Depending on the intonation, does the meaning of the clause change ?

Question

I am studying English. My friend told me that depending on the intonation, the following clause have 4 meanings:

“Your English skill is 2nd class”

1) Plain/flat intonation : affirmative sentence
2) with a rising intonation : interrogative sentence

But, my friend says there are another two variations of intonation which have different meaning.

Could anybody give me the answer ?

Answer 1

I can make it mean several things.



YOUR English is 2nd class (-but his is not)

Your ENGLISH is 2nd class (- but your Spanish is not)

Your English is 2ND class (-not 1st)



If you said that in Germany, using class, it means it is at a 2nd grade level. :-P

Answer 2

To expand heatherc...'s answer, you can put the emphasis on any of the content words to stress contrast with some other idea.



My English is NOT 2nd class.

Yes, your English IS 2nd class.



My English is 1st class.

No, your English is 2ND class.



So, there's your third intonation pattern. I'm sorry, but I'm not coming up with any other.

Answer 3

look' a car it is a car regardless of tone and transition, i'm subject to corrections.

study very hard and we shall be proud of you.