- 一般疑问句结尾用升调。
- Do you go there ↗Often?
- Was she glad to ↗see him?
- Have you read this ↗book?
- Are you ready to ↗start?
- Would you please pass the ↗pepper?
- 陈述句结尾也可以用升调，但是这种语调是用来表示疑问。
- This is your ↗bike?
- You are in ↗China?
- 为了核实或确认某事时，也可以用升调。
- He is from Shenzhen,↗ isn't he?
- 在表达不确定或怀疑时，也可以用升调。
- 句中用升调，告诉听者我们还没有讲完，不要打断我们，让我们继续讲一会儿。
- If he ↗calls, ask him to ↘come.
- 句首词组，通常用升调，告诉听者我还没讲完，别打断我。
- When I was walking in the ↗park, I saw a couple of interesting ↘birds.
- According to his ↗words, he met that girl at the ↘tennis club.
- All of a ↗sudden, the girl started to ↘cry.
- 为了听起来更友好更容易接近，我们也可以用升调。
- 选择疑问句的前半部分用升调，后半部分用降调。
- Would you like some ↗coffee or some ↘tea?
- Who will be responsible for ↘this? ↗Jack, or ↘Tom?
- Do you speak ↗English or ↘Chinese?
- Did you go to the ↗cinema or to the ↘theater yesterday?
- 称呼人的时候，如果称呼是位于句首，通常用升调。
- ↗Jack, could you ↗help me, please?
- ↗Sir, you dropped your ↘notebook.
- Mr. ↗Smith, your papers are ↘ready.
- 称呼人的时候，如果称呼是位于句尾，那么可以是升调，也可以只是重读。
- Good ↘ morning, ↗Jane.
- Good ↘ morning, Jane.
- Good-↘bye, ↗Tom.
- 列举的时候，最后一项通常是降调，前面的项通常是升调。
- ↗One, ↗two, ↗three, ↗four, ↘five.
- She bought ↗bread, ↗cheese, and ↘tomatoes.
- 反义疑问句的前半部分是降调，后半部分究竟是升调还是降调，取决于提问者对前半部分所讲的内容是否有确定的把握，如果没有确定的把握，需要从听者那里得到确认，那么用升调；如果提问者非常有把握，只是想听者附和他/她，那么用降调。
- It's a beautiful ↘car, ↗isn't it? （提问者不确定听者是否认同他的观点，所以他在询问听者的意见）
- It's a beautiful ↘car, ↘isn't it?（提问者非常确定车子是漂亮的，只是想听者附和他）
- You don't speak ↘Chinese, ↗do you? （提问者不确定听者是讲中文，所以他找听者确认一下）
- You don't speak ↘Chinese, ↘do you? （提问者确定听者并不讲中文，只是想听者附和一下）
- 降升调（先降后升，注意这是作用于同一个词，类似于汉语声调中的第三声）通常用来提示一句话尚未结束，也就是说，降升调用于句首和句中。特别要注意，在复合句中，如果从句放在主句的前面，那么从句的结束，通常也用降升调，它提示听者，主句还在后头。
- The article said that Dr. Alan ↘↗Smith was the only person who saw the ↘killer.
- If we don't act very ↘↗fast, we may lose ↘everything.
- 高升调（其实也是升调，不过它比一般的升调更高亢）用在疑问句\反问句中表达强烈的惊奇、不相信等情绪。
- -- I'm extremely sorry, but I probably lost the book you gave me. -- ↗↗What? You lost my ↗↗book?
- -- Where's my wallet? You were here. -- ↗↗Excuse me?
所以，我们在讲话时，为了准确地表达自己的意思，不但要用准词汇，还要注意语调。不同的语调起到不同的作用。用错了语调，听者可能不知道你话讲完了没有，他/她可不可以接过去讲话了，甚至可能造成误会，以为说者在质疑她/他。你想表达好奇的时候如果没有用升调还是用降调，别人可能以为你是在表达不耐烦。当你想用一个陈述句提问时，本应该用升调，你却用了降调，别人不知道你是在提问，会以为你只是在陈述一个事实。
以英语为母语的讲礼貌的听众，通常不会粗鲁地打断别人的讲话，而是要等到别人发出“我已经讲完了”的信号后，才接过去讲话。很多时候，我们要用降调来传达“我已经讲完了”的信息。
很多以英语为母语的人士在和留学生或其他母语不是英语的人用英语交流时，常常感到困惑，不知道对方是不是讲完了，不知道自己是不是可以插嘴了。很多时候，英语不是母语的人，在讲英语时，明明一句话结束了，却不用降调而是用升调，导致别人不知道他/她讲完了，还以为他/她是在提问呢。
降调通常传达“我讲完了”、“我确定”这类意思；升调通常传达“我还没讲完”以及“我不确定”、“我很吃惊”、“我怀疑”、“我很感兴趣”、“请再说一遍”等意涵和情绪。
同样的词语组成的句子，语调一变，意思就会跟着改变。例如：
- Jane wants to quit her ↘job. （陈述一个事实）
- Jane wants to quit her ↗job？ （提出一个疑问）
- Where are you ↘from? （仅仅只是提出一个问题）
- Where are you ↗from?（不只是一个问题，而且表达出提问者非常好奇）
- ↗Excuse me? （请求重复一遍）
- ↘Excuse me. （道歉）
- Sit ↘down. （命令、要求）
- Sit ↘down, ↗please. （礼貌的请求）
- Have you washed the ↗dishes? （仅仅只是提出疑问）
- Have you washed the ↘dishes? （你得洗碗，你洗了没有？）
- Can I speak to the ↗manager, please? （礼貌的请求）
- Can I speak to the ↘manager, please? （命令、要求）
英文原文：
Why do we use rising intonation?
We use rising intonation on yes/no questions. (Yes/no questions are questions we can answer with a simple yes or no.)
We use rising intonation on a statement in order to signal that we’re asking the statement as a question.
We use rising intonation when we’d like to check or confirm something.
We use rising intonation to signal uncertainty or doubt.
When we use rising intonation mid-sentence, it signals to the other person that we haven’t completed our thought or idea and suggests that they shouldn’t interrupt us. They should give us a moment to finish what we’re saying.
In American culture, we often use rising intonation to sound more friendly or approachable.
Standard patterns
Rising intonation is used in general questions, in introductory phrases (at the beginning of the sentence), in the first part of alternative questions (before "or"), in the second part of tag questions (see explanation below), in direct address, and in enumerating items in a list.
General questions
Do you go there /OFten?
Was she glad to /SEE him?
Have you read this /BOOK?
Are you ready to /START?
Would you please pass the /PEPper?
Introductory phrases
If he /CALLS, ask him to \COME.
When I was walking in the /PARK, I saw a couple of interesting \BIRDS.
According to his /WORDS, he met that girl at the \TENnis club.
All of a /SUDden, the girl started to \CRY.
Alternative questions
Would you like an /APple or a \PEAR?
Does he speak /ENGlish or \GERman?
Did you go to the /CINema or to the \THEater yesterday?
Direct address
/TOM, could you /HELP me, please?
/SIR, you dropped your \NOTEbook.
Mr. /SMITH, your papers are \READy.
If direct address is at the end of the sentence, it may be pronounced with a rise or just with a stress on it.
Good \MORNing, /JANE.
Good \MORNing, Jane.
Good-\BYE, /Tom.
Enumerating
/One, /two, /three, /four, \five.
She bought /bread, /cheese, and to\MAtoes.
Tag questions
The choice of a rise or a fall in the second part of tag questions depends on whether the speaker is sure of getting an affirmative answer.
It's a beautiful \TOWN, /ISN'T it? (The speaker thinks that the town is beautiful but asks for your opinion and confirmation.)
It's a beautiful \TOWN, \ISN'T it? (The speaker is sure that the town is beautiful and expects you to agree.)
You don't speak \FRENCH, /DO you? (The speaker thinks that you don't speak French but is not completely sure and asks for confirmation.)
You don't speak \FRENCH, \DO you? (The speaker is sure that you don't speak French and expects you to agree.)
Note that the falling tone is generally used in the first part of tag questions (disjunctive questions). Despite the fact that tag questions are asked to get confirmation and agreement, the answer may be affirmative or negative.
Fall-rise may be used instead of the normal rising tone in unfinished parts of sentences, for example, in introductory phrases or subordinate clauses at the beginning of the sentence. Fall-rise signals non-finality and continuation of the utterance and emphasizes the word on which it is used. The voice first falls down and then goes up within one word.
If we don't act very \ /FAST, we may lose \EVErything.
The article said that Dr. Alan \ /SMITH was the only person who saw the \KILLer.
The high rise may be used for expressing strong surprise or disbelief in questions, for example, in surprised echo questions. High rise starts higher and ends higher than the normal rising tone. High rise is very expressive and emphatic. Language learners should use it with caution and not too often.
(1) I'm extremely sorry, but I probably lost the book you gave me.
/WHAT? You lost my/BOOK? (Meaning: I can't believe it.)
(2) Where's my purse? You were here.
Ex/CUSEme? (Meaning: I can't believe you said it and ask you to repeat it.)
Are you done talking? Have you finished your thought? Can I answer your question now? If so, please let me know – with your voice.
You’re probably really careful with your choice of words, but your intentions might be misunderstood if you use the wrong intonation pattern.
Here’s why you need to confidently choose to speak with rising or falling intonation:
If your pitch rises when it should fall, you may sound uncertain or insecure, or the person you’re speaking with may think you doubt them.
If your voice drops when it should rise, you may sound annoyed instead of curious. Or the other person may not be sure if you’re asking them a question or telling them what you think.
Native speakers often turn statements into questions by changing their pitch at the end of the sentence.
If your tone always rises at the end because of how you use pitch in your native language, part of your meaning may be getting lost in translation.
If you think that someone has misunderstood you, it may not actually be your language; it may be your tone of voice.
Why You Need to Signal You’re Done Talking with Falling Intonation
The number one reason why non-native English speakers need to master falling intonation is not because it’s the most common intonation pattern in American English, although it is.
As far as I’m concerned, falling intonation is so essential because it lets the other person know that you’ve completed a thought.
Falling intonation invites us to respond.
Without thinking about it, native speakers are listening for a clear signal that you’re ready for us to take over the conversation.
If we don’t hear this clear fall at the end of your statement or information question, we might not know that it’s okay for us to speak up.
Of course, there will always be people who interrupt or jump in when you’re not quite finished, but polite people will wait for a clear cue that it’s okay for them to start speaking.
People who work with international students and non-native English speaking professionals often comment that they’re not sure when the other person has finished speaking.
I encourage you to think about whether your voice falls at the end of your statements: is it easy for a native speaker to hear that you’re done talking?
If not, the other person may not be sure if you’re asking them a question or telling them what you think.
And yes, this is also a problem with native speakers who tend to end their sentences with a rising tone at the end of their statements.
People will ask, “Are you asking me, or are you telling me?”
If you are asking a yes or no question, that’s when you want to make sure you use a rising tone at the end of the question.
Choosing the right intonation helps your listener interpret what you’re saying.
Change of standard patterns of rising or falling intonation also has meaning. Falling intonation generally expresses completion, finality, and confidence, while rising intonation usually expresses non-finality, incompleteness, surprise, doubt, interest.
Rising intonation often implies a request to repeat or readiness to continue the conversation. The examples below show how the meaning may change when the same sentence is pronounced with falling intonation and with rising intonation.
Melissa wants to quit her \JOB.
Melissa wants to quit her /JOB?
Where are you \FROM?
Where are you /FROM?
Ex/CUSE me?
Ex\CUSE me.
Have you washed the /DISHes?
Have you washed the \DISHes?
Sit \DOWN.
Sit \DOWN, /PLEASE.
Can I speak to the /MANager, please?
Can I speak to the \MANager, please?