What nuance?

[Shinya Maki]

1. Is it natural that was is stressed most when you read “I thought I was helping people” aloud in the passage below?
2. If it is, what nuance will be expressed?

Sometimes what society expects is not the same as what you think is right. I wanted to do what I believed was right, working for “Medecins Sans Frontieres” (MSF). I didn’t need much money, and I was not interested in social status, either. I preferred living with people who struggled and suffered to living comfortably in the city. So, it was rather for myself than for helping out other people that I joined MSF. At first, I thought I was helping people. However, while working, I found it was the opposite. It was I who was helped. I received a precious experience from those people.

[Rusty]

1. Is it natural that was is stressed most when you read “I thought I was helping people[/color]” aloud in the passage below?
2. If it is, what nuance will be expressed?

Sometimes what society expects is not the same as what you think is right. I wanted to do what I believed was right, working for “Medecins Sans Frontieres” (MSF). I didn’t need much money, and I was not interested in social status, either. I preferred living with people who struggled and suffered to living comfortably in the city. So, it was rather for myself than for helping out other people that I joined MSF. At first, I thought I was helping people. However, while working, I found it was the opposite. It was I who was helped. I received a precious experience from those people.

Stressing WAS answers the question: Were you helping or were you not helping? In the case above, the question is: Who received the help, you or the people? To express this, put the stress on PEOPLE. There is also the question of your attitude, which eventually changed. The stress, in this case, goes on THOUGHT. I think the best reading would be: I THOUGHT I was helping PEOPLE. (I is capitalized normally, not for stress).

[Shinya Maki]

Hello, Rusty.

Thank you very much for your comment. It really helps.

Sincerely,
Shinya Maki