Oral: Rising Tone – SS2 English Lesson Note (Second Term)

The rising tone is a rise in the pitch of the voice, marked with an upward arrow (/). In English, speakers use it for polar questions, requests, polite statements, protests, greetings, items in a list, and utterances that show indifference. For example, “Is English your best subject? /” ends with a rising tone.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

• explain what the rising tone is;
• state the situations in which the rising tone is used;
• give at least two examples for each use;
• mark the rising tone correctly in sentences.

When do we use the rising tone?

The rising tone is marked with an upward arrow (/). It shows a rise in the pitch of the voice. It has the following uses.

1. Polar questions

Polar questions are questions that require yes or no as the answer. Examples:

• Is English your best subject? /
• Are you going to take the job? /

2. Requests

• Close that door, please. /
• Could you give me your biro? /

3. Polite statements

• Please don’t be offended. /
• Come in, please. /

4. Protests

• We do not want him here again. /
• I shall not eat anymore. /

5. Greetings

• Good morning. /
• Good afternoon. /

6. Listing items

Each item in the list takes a rising tone, except the last item, which takes a falling tone (\).

• We need some rice /, beans /, fish / and meat. \
• There are five items in the shop. They are cups /, bags /, chairs /, books / and tins. \

7. Utterances showing indifference

• You can do what you want. /
• If you want to. /

Evaluation

1. What is the rising tone?
2. What is a polar question? Give two examples and mark the rising tone.
3. State four other uses of the rising tone.
4. Mark the tones in this sentence: We need some rice, beans, fish and meat.

Assignment

Write two sentences for each of these uses of the rising tone: requests, greetings and utterances showing indifference. Mark the rising tone in each sentence.