Choose the most appropriate stress pattern from the options below Constitution

Analyze the question: You are asked to find which syllable of "constitution" carries the primary stress. The word has four syllables: con-sti-tu-tion.

Concept: In English, words ending in -tion (also -sion, -ic, -ical, -ity) usually put the primary stress on the syllable just before the suffix. This is a very reliable rule in stress questions.

Examples:

• eduCAtion → stress on "ca" (before -tion)
• inforMAtion → stress on "ma"
• pronunciAtion → stress on "a"

Solution:

1. Split the word: con – sti – tu – tion
2. The suffix is -tion, the last syllable.
3. The syllable right before it is tu.
4. So the primary stress falls on "tu": con-sti-TU-tion.

Pronunciation: /ˌkɒnstɪˈtjuːʃn/. The long vowel /uː/ in "tu" carries the main stress. The first syllable has only a weaker, secondary stress.

Checking the options:

• A. CON-sti-tu-tion: stress on the first syllable, which is wrong (that is only the secondary stress).
• B. con-STI-tu-tion: wrong.
• C. con-sti-TU-tion: correct, as it follows the -tion rule.
• D. con-sti-tu-TION: wrong, because the stress never falls on the -tion suffix itself.

Exam tip: For any word ending in -tion or -sion, stress the syllable just before the ending. Use the same idea for "situation," "examination," and "competition."