Sentence stress

________ ______ is saying a word or words in a sentence louder and longer than the other words.

I didn’t say he stole the money.

• The speaker’s meaning is, “It is not true that I said he stole the money. You think I said it but I did not.”

• The speaker is trying to say that she is not the person who said the man stole the money. Somebody else said it.

• The speaker wanted to suggest that the man stole the money. But she did not want to directly say it.

• The speaker is suggesting that someone else stole the money, not the man identified in the sentence.

I didn’t say he stole the money.

• The speaker wanted to suggest that the man stole the money. But she did not want to directly say it.

• The speaker is suggesting that someone else stole the money, not the man identified in the sentence.

• The speaker’s meaning is, “It is not true that I said he stole the money. You think I said it but I did not.”

• The speaker’s meaning is, “It is not true that I said he stole the money. You think I said it but I did not.”

I didn’t say he stole the money.

• The speaker wanted to suggest that the man stole the money. But she did not want to directly say it.

• The speaker is suggesting that someone else stole the money, not the man identified in the sentence.

• The speaker is trying to say is, “Maybe he just borrowed the money. Maybe he didn’t steal it.”

• The speaker is suggesting that she is talking about some other money, not the specific money being discussed.

I didn’t say he stole the money.

• The speaker is suggesting that someone else stole the money, not the man identified in the sentence.

• The speaker is trying to say here is, “Maybe he just borrowed the money. Maybe he didn’t steal it.”

• The speaker is suggesting that she is talking about some other money, not the specific money being discussed.

• The speaker’s meaning is, “It is not true that I said he stole the money. You think I said it but I did not.”

I didn’t say he stole the money.

• The speaker is suggesting that the man stole something else. For example, maybe he stole jewelry or some other valuables.

• The speaker is suggesting that she is talking about some other money, not the specific money being discussed.

• The speaker is trying to say is, “Maybe he just borrowed the money. Maybe he didn’t steal it.

• The speaker wanted to suggest that the man stole the money. But she did not want to directly say it.

I didn’t say he stole the money.

• The speaker wanted to suggest that the man stole the money. But she did not want to directly say it.

• The speaker’s meaning is, “It is not true that I said he stole the money. You think I said it but I did not.”

• The speaker is trying to say that s/he is not the person who said the man stole the money. Somebody else said it.

• The speaker is suggesting that the man stole something else. For example, maybe he stole jewelry or some other valuables.