Syllable Division

Learn Accent Patterns
Practice accent patterns for 2-, 3- and 4-syllable words :

Accented Syllable—An accented syllable is pronounced as if it were a one-syllable word with a clear vowel sound according to its syllabic type (ac´ tive, com plete´, er´ vant, loy´ al).

Unaccented Syllable—An unaccented syllable is pronounced with a schwa /´/ or short-i /i/ vowel sound regardless of its syllabic type (rib´ bon,op´ po site,in de pen´ dent).

Accent Patterns—The dark lines and accent marks are accent patterns ( ). Each ´ line stands for one syllable. The accent mark shows which syllable is accented. Leaming to place the accent on the proper syllable will help you recognize most multisyllabic words. The accent patterns below will help you determine which syllable in a word is accented.

Primary Accent—A strong stress on a syllable in a multisyllabic word.

Secondary Accent—A weaker stress on a syllable in a multisyllabic word.

General Guideline—In two- and three-syllable words, accent the first syllable. Then pronounce the first vowel as if it were a short, long, r-controlled, or double-vowel sound in a one-syllable word. If that doesn’t make a recognizable word, accent the second syllable, and pronounce the second vowel according to its syllabic type.

Accent Patterns for Two-Syllable Words

1. Accent on the first syllable (__ ´__ )
The accent is usually on the first syllable in two-syllable words (stan´ dard, sis´ ter, dol´ lar).

2. Accent on the second syllable (__ __ ´)

Two-syllable words that have a prefix in the first syllable and a root in the second syllable are usually accented on the second syllable (ex tend´, con fuse´).

3. Accent on either the first or second syllable (__ ´ __ or __ __ ')

If a word can function as both noun and verb, the noun is accented on the prefix (con´ duct) and the verb is accented on the root (con duct´)

Accent Patterns for Three-Syllable Words

1. Accent on the first syllable (__'__ __)

The accent is usually on the first syllable in three-syllable words. The unaccented middle syllable has a schwa sound (vis´ i tor, char´ ac ter).

2. Accent on the second syllable (__ __' __)
The accent is usually on the second syllable (the root) in words that contain a prefix, root, and suffix (de stroy´ er, in ven´ tor)

Accent Patterns for Four-Syllable Words (__ __' __ __)
1. The accent is usually on the second syllable in four-syllable words (in tel´ li gence, sig nif ´ i cant).


Most two - syllable words are accented on the first syllable (fi´ nal, stu´ dent, hop´ ping)

However, the accent pattern changes in two-syllable words that have a prefix in the first syllable and a root in the second syllable. We usually accent the root (con fuse´, ex tend´, pre fer´).

Draw a box around the accented root in the following words and mark the accented vowel. Cross out silent letters. Then pronounce and combine the syllables.
expand

promote

unknown

inspect

propel

preside

explode

subsist

exempt

inflate

refuse

subscribe

demand

respect

express

decrease

reject

intend

perhaps

demote

exact

sublet

pervade

predict

subtract

persist

depend

insane

excuse

proceed

prepay

perplex

insult


In a few words, the prefix is accented. Draw a box around the accented prefix in the following words and mark the accented vowel. Notice that the prefix pro-can be pronounced two ways: /pro¤* (short o/ and /pro/, depending on the syllabication. The first syllable of prospect is pros; thus, the vowel is short. The first syllable of program is pro; thus, the vowel is long.

pros/pect (short o)

pro/gram (long o)

product

income

project

profit

profile

intake

promise

prosper

produce

inboard

subway

substance

subsoil


pro-says (pro)(long o)/in:

__________________

__________________

__________________



pro¤-says /pro* (short o)/ in:

_________________

_________________

_________________

_________________

_________________

_________________


Some words can be used both as nouns (naming words) and as verbs (action words). When the word is a noun, accent the prefix (sub´ject). When the word is a verb, accent the root (sub ject´).
Draw a box around the accented syllable and mark the accented vowel. Then pronounce and combine the syllables.
Nouns --- Verbs ---

recess ---recess

insult --- insult

record*--- record

present*--- present

produce--- produce

permit --- permit

project*--- project

reject --- reject

progress*--- progress


Read these sentences aloud. If the italicized word is a noun, draw a box around the prefix to show that it is accented. If it is a verb, draw a box around the root to show that it is accented.


1. The farmer had fresh recess produce for sale.

2.The school will produce a play.

3. I gave Judith a birthday present.

4. Ms. Trabin will not permit smoking in her house.

5. Martha completed her science project.

6. Peter insulted his partner.

7. What is your best subject in school?

8. We progress in learning, step by step.

9. Janis bought another record at the music store.

10. Present your report to the class.

11. You must get a driver’s permit.

12. Project your voice so that we can hear you more clearly.

13. Do not add insult to injury.

14. Rome subjected all of Greece to her rule.

15. Donald made good progress in reading.

16. Record your progress on the Proficiency Graph.

*Syllabication differs in some words, depending on whether the word is a noun or a verb.


Unscramble these three-syllable words. If you circle the -it,-et,-ite, or -ate ending, you will know which syllable is last.

fa ite vor ________________________
pos it de ________________________
o choc late ________________________
po op site ________________________
it in hab ________________________
per ate des ________________________
i nite def ________________________
lus il trate ________________________

Find and circle the eighteen words above in the puzzle below. The words can be found in a straight line
across or up and down.

D E L I B E R A T E C E R T I F I C A T E I E C H M O P R E R E Q U I S I T E A N G E L F T H M P E F I C O N F E D E R A T E N A L I L Y A P P R O X I M A T E T O I B E F O I N R E CO N G R A T U L A T E D E P O S I T I L L U S T R A T E A D D I N G A N E N D E T I N L I F A V O R I T E G B E G I N N I R E N G A T I N H A B I T D E S P E R A T E A W I T T E H C H O C O L A T E A V O W E L T I N D E F I N I T E A F F E C T I O N A T E