constitution — choose the one that has the correct stress

Analyze the question: You are asked to find where the main (primary) stress falls in the word "constitution". The word has four syllables: con-sti-tu-tion.

Explain the concept: In English, words ending in -tion (also -sion, -ic, -ity, -ial) usually put the primary stress on the syllable just before the suffix. This is a very reliable rule, and it appears often in WASSCE oral English.

Examples:

• edu-CA-tion (not EDU-cation)
• inform-A-tion
• revo-LU-tion
• pollu-TION is wrong, but pol-LU-tion is right

Step-by-step solution:

1. Break the word into syllables: con - sti - tu - tion
2. Identify the suffix: -tion
3. The syllable right before -tion is tu
4. So the stress falls on tu: con-sti-TU-tion

Pronounced: /ˌkɒn.stɪˈtjuː.ʃən/. The primary stress is on "tu", with a secondary (weaker) stress on "con".

Checking the options:

• A. CON-st-itu-tion: wrong syllable division and stress on the first syllable
• B. con-STI-tu-tion: stress on the second syllable, which is wrong
• C. con-sti-TU-tion: stress on the syllable before -tion, which is correct
• D. con-sti-tu-TION: the suffix -tion is never stressed in this type of word, so it is wrong

Correct answer: C

Exam tip: For words ending in -tion/-sion, stress the syllable right before the ending. Tap it out: con-sti-TU-tion, edu-CA-tion, na-TION-al-i-ty follows a different pattern, so just remember the -tion rule for words that end in it.