The high fall

Statements with the high fall sound insistent, lively and interested, sometimes surprised. They are very common in conversation.

E.g. Mrs. Howard: Oh, but I’m sure he’ll win a scholarship.

Nora: `Yes, we `hope he ˏwill. (lively) (Meet the Parkers 3)

Harry: ˈNo, ˎseriously, ˏNora, │I ˈcan’t `bear it. (insistent) (Meet the Parkers 12)

Exercise 1.

Read the following conversational situations with statements, use the high fall. Convey your personal concern, including irritation or interest.

1. – Now what have you done to Mary? – `Nothing.

2. – Who has been eating my grapes? – `No one.

`No one has.

`No one’s been ˌeating your ˌwretched ˌgrapes.

3. – Which will you take, Henry? – `This one.

4. – How many of his books have you read? – `All of them.

5. – When did you see him? – On `Thursday.

6. – Would you like to join us? – I’d `love to.

7. – Come on. Let’s get going. – We `can’t. It’s `raining.

8. – It was your entire fault. – But it `wasn’t. And I can `prove it.

9. – What was the show like? – `First rate. ˈSimply `splendid.

10. – It’s not very valuable, is it? – It ˈcosts `three ˌhundred ˌpounds.

11. – We’ll never get there. – It’s `not as ˌfar as you iˌmagine.

12. – Which would you like, tea or coffee? – I’d preˈfer `tea.

13. – I may be a bit late. – It ˈwouldn’t ˈmatter in the `least.

14. – Has he caught up with the group? – `Better than that. He is the `best in the ˌgroup.

15. – Why doesn’t she join our trips? – ˈSometimes she `does.

16. – I’m an amateur. – I’ll ˈnever beˎlieve it. You are ˈgood at ˈtennis in`deed.

17. – Where is my tie? It’s gone again. – You `never reˌmember where you ˌput your ˌthings.

18. – Let’s go to the pictures tonight. – I ˈreally ‵can’t. I’ve ˈgot a `lot of ˌwork to ˌdo.

19. – I’m going to consult a doctor. – It’s ˈhigh ˈtime you `thought about your ˌhealth.

20. – We are leaving tonight. – It’s a `pity. You ˈpromised to ˈstay with us a ˈbit `longer.

Exercise 2.

Read the following conversational situations. Use either the low fall or the high fall in accordance with the speaker’s attitude given in brackets.

1. – I’m going to consult a doctor.

• It’s high time you thought about your health. (weighty)

• It’s high time you thought about your health. (lively)

2. – We are leaving tonight.

• It’s a pity. You promised to stay with us a bit longer. (weighty)

• But you promised to stay with us a bit longer. (surprised)

3. – Why don’t you go to the doctor?

• Sometimes I do. (weighty)

• Sometimes I do. (surprised)

4. – How many students of your group were present?

• All of them. (calm)

• All of them. (lively)

5. – I’m an amateur.

• I’ll never believe it. You are very good at tennis indeed. (weighty)

• I’ll never believe it. (surprised) You are very good at tennis indeed. (lively)

6. – I may be a bit late.

• It wouldn’t matter in the least. (calm)

• It wouldn’t matter in the least. (lively)

7. – I don’t often have time these days.

• Yes, there are so many other things to do. (lively)

• Yes, there are so many other things to do. (weighty)

8. – I’ll ring you tomorrow to confirm if we are coming.

• Fine. (lively)

• Fine. (calm)

9. – All his friends are just the same.

• All of them are wild. (surprised)

• All of them are wild. (weighty)

10. – Do you like to play squash?

• Yes, and I enjoy myself in the process. (calm and weighty)

• Yes, and I enjoy myself in the process. (lively)

11. – You haven’t got to go yet, have you?

• There is no need to rush. (lively)

• There is no need to rush. (weighty)

12. – The exams were much too hard for me.

• Oh, come on. You’ve probably done better than you think. (lively)

• Oh, come on. You’ve probably done better than you think (weighty)

13. – I’m not much of a swimmer.

• Well, I’m hardly the world’s best swimmer myself. (lively)

• Well, I’m hardly the world’s best swimmer myself. (calm)

14. – I don’t think I’ll fly.

• Well, the air-fair is quite expensive, I admit. (surprised)

• Well, the air-fair is quite expensive, I admit. (calm and weighty)

III