Intonation

Whereas pitch exists on syllables, intonation is the pattern of how that pitch rises and falls within sentences to convey things like feeling, certainty, and different types of sentence meanings like what type of question it is and what type of statement it is.

Many types of intonation are common between languages but some languages like Chinese languages and Russian may have different intonational patterns than does English. Take a look at the video below to learn more

Rise-fall intonation (231 pattern)

The rising-falling contour is one of the most common patterns and often indicates certainty. In this pattern, the pitch starts at mid-level then rises at the sentence focus (the most important word) and falls deeply until the end of the sentence. This pattern is often used for declarative statements, wh-questions, commands, or directives.

Declarative sentences

Last syllable focus

1. Computers are fun.
2. I wonder which one I should buy.
3. Turtles don’t have wings.
4. There's much to do. There's so little time!
5. The name’s James. James Bond.
6. Water is important for your health.
7. In France they like their bread.

Focus word/syllable is not the last syllable

1. Squirrels are cuddly. I wish I could domesticate one.
2. I have a lot of homework. 
3. The smell is atrocious! I’ve never smelt something so bad ever!
4. I studied linguistics in university. Now I help people improve their accent.
5. I learn a lot in Adrian’s accent class.

Wh Questions

Last syllable focus

1. Where are you from?
2. What did you do?
3. Who did you see?
4. What is your name?
5. Where’s the place?
6. Who lives in this house?
7. When is the bus?
8. Why is that so?
9. How do you know?

Last syllable is not the focus

1. Where are you going?
2. What did you say to him?
3. Who said that to you?
4. When is the conference?
5. Who are the speakers?
6. Why are you doing this to me?
7. How tasty is this?
8. What is this attitude?

Directives (commands & command-like requests)

Focus at the end

1. Bring me some soup. I’d like it now.
2. Do what you will.
3. Don’t come running to me for help
4. Go to sleep!
5. Have a nice day!

Because most directives that have focus on the last syllable are single syllable commands, we'll work on multi-word commands that have the sentence focus in the middle or start of the sentence

Focus not at the end

1. Come with me!
2. Stay away from me
3. Don’t you dare do that
4. Go screw yourself!
5. We demand a ransom!

Rising intonation (23 pattern)

The rising intonation patterns in English are usually questions and usually signal uncertainty. Usually, the utterance starts at the middle level until the prominent element which is the start of the rise, and then continues to rise slightly until the end of the utterance.

Y/N Questions

Indicate the prominent elements (words or syllables), and practice saying the phrase, esp the part where it jumps up in pitch level.

Do you get what I mean?

1. Did you understand that?
2. Would you like to dance?
3. Would you like some tea?
4. Are you coming to school?
5. Are you gonna do something about that?
6. And you, Brutus?
7. Do you feel lucky?
8. Is this a pigeon? Is this a butterfly?

Yes/no questions (statement word order)

Yes/no questions in statement word order yes/no questions except they are not in question order. You use these questions when you have some evidence of the statement already. Also, intonation may rise more sharply than just usual to indicate greater surprise.

Verification / surprise questions

1. You’re finally awake?
2. This is what you want?
3. You want a piece of me?
4. He’s alive?
5. You’re just gonna leave me here alone?
6. You’re the person everyone’s been talking about?
7. You really think so?
8. Oh, you’re approaching me?
9. After all this time?