Stressing different words

Question

What differences in meaning can be expressed by stressing different word?

1. John didn't send me a letter from the states.

2. John didn't send me a letter from the states.

3. John didn't send me a letter from the states.

4. John didn't send me a letter from the states.

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

apple gray 306What differences in meaning can be expressed by stressing a different word?

The stressed word is heard in contrast to an unstated word of the same kind.

1. John didn't send me a letter from the states. (but maybe Brian or Susan or Alice or someone else sent me a letter)

2. John didn't send me a letter from the states. (but maybe he sent it to you or them or to Lucy or George or to someone else)

3. John didn't send me a letter from the states. (but maybe he sent a postcard or a package or something else)

4. John didn't send me a letter from the states. (but maybe he sent it from France or from China or from Africa or from Brazil or from somewhere else)

"States" should be capitalized, by the way, if it is a reference to the United States of America.

The same emphasis can be expressed through the use of cleft sentences:

It wasn't John who sent me a letter from the States.
It wasn't me to whom John sent a letter from the States.
It wasn't a letter that John sent me from the States.
It wasn't from the States that John sent me a letter.

CJ

Stressing different words

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