YEAR 8 INTONATION

WHAT IS INTONATION?

​Intonation describes how the voice rises and falls in speech.

It conveys differences of expressive meaning (e.g., surprise, anger, or delight), and it can also serve a grammatical function.

The three main patterns of intonation in English are: falling intonation, rising intonation and fall-rise intonation.

​INTONATION TYPES

FALLING INTONATION

Falling intonation is when the voice falls or lowers in pitch (gets deeper) towards the end of a sentence. This type of intonation is one of the most common and usually happens at the end of statements. Falling intonation can also occur at the end of some kinds of questions, such as those beginning with "who", "what", "where", "why", and "when."

Where’s the nearest p↘ost-office?

What time does the film f↘inish?

​MORE ON FALLING INTONATION

We also use falling intonation when we say something definite, or when we want to be very clear about something:

I think we are completely l↘ost.

OK, here’s the magaz↘ine you wanted.

​RISING INTONATION

Rising intonation describes how the voice rises at the end of a sentence. Rising intonation is common in yes-no questions:

I hear the Health Centre is expanding. So, is that the new d↗octor?

Are you th↗irsty?

FALL-RISE INTONATION

Fall-rise intonation describes how the voice falls and then rises. We use fall-rise intonation at the end of statements when we want to say that we are not sure, or when we may have more to add:

I do↘n’t support any football team at the m↘om↗ent. (but I may change my mind in future).

It rained every day in the firs↘t w↗eek. (but things improved after that).

Intonation - Key takeaways

• Intonation refers to the way in which the voice changes in pitch to convey meaning.

• There are three key types of intonation in English: rising intonation, falling intonation, fall-rise intonation.

• falling intonation is used in wh-questions, statements.

• rising intonation is used in yes/no questions.

• fall-rise tune is used the end of statements when we want to say that we are not sure, or when we may have more to add.

Multiple Select

Identify the intonation of the following questions.

1. Do you love playing in the snow?

• Rising-falling Intonation

• Rising Intonation

Multiple Select

How can I help you?

• Rising-falling Intonation

• Rising Intonation

Multiple Select

What time does it starts?

• Rising-falling Intonation

• Rising Intonation

Multiple Select

How long have you stayed in this country?

• Rising-falling Intonation

• Rising Intonation

Multiple Choice

Is your name Katherine?

• Rising-falling Intonation

• Rising Intonation

Multiple Select

How can I connect to my audience?

• Rising-falling Intonation

• Rising Intonation

Multiple Select

How can I connect to my audience?

• Rising-falling Intonation

• Rising Intonation

Multiple Select

Can they finish the project on time?

• Rising-falling Intonation

• Rising Intonation

Multiple Select

Do you have an idea for a solution?

• Rising-falling Intonation

• Rising Intonation

Multiple Select

Is English important and urgent?

• Rising-falling Intonation

• Rising Intonation

Multiple Select

Which color do you like in your website background?

• Rising-falling Intonation

• Rising Intonation

Multiple Select

Which sentence has a rising intonation?

• Why do we need to focus on this?

• Can you retell the story of the Tom Sawyer?

• When is the deadline?

Multiple Select

Which sentence has a rising-falling intonation?

• When will be the grand opening of our clothing line?

• Do you like sunflowers?

• Can you enumerate the major parts of our brain?

Multiple Select

Which sentence has a rising-falling intonation?

• When will be the grand opening of our clothing line?

• Do you like sunflowers?

• Can you enumerate the major parts of our brain?

Multiple Select

Which sentence has a rising intonation?

• Who do you want to be in this world?

• Where do you want to go?

• Is that her dream wedding?