JAMB English Note- Emphatic Stress
Table of Contents
- Definition of Emphatic Stress
- Functions of Emphatic Stress
- How to Identify Emphatic Stress
- Examples of Emphatic Stress
- Common Examination Questions on Emphatic Stress
- Key Points to Note
- Tips for Answering Emphatic Stress Questions in JAMB
- JAMB Emphatic Stress Questions
Definition of Emphatic Stress
Emphatic stress refers to the deliberate emphasis placed on a specific word in a sentence to highlight its importance or to convey a particular meaning. It is a common feature of spoken English used to draw the listener’s attention to a specific part of a statement, usually to clarify or correct information, contrast ideas, or express strong feelings.
In speech, emphatic stress is achieved by raising the pitch, volume, or duration of the stressed word, making it stand out from the other words in the sentence.
Functions of Emphatic Stress
- Highlighting Key Information:
Emphatic stress helps to draw attention to important details in a sentence.- Example: I said I want a blue shirt, not a red one.
- Clarifying Meaning:
It helps resolve ambiguities or misconceptions in a statement.- Example: I want to travel, not stay at home.
- Expressing Contrast:
It distinguishes between two or more ideas.- Example: He came to the party yesterday, not today.
- Conveying Strong Feelings:
It emphasizes emotions such as surprise, anger, or excitement.- Example: I can’t believe you lied to me!
- Correcting Misunderstandings:
It is used to correct a mistaken impression or assumption.- Example: No, I said she is a teacher, not a student.
How to Identify Emphatic Stress
In JAMB examinations, emphatic stress questions often involve selecting the word in a sentence that receives the greatest emphasis in response to a question. The key is to identify the part of the sentence being highlighted.
To identify emphatic stress:
- Look for Contrast: Focus on the words or ideas being compared or contrasted.
- Pay Attention to Context: Understand the situation to determine which word conveys the critical information.
- Use the Question as a Clue: In exams, the question usually points to the word receiving the stress.
Examples of Emphatic Stress
Below are examples with the stressed word in bold:
- Statement: Mary went to the market.
Question: Did Mary go to the shop?
Answer: No, Mary went to the market. - Statement: John is reading a novel.
Question: Is John reading a newspaper?
Answer: No, John is reading a novel. - Statement: I met Tunde at the park.
Question: Did you meet Bola at the park?
Answer: No, I met Tunde. - Statement: She arrived early for the meeting.
Question: Did she arrive late for the meeting?
Answer: No, she arrived early. - Statement: The concert is on Saturday.
Question: Is the concert on Friday?
Answer: No, the concert is on Saturday.
Common Examination Questions on Emphatic Stress
In JAMB, questions on emphatic stress often follow this structure:
- Statement: He wants to travel to Lagos.
Question: Does he want to stay in Lagos?
Correct Answer: No, he wants to travel to Lagos. - Statement: The teacher punished the boy.
Question: Did the teacher punish the girl?
Correct Answer: No, the teacher punished the boy. - Statement: They live in a mansion.
Question: Do they live in a bungalow?
Correct Answer: No, they live in a mansion.
Key Points to Note
- Focus on the Stressed Word:
The word receiving the stress directly addresses the question being asked. - Identify the Contrast:
Emphatic stress often occurs when correcting or clarifying information. - Understand the Question Context:
The question will usually hint at the word that needs to be emphasized. - Practice Listening Skills:
In spoken English, emphatic stress is conveyed through voice modulation. While this is not always possible in written exams, practice helps to recognize patterns.
Practice Questions
1. Statement: Ade is a doctor.
Question: Is Ade a teacher?
Answer: No, Ade is a doctor.
2. Statement: The meeting starts at 10 a.m.
Question: Does the meeting start at 9 a.m.?
Answer: No, the meeting starts at 10 a.m.
3. Statement: I bought the red dress.
Question: Did you buy the blue dress?
Answer: No, I bought the red dress.
4. Statement: We are traveling to Abuja.
Question: Are you traveling to Lagos?
Answer: No, we are traveling to Abuja.
5. Statement: She was born in 1999.
Question: Was she born in 2000?
Answer: No, she was born in 1999.
Tips for Answering Emphatic Stress Questions in JAMB
- Understand the Context: Pay attention to the key information in the statement.
- Identify the Contrasting Word: Look for the word in the statement that directly contrasts with the question.
- Practice Often: Familiarity with sentence patterns and stress helps improve accuracy.
JAMB Emphatic Stress Questions
1. Statement:
The teacher punished the boys for making noise.
A. Who did the teacher punish for making noise?
B. Did the teacher punish the girls for making noise?
C. Did the teacher reward the boys for making noise?
D. Did the teacher reward the girls for making noise?
2. Statement:
The meeting will begin at 10 a.m.
A. What time will the meeting begin?
B. Did the meeting begin at 9 a.m.?
C. Did the meeting end at 10 a.m.?
D. Did the meeting begin at 10 a.m.?
3. Statement:
She bought the red dress.
A. Did she buy the blue dress?
B. Did she buy the yellow dress?
C. What color of dress did she buy?
D. Did she buy the red dress?
4. Statement:
Ade is a doctor.
A. Is Ade a lawyer?
B. Who is a doctor?
C. Is Ade an engineer?
D. Is Ade a teacher?
5. Statement:
They traveled to Abuja for the meeting.
A. Did they travel to Lagos for the meeting?
B. Did they travel to Ibadan for the meeting?
C. Where did they travel to for the meeting?
D. Did they travel to Abuja for the meeting?
6. Statement:
The boy is running in the field.
A. Is the boy walking in the field?
B. What is the boy doing in the field?
C. Is the boy running in the school?
D. Is the boy sleeping in the field?
7. Statement:
John ate the rice at the party.
A. What did John eat at the party?
B. Did John eat the beans at the party?
C. Did John eat the rice at home?
D. Did John eat the rice at the party?
8. Statement:
The movie ended at midnight.
A. Did the movie end at midnight?
B. Did the movie start at midnight?
C. Did the movie end at 10 p.m.?
D. When did the movie end?
9. Statement:
The concert was held in Lagos.
A. Was the concert held in Abuja?
B. Was the concert held in Lagos?
C. Where was the concert held?
D. Was the concert held in Ibadan?
10. Statement:
He borrowed three books from the library.
A. How many books did he borrow from the library?
B. Did he borrow two books from the library?
C. Did he borrow three books from the school?
D. Did he borrow three books from the library?
11. The meeting was scheduled to begin at 8 a.m., but it started at 9 a.m.
A. Did the meeting start at 9 a.m.?
B. Did the meeting end at 9 a.m.?
C. Was the meeting scheduled to begin at 8 a.m.?
D. Did the meeting begin at 8 a.m.?
12. The meeting was scheduled to begin at 8 a.m., but it started at 9 a.m.
A. Did the meeting start at 9 a.m.?
B. Did the meeting end at 9 a.m.?
C. Was the meeting scheduled to begin at 8 a.m.?
D. Did the meeting begin at 8 a.m.?
13. The teacher wants MY pen
- A. Does the teacher want his pen?
- B. What does the teacher want?
- C. Does the teacher want your ruler?
- D. Who wants my pen?
14. The student BOUGHT the book.
- A. Who bought the book?
- B. Did the student steal the book ?
- C. What did the student buy?
- D. How will the student get the book?
15. Tomi loves DODO for dinner
A)Does Aunty love dodo for lunch?
B)Does Tomi love fried rice for dinner?
C) Does Tomi love dodo for lunch?
D)Does Tomi have dodo for dinner?
16. Adamu RARELY visits his old friends
A) Who rarely visits his old friend?
B)Does Adamu often visit his old friends?
C) Does Adamu rarely visit his old friend?
D) Does Musa rarely visits his old friends?
17. John BOUGHT the book yesterday
A)Did John win the book yesterday?
B)When did John buy the boot?
C)who bought the book yesterday?
D)Has John received the book he bought yesterday?
