Choose the most appropriate stress pattern from the options below
palatable
A.
PAL—a—ta—ble
B.
pal—A—ta—ble
C.
pal—a—TA—ble
D.
pal—a—ta—BLE
Correct Answer: PAL—a—ta—ble
Explanation
Some words are made up of a root and a suffix:
dangerous = root –> danger + ous –< suffix
commercial = root –> commerc(e) + al –< suffix
In some words with suffixes, the stress stays on the same syllable as in the root. Compare:
‘danger and: ‘dangerous
In other words, the suffix changes the stressed syllable. Compare:
‘commerce and: com‘mercial
Suffixes which don’t usually change the stress pattern in the root word include (however they maybe some exceptions.) -able, -age, -al, -er, -ful, -less, -ness, -ous and -fy. For example:
comfort – ‘comfortable
per‘cent – per’centage
Some words are made up of a root and a suffix:
dangerous = root –> danger + ous –< suffix
commercial = root –> commerc(e) + al –< suffix
In some words with suffixes, the stress stays on the same syllable as in the root. Compare:
‘danger and: ‘dangerous
In other words, the suffix changes the stressed syllable. Compare:
‘commerce and: com‘mercial
Suffixes which don’t usually change the stress pattern in the root word include (however they maybe some exceptions.) -able, -age, -al, -er, -ful, -less, -ness, -ous and -fy. For example:
comfort – ‘comfortable
per‘cent – per’centage
