In the following question, the main/primary stress is indicated by writing the syllable on which it occurs in…

Analyze the question: You are asked to find the correct primary stress position in the word unwillingness (4 syllables: un-wil-ling-ness).

Explain the concept:

• Prefixes like un- and suffixes like -ing and -ness are usually unstressed. They do not change the stress of the root word.
• So the stress stays where it falls in the root word, willing.
• Stress in willing falls on the first syllable: WIL-ling.

Step-by-step solution:

1. Break the word into parts: un + will + ing + ness.
2. The root is will, and the stress of willing is on WIL.
3. The prefix un- is added without taking the stress, as in unHAPpy and unKIND. The same applies to unWILling.
4. The suffixes -ing and -ness are unstressed (compare HAPpiness, KINDness).
5. So the primary stress falls on the second syllable of the whole word: un-WIL-ling-ness.

Checking the options:

• A. UN-wil-ling-ness: stresses the prefix, which is wrong.
• B. un-WIL-ling-ness: stresses the root, which is correct.
• C. un-wil-LING-ness: stresses a suffix, which is wrong.
• D. un-wil-ling-NESS: stresses a suffix, which is wrong.

Tip: For words with prefixes and suffixes such as un-, -ing, -ness, -ly and -ful, find the root word and stress it. Neutral affixes almost never carry the primary stress.