We use it

To show the speaker's attitude, to express feelings like surprise or irony, to emphasise, if we are happy, angry, confused, etc. It refers to the way in which we say something and not what we say.

Content

You will find the main features of Intonation and the different types like Rising, Falling and Fall-Rise Intonation.

Translation available

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The Rising intonation indicates how the voice rises at the end of a sentence or phrase.

YES - NO QS

We use the Rising intonation in questions which answer is "Yes" or "No".

  • Examples

    Is that the new

    cinema?

    Yes, they opened it yesterday.

    (with this question the person is looking for a Yes/No answer).

    Are you

    scared?

    Is that your

    brother?

    Are you

    listening?

    Are you

    sure?

In a sentence or phrase, the Falling intonation indicates how the voice falls on the final stressed syllable.

WH QUESTIONS

We use the Falling intonation in Wh - Questions.

Questions beginning with...

- What

- When

- Where

- Who

- Etc.

Where’s the nearest

bank?

(the tone of the voice falls in "Bank" because it is the last stressed syllable).

When we want the message to be very clear or we want to sound determined.

I think we are the

best.

(The person who is talking definitely thinks they are the best).

  • Examples

    She is singing really

    bad.

    You are absolutely

    wrong.

    Here’s the

    pencil you wanted.

    We are not

    screaming.

The Fall-rise intonation refers to how the voice falls and then rises at the end of a sentence.

USES

When we are not sure about what we are saying or when we want to add more info.

It's cloudy most of the time

.

(but not all the time).

The person speaking wants to say that it's cloudy most of the time (but not all the time) without saying it.

  • Examples

    I think it's

    Wednes
    day.

    (but I'm not sure).

    I am not working at the

    mo
    ment.

    (but I may be in the future).

WE ALSO USE IT

When we want to sound polite, especially in questions when we request information or invite somebody to do something.

Would you like another tea

?

(The person speaking sounds more polite).

  • Examples

    Could you please close the door

    ?

    (The person speaking doesn't sound rude when asking for something).

    Read that again please

    .

    Do you want to come with us

    ?