Where do I pause to speak more clearly?
Divide the sentence into meaningful parts and pick out the important words.
2 min read · Updated 9/8/2026
The key idea
Clear speech is not made only of separate sounds. Dividing a sentence into meaningful groups helps the listener follow the idea.
Make a short pause at the boundary of an idea, not between every word. Use your voice to mark out the important information — a choice, a number or a contrast.
Imitating another accent is not the goal. When you work on pronunciation, let your first question be “is it easy to understand me?”.
See an example
Practice sentence: I used to study at night, but now I work better in the morning.
Meaningful groups:
I used to study at night / but now / I work better in the morning.
Night and morning are contrasted. Reading every word with the same stress can weaken this link.
Now you try
Read the sentence aloud and choose the places to pause for yourself:
Although the flat is small, it is close to my university and easy to keep clean.
Which words show the negative and the positive sides? Then say the sentence again in a speaking tone.
A personal draft. It is not saved when you leave or automatically graded.
Reveal the answer and explanation
Answer and explanation
Possible division: Although the flat is small / it is close to my university / and easy to keep clean.
Small is the negative side; close and easy to keep clean are the advantages. This division is not the only possible intonation. Pauses should make the idea clearer, not break up your speech every couple of words.
How do I say what I think when I disagree?
Official sources for this topic
IELTS · Speaking