Polite Intonation Worksheet

Pronunciation lesson 23: Polite intonation · Set 115 · 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.Which sounds more polite? (a) Say it again. (b) Could you repeat that?
2. 2.Which sounds more polite? (a) Show me the way. (b) Can you show me the way?
3. 3.“It is hot today, isn’t it?” You are not sure and really want to know. Does your voice go up or down on the tag? (a) Up ↗ (b) Down ↘
4. 4.Offering a choice: “Would you like roti or coffee?” On which word does your voice go down? (a) coffee (b) roti
5. 5.A list: “We bought dosa, coffee and roti.” On which word does your voice go down? (a) dosa (b) roti (c) coffee
6. 6.Offering a choice: “Would you like water or rice?” On which word does your voice go down? (a) rice (b) water
7. 7.A list: “We bought rice, tea and roti.” On which word does your voice go down? (a) rice (b) tea (c) roti
8. 8.Which sounds more polite? (a) Help me. (b) Could you help me?
9. 9.“You are coming, aren’t you?” You are not sure and really want to know. Does your voice go up or down on the tag? (a) Down ↘ (b) Up ↗
10. 10.A list: “We bought tea, lassi and juice.” On which word does your voice go down? (a) tea (b) juice (c) lassi
11. 11.A list: “We bought rice, tea and milk.” On which word does your voice go down? (a) tea (b) milk (c) rice
12. 12.Offering a choice: “Would you like roti or rice?” On which word does your voice go down? (a) rice (b) roti
13. 13.“It was a good film, wasn’t it?” 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 ↘
14. 14.A list: “We bought water, tea and juice.” On which word does your voice go down? (a) tea (b) juice (c) water
15. 15.Offering a choice: “Would you like dosa or water?” On which word does your voice go down? (a) water (b) dosa
16. 16.Which sounds more polite? (a) Could I borrow a pen? (b) Give me a pen.
17. 17.A list: “We bought roti, dosa and coffee.” On which word does your voice go down? (a) coffee (b) roti (c) dosa
18. 18.Offering a choice: “Would you like tea or roti?” On which word does your voice go down? (a) tea (b) roti
19. 19.Which sounds more polite? (a) Could you wait, please? (b) Wait.
20. 20.“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 ↘
21. 21.Which sounds more polite? (a) Shut the door. (b) Could you shut the door?
22. 22.Offering a choice: “Would you like idli or rice?” On which word does your voice go down? (a) rice (b) idli
23. 23.A list: “We bought dosa, idli and rice.” On which word does your voice go down? (a) idli (b) dosa (c) rice
24. 24.A list: “We bought roti, rice and milk.” On which word does your voice go down? (a) rice (b) milk (c) roti
25. 25.Offering a choice: “Would you like water or coffee?” On which word does your voice go down? (a) coffee (b) water
26. 26.Offering a choice: “Would you like dosa or roti?” On which word does your voice go down? (a) roti (b) dosa
27. 27.A list: “We bought lassi, tea and milk.” On which word does your voice go down? (a) lassi (b) milk (c) tea
28. 28.Offering a choice: “Would you like lassi or roti?” On which word does your voice go down? (a) roti (b) lassi
29. 29.A list: “We bought milk, juice and rice.” On which word does your voice go down? (a) rice (b) juice (c) milk
30. 30.Which sounds more polite? (a) I am coming in. (b) May I come in?
31. 31.Offering a choice: “Would you like milk or idli?” On which word does your voice go down? (a) milk (b) idli
32. 32.A list: “We bought roti, milk and lassi.” On which word does your voice go down? (a) roti (b) lassi (c) milk
33. 33.A list: “We bought tea, milk and idli.” On which word does your voice go down? (a) milk (b) tea (c) idli
34. 34.A list: “We bought milk, water and roti.” On which word does your voice go down? (a) roti (b) milk (c) water
35. 35.Offering a choice: “Would you like tea or juice?” On which word does your voice go down? (a) juice (b) tea
36. 36.“The shop is open, isn’t it?” You are not sure and really want to know. Does your voice go up or down on the tag? (a) Up ↗ (b) Down ↘
37. 37.“He can swim, can’t he?” 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 ↗
38. 38.“The shop is open, isn’t it?” 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 ↗
39. 39.Offering a choice: “Would you like tea or idli?” On which word does your voice go down? (a) tea (b) idli
40. 40.Offering a choice: “Would you like dosa or tea?” On which word does your voice go down? (a) tea (b) dosa

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