Polite Intonation Worksheet

Pronunciation lesson 23: Polite intonation · Set 101 · 40 questions

How to say it (Let your voice move): Requests: Could you…? / May I…? / Can I…? — not a flat order. Choices and lists: up on each item, down on the last — tea ↗ or coffee ↘? Tags: down when you are sure and want agreement; up when you really ask.

1. 1.A list: “We bought dosa, milk and tea.” On which word does your voice go down? (a) milk (b) dosa (c) tea
2. 2.Which sounds more polite? (a) May I come in? (b) I am coming in.
3. 3.A list: “We bought tea, idli and coffee.” On which word does your voice go down? (a) tea (b) coffee (c) idli
4. 4.A list: “We bought roti, tea and coffee.” On which word does your voice go down? (a) roti (b) coffee (c) tea
5. 5.Which sounds more polite? (a) Could you help me? (b) Help me.
6. 6.Offering a choice: “Would you like coffee or rice?” On which word does your voice go down? (a) rice (b) coffee
7. 7.A list: “We bought idli, milk and tea.” On which word does your voice go down? (a) milk (b) idli (c) tea
8. 8.Offering a choice: “Would you like tea or dosa?” On which word does your voice go down? (a) tea (b) dosa
9. 9.“We have a test, don’t we?” You are sure and just want the other person to agree. Does your voice go up or down on the tag? (a) Up ↗ (b) Down ↘
10. 10.Offering a choice: “Would you like lassi or tea?” On which word does your voice go down? (a) lassi (b) tea
11. 11.Which sounds more polite? (a) Speak slowly. (b) Could you speak slowly?
12. 12.Which sounds more polite? (a) Can you show me the way? (b) Show me the way.
13. 13.Offering a choice: “Would you like milk or water?” On which word does your voice go down? (a) water (b) milk
14. 14.“We have a test, don’t we?” You are not sure and really want to know. Does your voice go up or down on the tag? (a) Up ↗ (b) Down ↘
15. 15.“He can swim, can’t he?” You are not sure and really want to know. Does your voice go up or down on the tag? (a) Down ↘ (b) Up ↗
16. 16.A list: “We bought water, coffee and lassi.” On which word does your voice go down? (a) water (b) coffee (c) lassi
17. 17.Offering a choice: “Would you like coffee or tea?” On which word does your voice go down? (a) tea (b) coffee
18. 18.Offering a choice: “Would you like lassi or juice?” On which word does your voice go down? (a) juice (b) lassi
19. 19.“They live here, don’t they?” You are sure and just want the other person to agree. Does your voice go up or down on the tag? (a) Up ↗ (b) Down ↘
20. 20.Offering a choice: “Would you like tea or coffee?” On which word does your voice go down? (a) coffee (b) tea
21. 21.A list: “We bought dosa, juice and roti.” On which word does your voice go down? (a) dosa (b) juice (c) roti
22. 22.Offering a choice: “Would you like coffee or lassi?” On which word does your voice go down? (a) lassi (b) coffee
23. 23.Offering a choice: “Would you like dosa or water?” On which word does your voice go down? (a) water (b) dosa
24. 24.Offering a choice: “Would you like lassi or milk?” On which word does your voice go down? (a) lassi (b) milk
25. 25.“She likes tea, doesn’t she?” You are sure and just want the other person to agree. Does your voice go up or down on the tag? (a) Down ↘ (b) Up ↗
26. 26.“She likes tea, doesn’t she?” You are not sure and really want to know. Does your voice go up or down on the tag? (a) Up ↗ (b) Down ↘
27. 27.Offering a choice: “Would you like milk or juice?” On which word does your voice go down? (a) milk (b) juice
28. 28.Offering a choice: “Would you like lassi or dosa?” On which word does your voice go down? (a) lassi (b) dosa
29. 29.Which sounds more polite? (a) Could you shut the door? (b) Shut the door.
30. 30.Offering a choice: “Would you like idli or rice?” On which word does your voice go down? (a) idli (b) rice
31. 31.Offering a choice: “Would you like juice or dosa?” On which word does your voice go down? (a) dosa (b) juice
32. 32.Which sounds more polite? (a) Wait. (b) Could you wait, please?
33. 33.A list: “We bought tea, dosa and milk.” On which word does your voice go down? (a) milk (b) tea (c) dosa
34. 34.Offering a choice: “Would you like milk or rice?” On which word does your voice go down? (a) milk (b) rice
35. 35.A list: “We bought milk, coffee and roti.” On which word does your voice go down? (a) milk (b) roti (c) coffee
36. 36.Offering a choice: “Would you like juice or tea?” On which word does your voice go down? (a) tea (b) juice
37. 37.Offering a choice: “Would you like rice or tea?” On which word does your voice go down? (a) rice (b) tea
38. 38.“You are coming, aren’t you?” You are sure and just want the other person to agree. Does your voice go up or down on the tag? (a) Up ↗ (b) Down ↘
39. 39.A list: “We bought dosa, water and rice.” On which word does your voice go down? (a) rice (b) water (c) dosa
40. 40.A list: “We bought rice, tea and juice.” On which word does your voice go down? (a) juice (b) rice (c) tea

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