Answer the following question below and choose the option that has the stress on the first syllable

Analyze the question: You are asked to pick the word that is stressed on the first syllable. Each word has two syllables, so the question is whether the stress falls on the first or the second.

Concept: In English, many two-syllable nouns carry stress on the first syllable. Many two-syllable verbs and words with certain prefixes (like in-, com-) carry stress on the second. Numbers ending in -teen usually carry stress on the -teen syllable when said in isolation.

Step-by-step solution:

• A. madam (MAD-am): a noun, stressed on the first syllable. ✔
• B. eighteen (eigh-TEEN): the stress is on the second syllable, -teen. ✘ (In a phrase like "EIGHTeen boys" the stress can shift, but the word on its own is stressed on the second syllable.)
• C. invent (in-VENT): a verb, stressed on the second syllable. ✘
• D. command (com-MAND): a verb, stressed on the second syllable. ✘

Answer: Only madam has its stress on the first syllable.

Tip: Two-syllable nouns usually take first-syllable stress (MAD-am, TA-ble, DOC-tor), while two-syllable verbs usually take second-syllable stress (in-VENT, com-MAND, be-GIN). Also, the -teen numbers (thirteen, eighteen) are stressed on -teen, whereas the -ty numbers (thirty, eighty) are stressed on the first syllable.