dependable — In each of the following questions, the main/ primary stress is indicated by writing the…

Analyze the question: You are asked to pick the option that shows the correct primary stress for the word "dependable" (de-pen-da-ble, 4 syllables).

Explain the concept:

• The stress in a word usually falls on the root word. Suffixes like -able are normally unstressed and do not change where the stress falls.
• The root here is depend, which is stressed on the second syllable: de-PEND.
• Adding the suffix -able keeps that stress in place: de-PEND + -able.

Step-by-step solution:

1. Break the word into syllables: de | pen | da | ble.
2. Identify the root: depend (de-PEND). The stress is on "pend", the second syllable.
3. The suffix -able is a neutral suffix, so the stress stays on "pen".
4. Result: de-PEN-da-ble.

Checking the options:

• A. DE-pen-da-ble: stress on the first syllable, which is wrong because the prefix de- is weak.
• B. de-PEN-da-ble: stress on the second syllable, which is correct.
• C. de-pen-DA-ble: stress on the third syllable, which is wrong.
• D. de-pen-da-BLE: stress on the last syllable, which is wrong.

Tip: For words ending in suffixes like -able, -ful, -less, -ness, -ment, -ly, find the root word and stress it as you would on its own. Compare: comFORT → comFORTable, deSIRE → deSIRable, dePEND → dePENDable.