The Music of English
Intonation is how your voice goes UP or DOWN at the end of a sentence.
Statements (Falling) ↘️
Rule: When we state a fact or give information, our voice goes DOWN at the end.
Yes/No Questions ↗️
Rule: When we ask a question that can be answered with Yes or No, our voice goes UP at the end.
Wh- Questions ↘️
Rule: When we ask for specific information (Who, What, Where, When, Why, How), our voice goes DOWN at the end, just like a statement!
Do NOT make all questions go UP! ❌
Yes/No ➔ Voice goes UP.
Wh- Question ➔ Voice goes DOWN.
Listen & Answer 🎧
Listen & Answer 🎧
Listen & Answer 🎧
Mission 🎯
Mission 🎯
Mission 🎯
Mission 🎯
Video Lesson
Ask a Question 🙋♂️
Recent Questions
Hi Sovan! I know it feels strange at first. In English, falling intonation on a Wh- question doesn't mean you are angry; it just shows confidence and that you expect a specific piece of information. If you make your voice go up on "What is your name ↗?", native speakers will think you didn't hear them and are asking them to repeat it! 🎵
Can a Statement ever go UP at the end?
Yes, it can! If you use rising intonation on a statement, it turns into a question showing SURPRISE. For example, if your friend says they bought a Ferrari, you might say, "You bought a car?! ↗" 😲
Is the robot voice (audio button) perfect at intonation?
The built-in voice is good for basic practice, and it does go up when there is a question mark (?) and down when there is a period (.). However, real humans speak with much more emotion! That's why your "Movie Time" mission is so important. 🎬
Why do Wh- questions go down? It sounds like I am angry or bossy!