VI. Enumeration

In sentences containing enumeration, every non-final sense group is pronounced with the rising tone. The final intonation group is pronounced with Low Fall if the choice of enumeration is over.

1. Read the following sentences, observing the intonation of enumeration:

1. Presently the maid brings in tea on a trolley: a pot of tea, cups and saucers, hot water, a jug of milk, sugar, sandwiches, bread and butter, jam, cakes.

2. Mary has laid the table in her usual way, and has put the right number of knives,forks, spoons and glasses for every person.

3. There were also pepper and salt, oil and vinegar and mustard.

4. The best seats in the theatre are those in the stalls, the circle, and the upper circle.

5. In London you’ll find opera, comedy, drama, musical comedy.

6. I get out of my bed, put on my slippers and my gown and go to the bathroom.

7. In all large towns there are plenty of restaurants, cafes, tea-rooms, inns and pubs.

8. There are some plates, cups, spoons and forks in the kitchen, but there aren’t any glasses.

9. I know many English rules, poems, proverbs and tongue twisters by heart.

10. You’ll have to complete sentences, intone the text, and learn the dialogue.

11. You can visit the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, the Houses of

Parliament and other sights.

2. Read the following dialogue observing the rule:

A: Hi! How is you r new flat?

B: That’s wonderful. We have a kitchen, a living-room, a sitting-room, two

bedrooms, an office, and a pantry.

A: Have you got any furniture there?

B: Oh yes, much of it: there are, beds, tables, all the units, chairs, and some electric equipment.

A: That’s nice! When are you going to have your first party there?

B: I’m not sure about that. It’s probably Friday, or Saturday, or Sunday. We haven’t decided yet.

A: I see. Tell me as soon as you decide. I’ll bring the Smiths, the Greens, the Rochesters, the Grays and the Johnsons.

B: All right. See you then!

A: Be sure we’ll bring some food: some salads, some drinks, and lots of fruit.

B: That’s a deal. Bye!

3. Read the text point out all the cases of enumeration, read them with proper intonation: The Brown’s Dining-Room

In the dining-room we have our meals: breakfast in the morning, lunch in the middle of the day, tea in the afternoon, and supper in the evening.

The dining-room table is covered with a white table-cloth. Mrs. Brown has just laid the right number of knives, forks, spoons and glasses for each person. There’s also pepper and salt, oil and vinegar, and mustard. On the left of each person there’s a napkin and a plate with a roll on it.

On the side-board the Browns usually have a bowl of fruit: apples, pears, plums, cherries, grapes, oranges or bananas, according to the season. The hostess has just served the soup. After this there’ll be fish, meat or poultry with cabbage or potatoes, or some spinach. Then we’ll have some biscuits, a cheese-cake or a pie to finish with.

VII. The intonation of “please” and “thank you”

The intonation of the word “please” depends on its place in the sentence.

At the beginning of the sentence it is stressed, but doesn’t form a separate intonation group.

In the middle of the sentence the word “please” is stressed or unstressed and doesn’t form a separate intonation group.

At the end of the sentence, it is unstressed, doesn’t form a separate intonation group and continues the melody of the preceding intonation group.

“Thank you” may be pronounced with the rising and the falling tone.

- When spoken with Fall, it expresses sincere gratitude.

- The rising tone shows only formal polite gratitude.