Intonation Worksheets
25 worksheets · Sounds & spelling
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Intonation worksheets
25 printable worksheets with answer keys; the 24 most used, easiest level first.
About Intonation
Intonation is the rise and fall of the voice across an utterance. In English, falling intonation is typical of statements, commands and wh-questions (Where do you LIVE? ↘), while rising intonation is common in yes/no questions (Are you READY? ↗). A fall-rise can signal reservation or politeness: Well, it's quite GOOD... (but).
Intonation is usually taught at B1–B2. Question tags are a key area: a falling tone suggests the speaker expects agreement (It's cold, isn't it? ↘), while a rising tone asks a genuine question (You're coming, aren't you? ↗). Learners with flat intonation can sound bored or rude without meaning to, so the focus is on attitude as well as grammar.
This page offers printable intonation worksheets with answer keys, including arrow marking, question tag and attitude tasks, which you can print as PDF or complete online through a class link.
Teaching tips: Intonation
- Mark intonation with arrows over the main stressed word so learners can see where the pitch movement starts.
- Watch for flat intonation in polite requests and responses, which can sound rude; model a wider pitch range and have learners exaggerate it.
- Say one phrase such as Really or Thank you with different tones and have learners guess the attitude.
- Practice question tags in pairs, with one learner choosing a rising or falling tone and the other responding appropriately.
Questions teachers ask
Do all yes/no questions rise?
Not always. A rise is typical and neutral, but a fall is common when the speaker is fairly sure of the answer or is being insistent.
Do all wh-questions fall?
Most neutral wh-questions fall, but a rise is used when asking someone to repeat information (What's your name again? ↗) or to sound more friendly and interested.
How important is intonation for learners?
Very important for how the speaker comes across. Grammatically correct speech with inappropriate intonation can sound impolite or uninterested.