These WAEC questions on Word Stress are all from its sub-topics in the WAEC ENGLISH SYLLABUS.
We have also covered each Concord sub-topic with detailed explanation in our WAEC English lesson online.
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WAEC Word Stress questions
Attempt each question before checking its correct answer and explanation.
In the following questions, the main/primary stress is indicated by writing the syllable on which it occurs in capital letters.
From the words lettered A-D, choose the one that has the correct stress.
WAEC English 2012 (36)
1. capitulate
A. CA-pi-tu-late
B. ca-PI-tu-late
C. ca-pi-TU-late
D. ca-pi-tu-LATE
See Explanation ✅
Most 4-syllable words ending with “-ate” are stressed on their 3RD-TO-LAST syllable.
WAEC English 2012 (37)
2. decorative
A. DE-co-ra-tive
B. de-CO-ra-tive
C. de-co-RA-tive
D. de-co-ra-TIVE
See Explanation ✅
Most 4-syllable words ending with “-ive” are stressed on their 3rd-to-last syllable but there are exceptions of 4TH-TO-LAST syllable which “decorative” falls under.
WAEC English 2012 (38)
3. technology
A. TECH-no-lo-gy
B. tech-NO-lo-gy
C. tech-no-LO-gy
D. tech-no-lo-GY
See Explanation ✅
Most 4-syllable words ending with “-gy” are stressed on their 3RD-TO-LAST syllable.
WAEC English 2012 (39)
4. apologize
A. A-po-lo-gize
B. a-PO-lo-gize
C. a-po-LO-gize
D. a-po-lo-GIZE
See Explanation ✅
Most 4-syllable words ending with “-ize” are stressed on their 3RD-TO-LAST syllable.
WAEC English 2011 (36)
5. mannerism
A. MAN-ner-i-sm
B. man-NER-i-sm
C. man-ner-I-sm
D. man-ner-i-SM
See Explanation ✅
Most 4-syllable words ending with “-ism” are stressed on their 4TH-TO-LAST syllable.
WAEC English 2011 (38)
6. manufacture
A. MAN-u-fac-ture
B. man-U-fac-ture
C. man-u-FAC-ture
D. man-u-fac-TURE
See Explanation ✅
This word is stressed on the 2ND-TO-LAST syllable but other words with similar ending are stressed differently.
WAEC English 2011 (39)
7. accidental
A. AC-ci-den-tal
B. ac-CI-den-tal
C. ac-ci-DEN-tal
D. ac-ci-den-TAL
See Explanation ✅
Most 4-syllable words ending with “-al” are stressed on their 3rd-to-last syllable but “accidental” is an exception stressed on its 2ND-TO-LAST syllable instead.
WAEC English 2010 (36)
8. demonstrator
A. DEM-on-stra-tor
B. dem-ON-stra-tor
C. dem-on-STRA-tor
D. dem-on-stra-TOR
See Explanation ✅
Most 4-syllable words ending with “-or” are stressed on their 4TH-TO-LAST syllable.
WAEC English 2010 (39)
9. personify
A. PER-son-i-fy
B. per-SON-i-fy
C. per-son-I-fy
D. per-son-i-FY
See Explanation ✅
Most 4-syllable words ending with “-fy” are stressed on their 3RD-TO-LAST syllable.
WAEC English 2010 (38)
10. beneficial
A. BEN-e-fi-cial
B. ben-E-fi-cial
C. ben-e-FI-cial
D. ben-e-fi-CIAL
See Explanation ✅
Most 4-syllable words ending with “-al” are stressed on their 3RD-TO-LAST syllable but here, the third-to-last syllable is the schwa /ә/ sound (which is NEVER stressed) so the stress moves to the syllable after it.
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