When you say a sentence, what you say is important (content), but also how you say it (intonation).
You can say the sentence with a completely different or opposite meaning.
For example, "I beg your pardon"
If you end with a rising tone: "I beg your pardon?"(↗)
- You make it a question: you are asking the person to say the sentence again.
If you end with a falling tone: "I beg your pardon."(↘)
- You are apologizing and saying sorry to someone.
Intonation is the rise and fall of your voice when you speak. At the end of the sentence, if your intonation is:
Falling (↘): used for most regular statements and questions that are not yes or no questions
Rising (↗): used for asking a yes or no question or to show disbelief or anger
How Intonation Changes Meaning
A：Can you get my towel? B：Sorry?（↗）
Sorry? = means I didn't hear you. Could you say that again?
A：Can you get my towel? B：Sorry. （↘） My hands are full.
Sorry. = means I cannot help you
Compare the tones of the words in a sentence.
For example, "I work for the company"
"I (↗) work for the company."
- You are implying that other people do not work in this company.
"I work for (↗) the company.
- You are implying that you are working here and that you are not here to play or fool around.
Interrogative words like:
- who
- which
- what
- how
- when
- where
- why
You can emphasis these words with intonation and it would change the whole meaning.
"Who", for example,
A：Mrs. Clinton asked some students to present their projects tomorrow.
B：Who?（↗）
Who? = means I didn't hear you. Could you say that again?
A：Mrs. Clinton asked some students to present their projects tomorrow.
B：Who?（↘）
A：Maybe you or Ken would like to present first.
Who? = means who do you think is suitable / who are you referring to.
Tag Questions = a statement + mini-question. Used to ask for confirmation.
A：You will come to the party, won't you?（↘）
B：Yes, I will.
-Falling tone: asking for confirmation; I know I have invited you to the party but want to make sure you will come.
A：You will come to the party, won't you?（↗）
B：Yes, I will. / No, I won't.
-Rising tone: asking with no confidence but hoping that you will come, so the answer may be yes or no.
Interaction with others
A：Are you Mr. Smith?
B：Yes.（↘）
A：Here you go.
Yes. = closed question; if the person has nothing more to say / questions to ask, the conversation is over.
A：Are you Mr. Smith?
B：Yes.（↗）
A：Oh, you have a message.
Yes. = asking the person why they are looking for you.
Rhetorical question: questions that is asked to make a point rather than waiting for an answer.
A：Do you think George is ready to lead the sales team?
B：If George is not, who is?（↗）
Even though "who is?" is used here, the person is stating that there is no better person for leading the sales team.
A：Hey, that's James?
B：Isn't he cute?（↘）
Here, the question is not really a question, but a statement saying Melissa is really cute.
Use your instincts to decide with the "whole picture" of the conversation what the meaning is.
Quiz time! Try to answer this question:
James: Katie looked very tired these days.
Lisa: She looked OK to me (↗) .
Q : What does Lisa think of Katie?
〔A〕She saw Katie sleeping at work.
〔B〕Katie said she was fine.
〔C〕Katie told Lisa she was tired.
〔D〕She thinks Katie is fine.
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Answer is (D) = The tone rises on "me" which means Lisa does not agreed with James.
You think Katie looks tired, but she seems fine to me.
↘ Did you get the answer right? Comment below!↙