Stress-Shift Words
Stress Shift: Noun vs Verb — Top-25 Business Core
Business English word stress practice
| Word | Noun / Adjective (1st stress) | Example sentence (noun) | Verb (2nd stress) | Example sentence (verb) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| contract | CONtract | The CONtract is signed. | conTRACT | They conTRACT the work out. |
| record | REcord | The REcord was impressive. [Der Rekord war beeindruckend.] | reCORD | They reCORD the meeting. [Sie nehmen das Meeting auf.] |
| present | PREsent | This PREsent is for the client. | preSENT | She will preSENT the report. |
| permit | PERmit | You need a PERmit. | perMIT | They perMIT access. |
| increase | INcrease | There was an INcrease in costs. | inCREASE | Costs will inCREASE. |
| decrease | DEcrease | A DEcrease helped profits. | deCREASE | Prices may deCREASE. |
| export | EXport | EXports are rising. | exPORT | They exPORT machines. |
| import | IMport | The IMport is expensive. | imPORT | They imPORT materials. |
| progress | PROgress | We made good PROgress. | proGRESS | The project must proGRESS. |
| process | PROcess | The PROcess takes time. | proCESS | We proCESS orders daily. |
| project | PROject | The PROject starts Monday. | proJECT | They proJECT the proposal. |
| control | CONtrol | The CONtrol system failed. | conTROL | They conTROL costs. |
| conduct | CONduct | His CONduct was unprofessional. | conDUCT | They conDUCT an audit. |
| conflict | CONflict | A CONflict arose. | conFLICT | The reports conFLICT. |
| decline | DEcline | A DEcline in sales followed. | deCLINE | Sales may deCLINE. |
| delay | DElay | The DElay was costly. | deLAY | They deLAY the launch. |
| demand | DEmand | Demand is high. | deMAND | Clients deMAND quality. |
| estimate | EStimate | The EStimate seems high. | esTImate | We esTImate costs. |
| forecast | FOREcast | The FOREcast looks positive. | foreCAST | Analysts foreCAST growth. |
| finance | FInance | FInance is tight. | fiNANCE | Banks fiNANCE the deal. |
| impact | IMpact | The IMpact was serious. | imPACT | This will imPACT sales. |
| transfer | TRANSfer | The TRANSfer was delayed. | transFER | Please transFER funds. |
| supply | SUPply | The SUPply is limited. | supPLY | They supPLY parts. |
| target | TARget | The TARget was missed. | tarGET | They tarGET new markets. |
| update | UPdate | We need an UPdate. | upDATE | I will upDATE the file. |
OPTION 2 — Meaning-First Layout (Learner-Friendly)
Perfect — here is OPTION 2 fully built, using the Top-25 business core, in a meaning-first, learner-friendly layout.
Stress Shifts That Change Meaning (Business English)
Rule: Thing / concept → stress first | Action → stress second
| WORD | THING / CONCEPT (noun–adjective) | ACTION (verb) |
|---|---|---|
| record | REcord - The REcord was impressive. | reCORD - They reCORD the meeting. |
| contract | CONtract - The CONtract is signed. | conTRACT - They conTRACT the work out. |
| present | PREsent - This PREsent is for the client. | preSENT - She will preSENT the report. |
| permit | PERmit - You need a PERmit. | perMIT - They perMIT access. |
| increase | INcrease - There was an INcrease in costs. | inCREASE - Costs will inCREASE next year. |
| decrease | DEcrease - A DEcrease helped profits. | deCREASE - Prices may deCREASE later. |
| import | IMport - The IMport is expensive. | imPORT - They imPORT raw materials. |
| export | EXport - EXports are rising. | exPORT - They exPORT machines. |
| progress | PROgress - We made good PROgress. | proGRESS - The project must proGRESS. |
| process | PROcess - The PROcess takes time. | proCESS - We proCESS orders daily. |
| project | PROject - The PROject starts Monday. | proJECT - They proJECT the proposal. |
| control | CONtrol - The CONtrol system failed. | conTROL - They conTROL costs carefully. |
| conduct | CONduct - His CONduct was unprofessional. | conDUCT - They conDUCT an audit. |
| conflict | CONflict - A CONflict of interest arose. | conFLICT - The reports conFLICT. |
| decline | DEcline - A DEcline in sales followed. | deCLINE - Sales may deCLINE further. |
| delay | DElay - The DElay was costly. | deLAY - They deLAY the launch. |
| demand | DEmand - Demand is high this quarter. | deMAND - Clients deMAND quality. |
| estimate | EStimate - The EStimate seems high. | esTImate - We esTImate costs carefully. |
| forecast | FOREcast - The FOREcast looks positive. | foreCAST - Analysts foreCAST growth. |
| finance | FInance - FInance is tight this year. | fiNANCE - Banks fiNANCE the deal. |
| impact | IMpact - The IMpact was serious. | imPACT - This may imPACT sales. |
| transfer | TRANSfer - The TRANSfer was delayed. | transFER - Please transFER the funds. |
| supply | SUPply - The SUPply is limited. | supPLY - They supPLY parts globally. |
| target | TARget - The TARget was missed. | tarGET - They tarGET new markets. |
| update | UPdate - We need an UPdate. | upDATE - I will upDATE the file. |