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WORD FOCUS
There are different forms of the word use:We use plastic.
A plastic bottle is useful.
Stop using single-use plastic.
Take a reusable water bottle.
A.
Is this a problem in your country?
⇒Yes, this is.
How can we solve the problem?
⇒We can:
- We should recycle plastic into useful items.
- Do not throw garbage too much.
- Propaganda about environmental protection.
B.
PRONUNCIATION: Conditional Intonation
In conditional sentences, the intonation usually rises toward the end of the if clause and falls toward the end of the main clause.
We do not only use rising or falling intonations alone, but we can likewise use a combination of both. Consider the rules of rising-falling intonation.
This is generally used for giving out a list, a set of choices, partial and conditional statements.
In stating a list, use rising intonation in the first series of items. Then, use a falling intonation on the last item to indicate that the list has ended. For instance:
She bought some ↑bread, ↑meat, ↑pasta, and ↓apples.
He enjoys outdoor activities such as ↑mountain climbing, ↑trekking, and ↓camping.
This bag comes in colors of ↑white, ↑gray, ↑black, and ↓yellow.
When used in choices, we say:
Would you like to have ↑tea or ↓coffee?
Is Jane coming ↑today or ↓tomorrow?
Did you say ↑east or ↓west?
We also use the rising-falling intonation in partial statements. This is when the speaker is hesitant to fully express his ideas and is unable to finish his statement.
For example:
What was the place like? –Well, it ↑seemed ↓nice… (but it’s too small.)
So did you enjoy the trip? –Hmmm, ↑yes I ↓did… (but it was too short.)
Do Ethan and Ricky know you? –Well, ↑Ethan ↓does… (but not Ricky.)
In conditional statements, we use the rising intonation in the first clause, then gradually shift to the falling intonation in the second clause.
So we say:
If you have any ↑questions, send me a ↓message.
Ever since you came ↑here, everything’s doing ↓well.
Unless she ↑asks, I’ll stay ↓silent.
Example:
Both Falling ↓ and Rising ↑ Intonation |
Choices
|
Hesitation/reluctance
|
Lists (rising, rising, rising, falling)
|
Politeness-Doubt-Uncertainty
|
Conditional sentences
|
Plastic Item | Single-Use? | Reusable? |
---|---|---|
Water bottle | ✓ | |
Grocery bag | ✓ | |
Food container | ✓ | |
Plastic straw | ✓ | |
Tupperware box | ✓ |