Exercise 1-13: Variable Stress CD 1 Track 20
Notice how the meaning of the following sentence changes each time we change the stress
pattern. You should be starting to feel in control of your sentences now.
1. What would you like ?
This is the most common version of the sentence, and it is just a simple request for information.
2. What would you like?
This is to single out an individual from a group.
3. What would you like?
You've been discussing the kinds of things he might like and you want to determine his specific desires: "Now that you mention it, what would you like?"
or
He has rejected several things and a little exasperated, you ask, "If you don't want any of these, what would you like?"
4. What would you like?
You didn't hear and you would like the speaker to repeat herself.
or
You can't believe what you heard: "I'd like strawberry jam on my asparagus."
— "What would you like ?"
+ Turn off the CD and repeat the four sentences.
Exercise 1 -14: Make a Variable Stress Sentence