Thought Groups
What is a "thought group"?
A group of words that express one clear, chunked idea to help the listener process speech.
Which football team do I support?
Liverpool / Germany (FWC)
Complete this sentence: "The problem is..." (Prompt: You are always late)
"...that you are always late" or "...the fact that you are always late."
Which tense is used to describe completed actions or sequential events?
Past Simple
Fix the error: "I don't know why did he leave."
"I don't know why he left." (The clause must lose its question order).
What are the three key components of speech melody?
Intonation, Pitch, and Pauses
What is the default intonation for most English statements?
Falling
What is the "Master Rule" for Wh- clauses?
The clause must lose standard question word order
What platform do I use most often to play games?
PS5
Which past tense describes background settings or actions in progress?
Past Continuous (or Past Perfect Continuous).
What is the name of my dog? (Back in South Africa)
Oscar
How should you pronounce a "Focus Word"?
Longer, louder, and with a higher pitch.
When is it necessary to use "The fact that" instead of just "That"?
When the noun clause is the subject of the sentence.
Complete the story: "I [be / sit] in the library when suddenly the fire alarm [go / off]."
"I was sitting in the library when suddenly the fire alarm went off." (The past continuous sets the background while the past simple interrupts it).
What does a falling pitch signal at the end of a final thought group?
That you are finished talking.
Where should you place a pause when speaking?
At punctuation, before conjunctions, before relative pronouns, and after transitions.
What does "Rising Pitch" signal at the end of a thought group?
That you have more to say.
What is my favourite Genre of Music?
Alternative Rock
When do we use past perfect continuous?
To emphasize duration leading up to a past result.
What type of intonation should be used for Yes/No questions?
Risinng
Define the "Nucleus" rule. (Related to stress)
The specific syllable within the focus word that receives the most emphasis.
Explain the contrastive stress in: "I didn't say he stole the money."
It implies that someone else stole the money.
What is the meaning of "Whoever" in the sentence "Whoever calls first gets the seat"?
"Anyone who."
Why do we use the Past Perfect in a story?
To clarify the "Past before Past"—which of two actions happened first.
What is my favourite anime series?
Tokyo Ghoul