Intonation: statements, questions, and emphasis
Use French intonation patterns so you sound confident and natural in everyday conversation.
What you’ll learn Use French intonation patterns so you sound confident and natural in everyday conversation.
Key ideas (keep these in your head) • Statements often fall at the end; yes/no questions often rise (without exaggeration). • Wh‐questions can be flatter or fall; the structure matters more than dramatic pitch. • Intonation works with rhythm groups: pitch movement often happens at group boundaries.
Real examples (French → what you often hear → English) • Tu viens ce soir. → tu viens ce soir. → You’re coming tonight. • Tu viens ce soir ? → tu viens ce soir ? → Are you coming tonight? • Tu viens quand ? → tu viens quand ? → When are you coming?
Common mistakes (and quick fixes) • Over‐raising like English ‘uptalk’. Fix: keep rises smaller and controlled. • Flat delivery everywhere. Fix: mark group endings and add slight pitch movement.
Quick self-check Record 3 versions: statement / yes-no question / wh-question with the same words. Compare pitch at the end.
About this lesson
How to practise “Intonation: statements, questions, and emphasis”
This lesson is part of the Pronunciation series on Chase in French. Train your ear and mouth on the sounds that make French French — nasal vowels, liaison, the R, and the rhythm patterns native speakers actually use.
Follow the Ears → Mouth → Eyes method: first listen to how native speakers say it, then repeat it out loud until it feels natural, and only then look at the spelling. Short, repeated practice over several days beats one long session.
Want guided feedback on your accent? The Chase in French Academy and live classes turn lessons like this into structured training, and the weekly podcast lets you hear these patterns in real conversation.
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