Polite Intonation Worksheet

Pronunciation lesson 23: Polite intonation · Set 470 · 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 roti, lassi and idli.” On which word does your voice go down? (a) idli (b) lassi (c) roti
2. 2.“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 ↘
3. 3.Which sounds more polite? (a) Could you help me? (b) Help me.
4. 4.Which sounds more polite? (a) Pass the salt. (b) Could you pass the salt?
5. 5.Offering a choice: “Would you like idli or tea?” On which word does your voice go down? (a) idli (b) tea
6. 6.A list: “We bought coffee, idli and water.” On which word does your voice go down? (a) idli (b) water (c) coffee
7. 7.A list: “We bought idli, water and coffee.” On which word does your voice go down? (a) idli (b) water (c) coffee
8. 8.A list: “We bought dosa, roti and idli.” On which word does your voice go down? (a) idli (b) dosa (c) roti
9. 9.Which sounds more polite? (a) Give me a pen. (b) Could I borrow a pen?
10. 10.“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 ↗
11. 11.Offering a choice: “Would you like water or milk?” On which word does your voice go down? (a) water (b) milk
12. 12.Offering a choice: “Would you like tea or idli?” On which word does your voice go down? (a) tea (b) idli
13. 13.Offering a choice: “Would you like juice or coffee?” On which word does your voice go down? (a) coffee (b) juice
14. 14.Offering a choice: “Would you like rice or milk?” On which word does your voice go down? (a) milk (b) rice
15. 15.A list: “We bought milk, water and tea.” On which word does your voice go down? (a) milk (b) water (c) tea
16. 16.A list: “We bought milk, water and lassi.” On which word does your voice go down? (a) water (b) lassi (c) milk
17. 17.Offering a choice: “Would you like coffee or tea?” On which word does your voice go down? (a) coffee (b) tea
18. 18.A list: “We bought juice, coffee and roti.” On which word does your voice go down? (a) coffee (b) juice (c) roti
19. 19.A list: “We bought idli, milk and dosa.” On which word does your voice go down? (a) dosa (b) milk (c) idli
20. 20.Offering a choice: “Would you like juice or lassi?” On which word does your voice go down? (a) lassi (b) juice
21. 21.Which sounds more polite? (a) Show me the way. (b) Can you show me the way?
22. 22.Offering a choice: “Would you like tea or milk?” On which word does your voice go down? (a) tea (b) milk
23. 23.“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) Down ↘ (b) Up ↗
24. 24.A list: “We bought dosa, coffee and idli.” On which word does your voice go down? (a) dosa (b) idli (c) coffee
25. 25.Which sounds more polite? (a) Say it again. (b) Could you repeat that?
26. 26.Offering a choice: “Would you like juice or milk?” On which word does your voice go down? (a) juice (b) milk
27. 27.Offering a choice: “Would you like dosa or rice?” On which word does your voice go down? (a) rice (b) dosa
28. 28.Offering a choice: “Would you like water or idli?” On which word does your voice go down? (a) water (b) idli
29. 29.“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 ↗
30. 30.Offering a choice: “Would you like milk or tea?” On which word does your voice go down? (a) tea (b) milk
31. 31.A list: “We bought coffee, dosa and tea.” On which word does your voice go down? (a) tea (b) coffee (c) dosa
32. 32.A list: “We bought lassi, juice and rice.” On which word does your voice go down? (a) lassi (b) juice (c) rice
33. 33.Offering a choice: “Would you like lassi or coffee?” On which word does your voice go down? (a) coffee (b) lassi
34. 34.A list: “We bought idli, water and roti.” On which word does your voice go down? (a) roti (b) water (c) idli
35. 35.“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 ↗
36. 36.Which sounds more polite? (a) Wait. (b) Could you wait, please?
37. 37.Offering a choice: “Would you like dosa or coffee?” On which word does your voice go down? (a) coffee (b) dosa
38. 38.Which sounds more polite? (a) Can I have some water? (b) Give me water.
39. 39.Offering a choice: “Would you like coffee or dosa?” On which word does your voice go down? (a) dosa (b) coffee
40. 40.Offering a choice: “Would you like idli or roti?” On which word does your voice go down? (a) roti (b) idli

Free pronunciation lessons, practice and worksheets at talentjr.in/english-pronunciation