Which foot pattern is stressed, unstressed, unstressed?

Which foot pattern is stressed, unstressed, unstressed?

• A. Trochaic
• B. Iambic
• C. Anapestic
• D. Dactylic

Answer: (D)

In metrical feet, a dactyl consists of one stressed syllable followed by two unstressed syllables: stressed-unstressed-unstressed. The pattern described fits this exactly, so the term that matches is dactylic. For comparison, trochaic is stressed-unstressed (two syllables), iambic is unstressed-stressed (two syllables), and anapestic is unstressed-unstressed-stressed (three syllables with the last syllable stressed). Recognizing the order of stresses and the number of syllables helps identify the correct pattern.

In metrical feet, a dactyl consists of one stressed syllable followed by two unstressed syllables: stressed-unstressed-unstressed. The pattern described fits this exactly, so the term that matches is dactylic. For comparison, trochaic is stressed-unstressed (two syllables), iambic is unstressed-stressed (two syllables), and anapestic is unstressed-unstressed-stressed (three syllables with the last syllable stressed). Recognizing the order of stresses and the number of syllables helps identify the correct pattern.