consequential — choose the one that has the correct stress

Analyzing the question: You're asked to find where the main (primary) stress falls in the word consequential (/ˌkɒnsɪˈkwenʃl/).

The concept: In English, words ending in -tial, -tion, -sion, -cial, and similar suffixes usually take their primary stress on the syllable just before the suffix. The suffix itself is never stressed.

Step-by-step solution:

1. Break the word into syllables: con - se - quen - tial (4 syllables).
2. The ending -tial is pronounced /ʃl/ and is a weak, unstressed syllable.
3. The syllable just before it is -quen-, so it carries the primary stress.
4. Compare with similar words: • influ-EN-tial • pres-i-DEN-tial • sub-STAN-tial • con-fi-DEN-tial

In each, the stress falls on the syllable before -tial.

5. The pronunciation is therefore: con-se-QUEN-tial. The first syllable carries only a weaker secondary stress.

Checking the options:

• A. CON-se-quen-tial: wrong, as it stresses the first syllable.
• B. con-SE-quen-tial: wrong, as it stresses the second syllable.
• C. con-se-QUEN-tial: correct.
• D. con-se-quen-TIAL: wrong, since the suffix is never stressed.

Tip: Remember the rule "stress the syllable before -tial, -tion, -sion, -cial". For example, eduCAtion, ofFIcial, poTENtial. Apply this rule and you can answer many stress questions quickly in WASSCE, JAMB and NECO.