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Choose the most appropriate stress pattern from the options below palatable

Choose the most appropriate stress pattern from the options below
palatable
Take Free Practice Test On 2026 JAMB UTME, Post UTME, WAEC SSCE, GCE, NECO SSCE
  • A PAL—a—ta—ble
  • B Pal—A—ta—ble
  • C Pal—a—TA—ble
  • D Pal—a—ta—BLE
Correct Answer: Option A
Explanation:
Some words are made up of a root and a suffix:
dangerous  =   root –> danger +  [b]ous[/b] –< suffix
commercial  =   root –> commerc(e) + [b]al[/b] –< suffix
In some words with suffixes, the stress stays on the same syllable as in the root. Compare:
‘danger and: ‘dangerous
In other words, the suffix changes the stressed syllable. Compare:
‘commerce and: com‘mercial
Suffixes which don’t usually change the stress pattern in the root word include (however they maybe some exceptions.) -able, -age, -al, -er, -ful, -less, -ness, -ous and -fy. For example:
comfort – ‘comfortable
per‘cent – per’centage
e‘lectric – e‘lectrical‘amplify –‘amplifier
re‘gret – re‘gretful
re‘gard – re‘gardless‘foolish – ‘foolishness
di‘saster – di‘sastrous‘beauty – ‘beautify
(However they maybe some exceptions.) Exceptions with -able and -al include:
ad‘mire – ‘admirable
pre‘fer – ‘preferable‘medicine – me‘dicinal‘agriculture – agri‘cultural

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