Intonation
Intonation is the rising and falling of the pitch of the voice.
Falling Intonation
When we make a statement, our voice drops at the end of the sentence.
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My name is Bob.
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I’m going out for dinner tonight.
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We love to travel.
We also use falling intonation when asking a question that cannot be answered with yes/no (the “w” questions). Those are the questions that ask; who, what, where, why, when or how. Notice that these words cannot be answered with a simple yes or no answer.
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Who is that woman standing next to your wife?
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What are you doing this afternoon?
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Where are you going on your holidays?
Rising Intonation
We use rising intonation when asking questions that can be answered by yes or no.
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Are you happy today?
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Are you going to the movies this weekend?
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Is your father feeling better now?
Rising and Falling Intonation
We use rising intonation when describing a list of things, but the final item in the list receives falling intonation.
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My favourite foods are hot dogs, hamburgers, and French fries.
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This morning I woke up, took a shower, brushed my teeth, got dressed, then went to work.
Learn Word Classes, often referred to as “Parts of Speech”, it will help you in the future.