Word Stress in the sentence "I put it on the table"

Solution 1:

Here is an approximation to what SPE (The Sound Pattern of English) predicts for the stress contour. The Nuclear Stress rule applies to the constituents in the syntactic structure to make the last primary stressed syllable have a primary stress, and all other stresses in the same constituent are weakened by one degree. I've bracketed the constituents that the stress rule is applying to. I've assumed that "it" and "the" are exempt from stress.

First, the words are stressed:

[1I] [1put] it [1on] the [1table]

Next, the prepositional phrase is stressed:

[1I] [1put] it [2on the 1table]

Then the verb phrase is stressed:

[1I] [2put it 3on the 1table]

Finally, the whole sentence is stressed:

[2I 3put it 4on the 1table]

The stress might be adjusted by what has been called a rhythm rule to make stronger and weaker stresses alternate -- here, "on" might get stronger stress than "put".

Of course, if the context requires some emphasis or contrast, stress is modified accordingly.

Solution 2:

I believe it depends very much on where the speaker needs to place the emphasis.

Q. Where did you say you put the white elephant? A. I put it on the table.

Q. I thought the charity box was under the table. It's not here. A. I told you I put it on the table.

Q. How did that strange letter come to be on the table? A. I put it on the table.

Q.Who put this on the table? A. I put it on the table (myself).