For these questions, choose the most appropriate stress pattern from the options. The Stressed syllable are written in capital letter (s) inoffensive

Analyze the question: You are asked to pick the correct stress pattern for the word inoffensive (in-of-FEN-sive). It has four syllables: in – of – fen – sive.

Concept: In English, stress placement follows patterns:

• Words with the prefix in- (meaning "not") usually keep the stress of the base word. The prefix itself does not take the stress.
• So we find the stress of the base word offensive first, then add in- without changing it.
• Words ending in -sive (such as offensive, expensive, extensive, decisive) normally put the stress on the syllable just before the suffix, which is the second to last syllable. Here, that syllable is -fen-.

Solution:

1. Base word: offensive = of-FEN-sive. The stress falls on FEN.
2. Add the prefix in-: inoffensive = in-of-FEN-sive. The stress stays on FEN.
3. Check the options: • A. inOFfensive – stress on of (wrong) • B. inoffenSIVE – stress on the suffix -sive (wrong, suffixes like this are not stressed) • C. inofFENsive – stress on fen (correct) • D. INoffensive – stress on the prefix in- (wrong)

Correct answer: C. inofFENsive

Tip: For words ending in -sive, -tion, -sion, -ic, and -ity, the stress usually lands on the syllable just before the ending. Also, negative prefixes like in-, un-, and dis- normally do not change where the stress falls. Compare exPENsive and inexPENsive, or deCIsive and indeCIsive.