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Pronunciation Guide
FREE LISTENING WORKSHEET · APG

Word stress in related English words

Listen, notice one detail, and say the word in a phrase.

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Videos and full notes: https://ipronounce.io/guides/word-family-stress

Name: ________________________　 Date: __________________

This lesson’s listening targets

Locate the main beat in each word instead of carrying over its relative’s stress automatically.

A five-word listening round

  1. Choose five words below. Open each linked word and play its APG video.
  2. Write one sound observation: the strongest syllable, a silent letter, a consonant connection, or a variant you hear.
  3. Say the original practice phrase, then write and say your own sentence.
  4. Read the word’s listening note and compare it with your observation. Repeat any word you want to revisit.
Your listening record — choose five, then return for another round
Word & videoPractice phraseWhat I hear / my sentence
economyTourism is important to the local economy.
economicsShe studied economics at college.
geographyHe teaches geography at the school.
geographicThe map shows the geographic boundaries.
anonymousThe note came from an anonymous reader.
anonymityThe survey protects the respondent's anonymity.
volatileThe report describes a volatile market.
volatilityThe chart tracks changes in volatility.
autonomousThe team operates as an autonomous unit.
autonomyThe team valued its creative autonomy.
constituentThe letter came from a constituent.
constituencyShe returned to her constituency for a public meeting.

Test your pronunciation knowledge

Choose one answer for each question. The answer key includes explanations and source links.

  1. Where does the main stress fall in economy, then economics?

    1. Third syllable, then second
    2. Second syllable, then third
    3. Second syllable in both

  2. Which part of “geographic” receives the main beat?

    1. The opening GEE
    2. The final IK
    3. GRAF

  3. What changes from “anonymous” to “anonymity”?

    1. Stress moves from syllable two to three, and an extra syllable appears.
    2. Stress moves to the first syllable, with no change in length.
    3. Stress stays on syllable two, and the word becomes shorter.

  4. Which pair describes the strongest syllables in volatile and volatility?

    1. TIL in both
    2. VOL, then TIL
    3. VOL in both

  5. Does the main stress move when autonomous becomes autonomy?

    1. Yes, from syllable two to one.
    2. Yes, from syllable two to three.
    3. No, both words stress syllable two.

  6. How does “constituency” compare with “constituent”?

    1. It adds a syllable but keeps second-syllable stress.
    2. It keeps the syllable count but moves stress to the end.
    3. It loses a syllable and shifts stress to the first.

  7. In the IPA /ˌvɑləˈtɪləti/, what does the mark immediately before /tɪ/ mean?

    1. That syllable is silent.
    2. That syllable has the main stress.
    3. That syllable has only secondary stress.

  8. What is the soundest approach to stress when learning a new word from a familiar word family?

    1. Always keep the original stress.
    2. Always move the stress one syllable later.
    3. Check the new word: the stress may move or stay.
Show the answer key

Open this section before printing to include the answers.

  1. B. Second syllable, then third “Economy” has its main beat on syllable two. “Economics” moves that beat to syllable three, with a smaller, secondary beat near the beginning.

    Source: CMU Pronouncing Dictionary

  2. C. GRAF Geographic stresses GRAF, its third syllable. Geography instead puts its main stress on the second syllable.

    Source: CMU Pronouncing Dictionary

  3. A. Stress moves from syllable two to three, and an extra syllable appears. Anonymous has four syllables with stress on the second. Anonymity has five, with the main beat on NIM, the third syllable.

    Source: CMU Pronouncing Dictionary

  4. B. VOL, then TIL Volatile stresses its first syllable, VOL. Volatility has a smaller initial beat but puts the main stress on TIL, syllable three.

    Source: CMU Pronouncing Dictionary

  5. C. No, both words stress syllable two. “Autonomous” and “autonomy” both have second-syllable stress. A different ending does not necessarily move the main beat.

    Source: CMU Pronouncing Dictionary

  6. A. It adds a syllable but keeps second-syllable stress. “Constituent” has four syllables and “constituency” has five. Adding the final see syllable leaves the main stress on the second syllable.

    Source: CMU Pronouncing Dictionary

  7. B. That syllable has the main stress. The raised /ˈ/ marks primary stress. The lower /ˌ/ near the beginning marks secondary stress, so the two beats are not equal.

    Source: CMU Pronouncing Dictionary

  8. C. Check the new word: the stress may move or stay. Constituent and constituency keep the same stress position, whereas economy and economics change it. A useful pattern still needs to be checked against the new word’s pronunciation.

    Source: CMU Pronouncing Dictionary

Sources & reuse

The pronunciation notes are based on the dictionary sources linked from each word page. Practice phrases and exercises are original APG learning material, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Credit American Pronunciation Guide and keep the source links when adapting this worksheet. Videos and reference quotations retain their own terms.

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