JAMB - English Language (2004 - No. 63)
The word in capital letters has the emphatic stress. Choose the option to which the given sentence relates.
The teacher wants MY pen
The teacher wants MY pen
Does the teacher want his pen?
What does the teacher want?
Does the teacher want your ruler?
Who wants my pen?
Explanation
Emphatic stress is the placement of greater stress on a particular word in an utterance. This is done for clarification, emphasis or correction. Stress is placed on the word "my" to correct an error made by the person who asked the question. The person who asked the question mistakenly assumes that it was "his" pen that the teacher wants, but the responder clarifies by saying that it is "my" pen the teacher wants, not "his".
Q: Does the teacher want his pen?
A: No the teacher wants MY pen.
Comments (0)
