Intonation

Intonation and Pronunciation

Los siguientes párrafos son para que trabajes la entonación. Aquí te dejamos una serie de audios que podrías utilizar para simular la entonación de los distintos párrafos por tu cuenta.

Intenta primero seguir las indicaciones y luego escuchar el audio. Cada párrafo se repite 3 veces, con su traducción al castellano al final.

Para indicar una entonación ascendente, usa el símbolo 🠕 (dirección hacia arriba) al final de la palabra o frase que se debe pronunciar con una entonación ascendente. Por ejemplo, » Is that supposed to be the answer?» se escribiría como «Is that 🠕 supposed to be the answer?».

Para indicar una entonación descendente, usa el símbolo ↓(dirección hacia abajo) al final de la palabra o frase que se debe pronunciar con una entonación descendente. Por ejemplo, «I don’t understand!» se escribiría como «I don’t understand↓».

Para indicar una pausa dentro de una palabra o frase, usa el símbolo 🠖 (dirección hacía la derecha) se debe parar por aproximadamente medio segundo para marcar la pausa. Por ejemplo: “In no way am I an expert” se escribiría como “In no way 🠖 am I an expert”.

Para indicar un cambio de tono dentro de una palabra o frase, utiliza ambos símbolos, 🠕 (dirección hacia arriba) y 🠖 (dirección hacia la derecha), según sea necesario. Por ejemplo, la palabra «sí» se podría escribir como «s🠕í🠖».

PARAGRAPH 1

1) Do you know how long it takes🠕 to do ↑ something like that? → Everybody here 🠕 seems to think it can be done in no 🠕 time. If we start today, we’ll be lu↑cky to be finished by next↑ week working round the clock ↓.

2) Do you know how long it takes🠕 to do something like that↑? → Everybody here 🠕 seems to think it can be done in no🠕 time. If we start today, we’ll be lu↑cky to be finished by next week working round the clock.

3) Do you know → how long it ta↑kes  to do something like that​ ↑? → Everybody here🠕 seems to think it can be done in no time↑. If we start today, we’ll be lu↑cky to be finished by next week working round the clock.​

PARAGRAPH 2

1) Whatever ha↑ppened to him↓? The last thing I↑ heard was that he had found a job in South Africa and was planning to marry a girl↑ there↓. But that↑ was four years ago↓. Since then I haven’t heard a thing.

2) Whatever ha↑ppened to him↓? The last thing I↑ heard was that he had found a job↑→ in South Africa and was planning to marry a girl↑ there↓. But that↑ was four years ago↓. Since then → I haven’t heard a thing.

3) Whatever happened to him↓? The last↑ thing I↑ heard was that he had found a job→ in South Africa and was planning to marry a girl there↓. But that was four years↑ ago↓. Since then → I haven’t heard a thing.

PARAGRAPH 3

1) Don’t get mad at me↑! I started calling him when I got here this morning → and his line has been busy all day. What else can I do, send him a telegram↑? Either his phone↑ is broken → or he doesn’t want anybody calling him↓.

2) Don’t get mad at me↑! I started calling him when I got here this morning → and his line has been busy all day. What else can I do, send him a telegram↑? Either his phone↑ is broken → or he doesn’t want anybody calling him↓.

3) Don’t get mad at me↓→! I started ca↑lling him when I got↑ here this morning → and his line has been busy→ all day↑. What else can I do↑↓, send him a telegram↑? Either his phone↑ is broken↓ → or he doesn’t want anybody calling him↓.

PARAGRAPH 4

1) First of all, I’d like to thank you for e↑verything you’ve done for me these last few months↓. I don’t know what↑ I would’ve do↑ne if it hadn’t been for your help↓. I rea↑lly appre↑ciate it. If you ever need anything, be sure to let me know.

2) First of all, I’d like to thank you for e↑verything you’ve done for me these last few months↓. I don’t↑ know what I would’ve done if it hadn’t↑ been for your help↓. I really appreciate it. If you ever need anything, be sure to let me know↑.

3) First of all, I’d like to thank↑ you for everything you’ve done↑ for me these last few months↓. I don’t know what↑ I would’ve done→ if it hadn’t been for your help. I really appreciate it↓. If you ever need↑ anything, be sure to let me know↓.

PARAGRAPH 5

1) Where → in the world have you been↑? We’ve been looking → all↑ over the place for you↓! When are you going to learn to tell your secretary where you’re going when you leave your office↓? The poor↑ girl never knows where you are↑.

2) Where in the world have you been↑? We’ve been looking all↑ over the place for you↓! When are you going to learn to tell your secretary where you’re going when you leave your office↓? The poor girl ne↑ver knows where you are↓.

3) Where in the world have you been↑? We’ve been looking all↑ over the place for you↓! When are you going to learn to tell your secretary →where you’re going when you leave your office↓? The poor↑ girl ne↑ver knows where you are↓.

PARAGRAPH 6

1) If you want your people to work effectively, you have to make them know what you expect ↑ of them↓. Once you’ve done this↑, you have a basis↑ on which to analyse their perfor↑mance as well as concrete facts to back you up when the time comes to sit down with them → and talk about their work.

2) If you want your people to work effectively, you have ↑ to make them know → what you expect of them. Once you’ve done this, you have a basis on which to a↑nalyse their performance as well as con↑crete facts to back you up →when the time comes to sit down with them and talk about their work.

3) If you want your people to work effectively, you have to make them know what you expect ↑ of them↓. Once you’ve done this, you have a basis→ on which to analyse their performance↓→ as well as concrete facts to back you up↑→ when the time comes to sit down with them → and talk about their work↓.

PARAGRAPH 7

1) Yes, I’ve seen him lately. In fact↑, I had lunch with him just this afternoon↑. He was very pleased with your report↓. He told me it was one of the best he’s seen in a long time. Keep up the good work↑.

2) Yes, I’ve seen him lately. In fact↑, I had lunch with him just this afternoon↑. He was very pleased↑ with your report↑. He told me it was one of the best ↑ he’s seen in a long time↓. Keep up the good work↑.

3) Yes, I’ve seen him lately. In fact↑, I had lunch with him just this afternoon↓. He was very plea↑sed with your report↓. He told ↑ me it was one of the best ones↑ he’s seen in a long time↓. Keep up the good work.​

PARAGRAPH 8

1) There’s an old saying that goes «Don’t leave for tomorrow → what you can do today». I used to have a cleaning lady who → always↑ said: «Leave for tomorrow what you should do today because you might not have to do it at all». With all these cancellations, I’m starting to believe her↓.

2) There’s an old↑ saying that goes «Don’t leave for tomorrow → what you can do today». I used↑ to have a cleaning lady who always said: «Leave↑ for tomorrow what you should↑ do today → because you might↑ not have to do it → at all↓«. With all these cancella↑tions, I’m starting to believe her.

3) There’s an old↑ saying that goes «Don’t leave for tomorrow → what you can do today». I used to have a clea↑ning lady who always said: «Leave↑ for tomorrow →what you should do↑ today → because you might not have to do it at all». With all these cancellations, I’m starting to believe her.

PARAGRAPH 9

1) I guess we’ll just have to bear↑ the bad publicity. The press has reached the point where they → do just about whatever they please↓. And what’s worse↑, people tend to believe that whatever the papers say↑ must be the truth↑.

2) I guess we’ll just have to bear↑ the bad publi↑city. The press has reached the point → where they do just↑ about whatever they please↓. And what’s worse↑, people tend to believe that whatever the papers say → must be the truth.

3) I guess → we’ll just have to bear↑ the bad publicity↓. The press has reached the point where they do just about → whatever they please↓. And what’s worse, people tend to believe that whatever the papers say → must be the truth↓.

PARAGRAPH 10

1) You’d better be more ca↑reful the next time↓. There are a few subjects he’s pretty sensitive about, and the sooner you learn what they are, the better for all of us. If there’s one thing he can’t↑ stand, it’s an overly confident subordinate. Next time, present alternatives. He likes that.

2) You’d better be more ca↑reful the next time↓. There are a few subjects he’s pretty↑ sensitive about, and the sooner you learn what they are↑, the better for all↑ of us. If there’s one↑ thing he can’t stand↓, it’s an overly confident subordinate. Next time, present alternatives. He likes that.

3) You’d better↑ be more careful the next time↓. There are a few↑ subjects he’s pretty↑ sensitive about, and the sooner you learn what they are↑, the better for all↑ of us. If there’s one↑ thing he can’t↑ stand↓, it’s an o↑verly con↑fident subordinate. Next time, present alternatives↓. He likes that.

PARAGRAPH 11

1) You’re right↑ in that our maintenance contract → is expensive, but don’t forget↑ that it covers everything. For example, if you accidentally spill↑ your co↑ffee on the keyboard, we’ll provide↑ you with a free↑ replacement until your machine↑ is fixed↑. And if we can’t fix it, you can keep↑ the second one.

2) You’re right in that our maintenance contract is expen↑sive↓,but don’t↑ forget that it covers everything. For example, if you accidentally spill your coffee on the keyboard↑, we’ll provide you with a free replace↑ment until your machine is fixed↑. And if we can’t fix it, you can keep the second one.

3) You’re right in that our maintenance contract is expensive↓, but don’t forget that it → covers↑ everything. For exam↑ple, if you accidentally↑ spill your co↑ffee on the keyboard↓, we’ll↑ provide you with a free↑ replacement until your machine is fixed. And if we can’t↑ fix it, you can keep the second one↓.

PARAGRAPH 12

1) Well, what do you think↑ about him? He seems to me to be the right man for the job↑. Up to now, he’s always been an honest, hard-working fellow, and completely loyal to the company. If any↑body’s capable of handling the job, I think he is.

2) Well, what do you think↑ about him? He seems to me↑ to be the right man for the job↑. Up to now↑, he’s always been an honest, hard-working fellow, and completely loyal↑ to the company. If anybody’s capable of handling the job, I think he↑ is↓.

3) Well, what do you think↑ about him↓? He seems↑ to me↓→ to be the right↑ man for the job↓. Up to now↑, he’s always been an honest, hard-working fellow, and complete↑ly loyal to the company. If anybody’s capable of handling the job, I think he↑ is↓.

PARAGRAPH 13

1) He’s the stu↑bbornest man I’ve ever met. I spent se↑ven hours with him yesterday, and I still↑ don’t think I was able to change his mind in even the sma↑llest details. Thank God↑ I don’t have to deal with him very often. It would drive me crazy.

2) He’s the stubbornest man I’ve ever met↑. I spent seven hours with him yesterday, and I still↑ don’t think I was able to change his mind in even the sma↑llest details. Thank God↑ I don’t have to deal with him very of↑ten. It would drive me cra↑zy.

3) He’s the s→tu↑bbornest man I’ve ever met↓. I spent seven↑ hours with him yesterday, and I still↑ don’t think I was able to change his mind in even↑ the smallest details. Thank God↑ I don’t have to deal with him very often. It would drive me crazy.

PARAGRAPH 14

1) If you ever come back to New York, be sure↑ to look me up↑. Here’s me address, I’m available → at any↑time to show people around the town↓, and no↑body knows the Big Apple better than I do. You can be su↑re of that!

2) If you ever come back to New York, be sure to look me up. Here’s me address↓, I’m available  at anytime↑ to show people around the town↑, and no↑body knows the Big Apple better than I↑ do. You can be sure↑ of that!

3) If you ever come back to New York, be sure to look me up. Here’s me address, I’m available at anytime to show people around the town, and no↑body knows the Big Apple better than I↑ do. You can be sure of that!

PARAGRAPH 15

1) Convincing Jim↑ is like persuading a kangaroo to give up jum↑ping. You can twist his arm all→ you want, but you’ll never make him look at things your way. In a way↓, it’s good. His position requires a strong character and a decisive mind↓.

2) Convincing Jim→ is like persuading a kangaroo↑ to give up jumping. You can twist his arm all you want, but you’ll never make him look at things your way. In a way↑, it’s good. His position requires a strong character and a decisive mind.

3) Convincing Jim is like persuading a kangaroo to give up jumping. You can twist his arm→ all you want, but you’ll ne↑ver make him look at things your way. In a way↑, it’s good. His position requires a strong character and a deci↑sive mind.

PARAGRAPH 16

1) Teaching a language→ is like any other type of training. If a teacher wants to succeed↑ in his task, he must know how to control↑ his students as well as entertain them. The actual teaching↑ aspect of the class is important, but it can never stand by itself.

2) Teaching a language→ is like any other type of training↓. If a teacher wants to succeed↑ in his task, he must know how to control his students↑→ as well as entertain them. The actual teaching↑ aspect of the class is important, but it can never stand by itself.

3) Teaching a language is like any other type of training. If a teacher wants to succeed↑ in his task, he must↑ know how to control his students→ as well↑ as entertain them. The actual teaching↑ aspect of the class is important, but it can never↑ stand by itself.

PARAGRAPH 17

1) I don’t know why↑ they didn’t put your name on the list. It must have been simply an oversight↓. Why don’t you call Mr. Johnson? He’s in charge of the whole thing↑. I’m al↑ways in favour of going straight to the horse’s mouth.

2) I don’t know why↑ they didn’t put your name on the list. It must have been simply an oversight↓. Why↑ don’t you call Mr. John↑son? He’s in charge of the whole thing↑. I’m al↑ways in favour of going straight↑→ to the horse’s mouth.

3) I don’t know why they didn’t put your name on the list. It must↑ have been simply↑ an oversight. Why don’t you call Mr. Johnson? He’s↑ in charge of the whole thing. I’m al↑ways in favour of going straight to the horse’s mouth.

PARAGRAPH 18

1) Well, gentlemen, we’ve got a problem on our hands↓. What shall we do about Mr. Smith? He’s been a good, reliable emplo↑yee up to now. I really can’t understand what’s gotten↑ into him. Only a hopeless lu↑natic would order 2,000 orange tuxedos↓!

2) Well, gentlemen, we’ve got a problem on our hands. What shall we do about Mr. Smith↑? He’s been a good↑, reliable employee up to now. I really can’t understand what’s gotten into him. Only a hopeless lu↑natic would order 2,000 orange tuxe↑dos!

3) Well, gentlemen, we’ve got a pro↑blem on our hands. What shall we do about Mr. Smith? He’s been a→ good↑, reliable emplo↑yee → up to now↑. I really can’t understand what’s gotten →  into him. Only a hope↑less lu↑natic would order 2,000 orange tuxe↑dos!

PARAGRAPH 19

1) I know how you feel. I’m worn out too↓. It’s been quite a hectic day for all of us. By the way, are you going to that party tonight↑? I really don’t feel like it. They told me it would last until one or two. And if that’s the case, they’ll have to ca↑rry me home!

2) I know how you feel. I’m worn out too. It’s been quite a hectic day for all of us. By the way, are you going to that party tonight↑? I really don’t feel like it. They told me it would last until one or two. And if that’s the case, they’ll have to carry me↑ home!

3) I know how you feel. I’m worn out too↓. It’s been quite↑ a hectic day for all of us. By the way↑, are you going to that par↑ty tonight? I really don’t feel like it. They told↑ me it would last until→ one or two. And if that’s the case, they’ll have to ca↑rry me home!

PARAGRAPH 20

1) What would you have done if it had happened to you? It’s always casy to second guess people after the fact. If I knew beforehand what my boss’ reactions would be to my proposals, I’d really have my ammunition ready.

2) What would you↑ have done→ if it had happened to you↑↓? It’s always easy↑ to second guess people after the fact. If I knew beforehand what my boss’ reactions would be to my proposals, I’d really have my ammunition ready.

3) What would you↑ have done if it had happened to you? It’s always easy↑ to second↑ guess people after the fact. If I knew before↑hand what my boss’→ reactions would be to my proposals, I’d really↑ have my ammunition ready↓.

PARAGRAPH 21

1) I’ve had a lot↑ of things done to my house lately. I’ve had the whole↑→ inte↑rior painted and I’ve had the ceiling lowered so that I can save some money↑ on the heating bill. I’ve had a new carpet put in↑, and I’ve had new plumbing installed↓.

2) I’ve had a lot of things done to my house lately. I’ve had the whole interior painted and I’ve had the ceiling lowered→ so that I can save some money↑ on the heating↑ bill. I’ve had a new carpet put in↑, and I’ve had new plumbing installed↓.

3) I’ve had a lot of things done to my house lately. I’ve had the whole↑ interior painted and↑ I’ve had the cei↑ling lowered so that I can save some money on the heating bill. I’ve had a new↑ carpet put in, and I’ve had new↑ plumbing installed.

PARAGRAPH 22

1) I don’t know whether to believe him or not↓. First he told me he was going to Rome↓ and then he went and told his boss↑ he was going to a wedding in his hometown↓. If he keeps doing things like that, people are going to stop trusting↑ him.

2) I don’t know whether to believe him or not. First he told me he was going to Rome and then↑ he went and told his boss he was going to a wedding↑ in his hometown↑. If he keeps doing things like that, people are going to stop trusting↑ him.

3) I don’t know whether to believe him or not. First↑ he told me↑ he was going to Rome→ and then he went and told his boss he was going to a wedding in his hometown. If he keeps↑ doing things like that, people are going to stop trusting↑ him.

PARAGRAPH 23

1) By the way, we went to that restaurant you recommended the other day. It was really good↑↓. They offered us a free↑ glass of champagne and we stayed there about half an hour longer than we expected. When we got back to the car↑↓, it had been broken into and the radio was gone↓.

2) By the way↑, we went to that rest↑aurant you recommended the other day. It was really good↑. They offered us a free↑ glass of champagne↑ and we stayed there about half an hour longer than we expec↑ted. When we got back↑ to the car↑, it had been broken into→ and the radio was gone↓.

3) By the way↑, we went to that rest↑aurant you recommended the other day. It was really good↑. They offered us a free glass of champagne↑ and we stayed there→ about half an hour longer than we expec↑ted. When we got back to the car↑, it had been broken into and the radio was gone.

PARAGRAPH 24

1) This place used to be bustling↑ with people. Trains came in every 15 minutes. But ever since they built that station↑ on 33 street, it’s never been the same↓. Now I could walk through the station blind-folded↑ and wouldn’t run into anybody↓.

2) This place used to be bustling↑ with people. Trains came in every 15 minutes↑. But ever since they built that station on 33 street, it’s never been the same. Now↑ I could walk through the station blind↑-folded and wouldn’t run into anyone↑.

3) This place used to be bustling↑ with people. Trains came in every 15 minutes. But ever since they built that station on 33 street, it’s never been the same↑. Now I could walk through↑ the station blind-folded and wouldn’t run into any↑one.

PARAGRAPH 25

1) Waiting is the worst↑ part of the job↓. Everyday I have to see about four different pros↑pects and I usually end up waiting up to half↑ an hour for each one. Add all that time up↑→ and you’ll see↑ that I spend at least two hours a day↑→ doing nothing

2) Waiting→ is the worst part of the job↓. Everyday I have to see about four different prospects and I usually end up waiting up to half↑ an hour for each one. Add all that time up↑→ and you’ll see that I spend at least two↑ hours a day↑→ doing nothing.

3) Waiting is the worst part of the job. Everyday I have to see about four↑ different prospects and I usually↑ end up waiting up to half↑ an hour for each one. Add all that time up↑→ and you’ll see that I spend at least↑ two hours a day↑→ doing nothing.

PARAGRAPH 26

1) No wonder↑ he’s angry! If something like that had happened when Jones↑ was here↑, some heads would’ve rolled↓. Nowadays↑, nobody seems to want the responsibility↓. I↑ remember when there used to be some autho↑rity around here.

2) No wonder↑ he’s angry! If something like that had happened when Jones↑ was here↑, some heads↑ would’ve rolled↓. Nowadays, nobody seems to want↑ the responsibility↓. I remember↑→ when there used to be some autho↑rity around here↓.

3) No wonder↑ he’s angry! If something like that had happe↑ned when Jones↑ was here, some heads↑ would’ve rolled↓. Nowadays, nobody seems to want the responsibility. I remember when↑ there used to be some autho↑rity around here↓.

PARAGRAPH 27

1) We’ve never had a September as hot↑ as this one. They say the climate↑ is changing around the world and that→ some↑ of the polar ice cap is starting to melt, raising the sea level. Pretty soon our coastal towns will be under wa↑ter.

2) We’ve never↑ had a September as hot as this one↓. They say the climate↑ is changing around the world and that some of the polar ice cap is starting to melt, raising the sea level. Pretty soon↑↓→ our coastal towns will be under wa↑ter.

3) We’ve never had a September as hot as this one↑. They say the climate↑ is changing around the world and that some of the polar↑ ice cap is starting to melt, raising the sea level. Pretty soon↑ our coastal towns will be under water.

PARAGRAPH 28

1) When you get to the main gate, show the guards this card. It should get you through with no problem. But if for some reason they hold you up, have them call the name I wrote on the back of the card. He’ll be able to handle any special problem that might come up.

2) When you get to the main gate, show the guards this card. It should↑ get you through with no problem. But if for some reason they hold you up, have them call↑ the name I wrote on the back of the card. He’ll be able to handle↑ any special problem that might come up.

3) When you get to the main gate, show the guards this card↓. It should↑ get you through with no problem. But→ if for some reason they hold you up, have them call the name I wrote on the back of the card. He’ll be able to handle any↑ special problem that might come up.

PARAGRAPH 29

1) It’s a good thing Eddie↑ was here. I don’t know what we would’ve done otherwise↑. I know he can be a pain in the neck↑ sometimes, but nobody knows more about fixing↑ things than he does.

2) It’s a good thing Eddie↑ was here. I don’t know what↑ we would’ve done otherwise. I know↑ he can be a pain in the neck sometimes, but nobody knows more about fixing things than he↑ does.

3) It’s a good thing Eddie↑ was here. I don’t know what we would’ve done otherwise↑. I know he can be a pain in the neck↑ sometimes, but nobody knows more about fixing↑ things than he does.

PARAGRAPH 30

1) When the movie gets to the part about the plane crash↓, get up and go to the phone located near the restrooms↓. Call Johnson’s number→ and let the phone ring three↑ times. Then hang up↑ and→ call him back immediately↓. He’ll answer it this time and give you your instructions.

2) When the movie gets to the part about the plane crash↑, get↑ up→ and go to the phone↑ located near the restrooms↓. Call Johnson’s number→ and let the phone ring three times↓. Then hang up↑ and call him back immediately↓. He’ll answer↑ it this time→ and give you your instructions.

3) When the movie gets to the part↑ about the plane crash, get up↑→ and go to the phone located near the restrooms↓. Call↑ Johnson’s number→ and let the phone ring three times. Then→ hang up↑→ and call him back immediately. He’ll answer it this time→ and give you your instructions.