you /study or \work?).
The falling tone expresses finality, completeness, confidence. The falling tone begins on the last
stressed syllable of the sentence and goes down (much deeper than in Russian), ending near the
bottom of the normal speaking range.
The fall takes place within the last stressed syllable: Tom is my \friend. If there are unstressed
syllables after the final stressed syllable, they are pronounced on the same low level where the fall
ends: Tom is a \journalist.
In many cases you can use the normal falling tone instead of the high fall and low fall.
Rising tone

The rising tone is used at the end of general questions (Is she /here?), in requests (Could you /help
me?), at the end of introductory phrases beginning the sentence (As /usual, he was \late.), in the first
part of alternative questions (Is it /short or \long?), in the second part of tag questions (Nice
\weather, /isn't it?), in direct address (/Mike, where \are you?), and in enumerations (I bought /milk,
/cheese, and \fruit.).
Depending on the context, the rising tone may express interest, politeness, surprise, doubt,
incompleteness, and so on. The rising tone begins on the last stressed syllable of the sentence and first
goes down just a little and then continues going up. The English rising tone does not go up as high as
the Russian rising tone does.
If the sentence ends on the last stressed syllable, the rise takes place within the last stressed syllable:
Do you have a /pen? If there are unstressed syllables after the final stressed syllable, the rise goes
down a little on the stressed syllable and then continues going up on the unstressed syllables: Do you
have a /pencil?

Yes / No questions/ General questions

Are you from The United States?
Yes / No (Yes I am / No I am not)
Do you like your new teacher?
Yes / No (Yes I do / No I dont)

Wh-Questions/Special questions
What / Where / Why / Who / Whose / When / Which

How are you?

I am fine.

How old are you?

I am fifteen.

How much is it?

It is $5.

Tag questions (disjunctive or tail questions)

You love her, dont you?
She has seen it, hasn't she?
Nobody knew the answer, did they?
Lets go, shall we?

Alternative questions
Would you like [choice 1]some ice cream or [choice 2]some cake?
Does she work in the city or in the suburbs? (answer: She works in the city. or She works in the
suburbs.)