Primary Stress Practice Worksheet

Choose the word whose primary stress is different from that of the rest. (Identify your answer by circling the corresponding letter A, B, C, or D) Exercise 1 1.

• contain

• achieve

• improve

• enter

Answer explanation

The word 'enter' has its primary stress on the first syllable (EN-ter), while 'contain', 'achieve', and 'improve' have their primary stress on the second syllable. Thus, 'enter' is the word with a different stress pattern.

Choose the word whose primary stress is different from that of the rest.

• A. eliminate

• B. communicate

• C. preferential

• D. accompany

Answer explanation

The primary stress in 'preferential' is on the third syllable (pre-FER-en-tial), while in 'eliminate', 'communicate', and 'accompany', the stress is on the second syllable. Thus, 'preferential' has a different stress pattern.

Choose the word whose primary stress is different from that of the rest.

• innovate

• interfere

• penalize

• sacrifice

Answer explanation

The primary stress in 'interfere' is on the third syllable (in-ter-'fere'), while 'innovate', 'penalize', and 'sacrifice' have stress on the first syllable. Thus, 'interfere' is the word with a different primary stress.

Choose the word whose primary stress is different from that of the rest.

• Canada

• countryside

• accuracy

• banana

Answer explanation

The primary stress in 'banana' is on the second syllable (ba-NA-na), while in 'Canada', 'countryside', and 'accuracy', the stress is on the first syllable. Thus, 'banana' has a different stress pattern.

Choose the word whose primary stress is different from that of the rest.

• A. conquer

• B. contaminate

• C. comfortable

• D. continent

Answer explanation

The primary stress in 'contaminate' is on the second syllable (tam), while in 'conquer', 'comfortable', and 'continent', the stress is on the first syllable. Thus, 'contaminate' is the word with a different primary stress.

Choose the word whose primary stress is different from that of the rest.

• democracy

• experience

• biological

• geometry

Answer explanation

The primary stress in 'biological' is on the third syllable (o), while in 'democracy', 'experience', and 'geometry', the stress is on the second syllable. This makes 'biological' the word with a different primary stress.

Choose the word whose primary stress is different from that of the rest.

• A. Pacific

• B. principal

• C. probably

• D. contents

Answer explanation

The word 'Pacific' has its primary stress on the second syllable (Pa-CIF-ic), while 'principal', 'probably', and 'contents' have their primary stress on the first syllable. Thus, 'Pacific' is the word with a different stress pattern.

Choose the word whose primary stress is different from that of the rest.

• disease

• bacteria

• professor

• chemistry

Answer explanation

The word 'chemistry' has its primary stress on the second syllable (che-MIS-try), while 'disease', 'bacteria', and 'professor' have their primary stress on the second syllable as well. Thus, 'chemistry' is the odd one out.

Choose the word whose primary stress is different from that of the rest.

• decide

• complete

• vacation

• almost

Answer explanation

The word 'vacation' has its primary stress on the second syllable (va-CATION), while 'decide', 'complete', and 'almost' have their primary stress on the second syllable as well. Thus, 'vacation' is the odd one out.

Choose the word whose primary stress is different from that of the rest.

• statement

• psychology

• commonly

• organism

Answer explanation

The word 'commonly' has its primary stress on the second syllable (com-'mon-ly'), while 'statement', 'psychology', and 'organism' have their primary stress on the first syllable. Thus, 'commonly' is the word with a different stress pattern.