institution

Analyze the question: This is a stress (word accent) question. You are asked to identify which syllable of "institution" carries the primary stress.

Explain the concept: In English, words ending in -tion usually take the primary stress on the syllable immediately before the suffix. Examples: edu-CA-tion, in-for-MA-tion, com-pe-TI-tion. This is because the "-tion" ending (pronounced /ʃən/) is unstressed, but it pulls the stress onto the syllable before it.

Show the solution:

1. Break the word into syllables: in – sti – tu – tion (4 syllables).
2. The suffix is -tion, so the stress falls on the syllable just before it: tu.
3. The pronunciation is /ˌɪnstɪˈtjuːʃən/ (in British English), with the primary stress on "tu" (and a secondary stress on "in").

Checking the options:

• A. IN-sti-tu-tion: stress on the first syllable. Incorrect (this is only the secondary stress).
• B. in-STI-tu-tion: stress on the second syllable. Incorrect.
• C. in-sti-TU-tion: stress on the third syllable. Correct.
• D. in-sti-tu-TION: stress on the last syllable. Incorrect, since -tion is never stressed in this pattern.

Answer: The primary stress falls on the third syllable, so the answer is C.

Exam tip: For words ending in -tion, -sion, -ic, -ical, -ity, the stress usually falls on the syllable right before the ending. Examples: pho-to-GRA-phic, ab-i-LI-ty, ex-PRE-ssion. Remember this rule and you can answer many stress questions in seconds.