Schwa vs. Full Vowel: Noun vs. Verb Pairs
These word pairs change meaning depending on stress and vowel quality:
| Noun (Schwa) | Verb (Full Vowel) |
|---|
1. record /ˈrek.ərd/ | record /rɪˈkɔːrd/ |
2. present /ˈprez.ənt/ | present /prɪˈzent/ |
3. permit /ˈpɜː.mɪt/ | permit /pərˈmɪt/ |
4. object /ˈɒb.dʒɪkt/ | object /əbˈdʒɛkt/ |
5. contract /ˈkɒn.trækt/ | contract /kənˈtrækt/ |
6. suspect /ˈsʌs.pɛkt/ | suspect /səˈspɛkt/ |
7. increase /ˈɪn.kriːs/ | increase /ɪnˈkriːs/ |
8. decrease /ˈdiː.kriːs/ | decrease /dɪˈkriːs/ |
9. export /ˈek.spɔːrt/ | export /ɪkˈspɔːrt/ |
10. import /ˈɪm.pɔːrt/ | import /ɪmˈpɔːrt/ |
Schwa in Unstressed Syllables vs. Full Vowel in Stressed Syllables
These examples show how the same syllable can be pronounced with a schwa or a full vowel depending on stress:
| Schwa (Unstressed) | Full Vowel (Stressed) |
|---|
11. photograph /ˈfoʊ.tə.ɡræf/ | photography /fəˈtɑː.ɡrə.fi/ |
12. economy /ɪˈkɒ.nə.mi/ | economic /ˌiː.kəˈnɒ.mɪk/ |
13. analysis /əˈnæl.ə.sɪs/ | analyze /ˈæn.ə.laɪz/ |
14. academy /əˈkæ.də.mi/ | academic /ˌæk.əˈdɛ.mɪk/ |
15. politics /ˈpɒ.lə.tɪks/ | political /pəˈlɪ.tɪ.kəl/ |
16. medicine /ˈmɛ.də.sən/ | medicinal /məˈdɪ.sɪ.nəl/ |
17. family /ˈfæ.mə.li/ | familiar /fəˈmɪ.li.ər/ |
18. memory /ˈmɛ.mə.ri/ | memorable /ˈmɛm.ər.ə.bəl/ |
19. general /ˈdʒɛn.rəl/ | generate /ˈdʒɛn.ə.reɪt/ |
20. capital /ˈkæ.pɪ.təl/ | capitalize /ˈkæ.pɪ.təl.aɪz/ |
Minimal Pairs with Schwa vs. Full Vowel
These pairs differ only in the vowel quality and stress:
| Schwa | Full Vowel |
|---|
21. sofa /ˈsoʊ.fə/ | so far /soʊ ˈfɑːr/ |
22. banana /bəˈnæn.ə/ | ban Anna /bæn ˈæn.ə/ |
23. comma /ˈkɒ.mə/ | karma /ˈkɑːr.mə/ |
24. data /ˈdeɪ.tə/ | dater /ˈdeɪ.tər/ |
25. softer /ˈsɒf.tər/ | soft her /sɒft ˈhɜːr/ |
26. panda /ˈpæn.də/ | pan da /pæn ˈdɑː/ |
27. drama /ˈdrɑː.mə/ | draw my /drɔː ˈmaɪ/ |
28. pizza /ˈpiː.tsə/ | Pete saw /piːt ˈsɔː/ |
29. agenda /əˈdʒɛn.də/ | a gender /ə ˈdʒɛn.dər/ |
30. America /əˈmɛ.rɪ.kə/ | a merry car /ə ˈmɛr.i kɑːr/ |
Common Schwa Words vs. Full Vowel Counterparts
| Schwa Word | Full Vowel Word |
|---|
31. about /əˈbaʊt/ | a boat /ə ˈboʊt/ |
32. again /əˈɡɛn/ | a gain /ə ˈɡeɪn/ |
33. ago /əˈɡoʊ/ | a go /ə ˈɡoʊ/ |
34. around /əˈraʊnd/ | a round /ə ˈraʊnd/ |
35. alone /əˈloʊn/ | a loan /ə ˈloʊn/ |
36. awake /əˈweɪk/ | a wake /ə ˈweɪk/ |
37. arise /əˈraɪz/ | a rise /ə ˈraɪz/ |
38. aside /əˈsaɪd/ | a side /ə ˈsaɪd/ |
39. abuse (noun) /əˈbjuːs/ | abuse (verb) /əˈbjuːz/ |
40. address (noun) /ˈæd.res/ | address (verb) /əˈdrɛs/ |
FURTHER PRACTICE
Noun vs. Verb Pairs with Schwa
| Noun (Schwa in unstressed syllable) | Verb (Full vowel in stressed syllable) |
|---|
| 1. record /ˈrek.ərd/ | record /rɪˈkɔːrd/ |
| 2. present /ˈprez.ənt/ | present /prɪˈzent/ |
| 3. permit /ˈpɜː.mɪt/ | permit /pərˈmɪt/ |
| 4. object /ˈɒb.dʒɪkt/ | object /əbˈdʒɛkt/ |
| 5. contract /ˈkɒn.trækt/ | contract /kənˈtrækt/ |
| 6. suspect /ˈsʌs.pɛkt/ | suspect /səˈspɛkt/ |
| 7. increase /ˈɪn.kriːs/ | increase /ɪnˈkriːs/ |
| 8. decrease /ˈdiː.kriːs/ | decrease /dɪˈkriːs/ |
| 9. export /ˈek.spɔːrt/ | export /ɪkˈspɔːrt/ |
| 10. import /ˈɪm.pɔːrt/ | import /ɪmˈpɔːrt/ |
| 11. rebel /ˈrɛb.əl/ | rebel /rɪˈbɛl/ |
| 12. refuse /ˈrɛf.juːs/ | refuse /rɪˈfjuːz/ |
| 13. address /ˈæd.res/ | address /əˈdrɛs/ |
| 14. contest /ˈkɒn.test/ | contest /kənˈtest/ |
| 15. protest /ˈprəʊ.test/ | protest /prəˈtest/ |
| 16. transfer /ˈtræns.fər/ | transfer /trænsˈfɜːr/ |
| 17. convert /ˈkɒn.vɜːt/ | convert /kənˈvɜːt/ |
| 18. insult /ˈɪn.sʌlt/ | insult /ɪnˈsʌlt/ |
| 19. object /ˈɒb.dʒɪkt/ | object /əbˈdʒɛkt/ |
| 20. conduct /ˈkɒn.dʌkt/ | conduct /kənˈdʌkt/ |
1. record
- Noun: I found an old record of my grandfather’s music.
- Verb: Let’s record the meeting so we don’t miss anything.
2. present
- Noun: She gave me a beautiful present for my birthday.
- Verb: I will present my project tomorrow.
3. permit
- Noun: You need a permit to park here.
- Verb: They don’t permit smoking in this area.
4. object
- Noun: That object on the table looks expensive.
- Verb: I must object to this unfair decision.
5. contract
- Noun: He signed a new contract with the company.
- Verb: Muscles contract when they are stimulated.
6. suspect
- Noun: The police arrested the main suspect.
- Verb: I suspect he’s not telling the truth.
7. increase
- Noun: There was a sharp increase in prices.
- Verb: We need to increase our efforts.
8. decrease
- Noun: The decrease in sales is worrying.
- Verb: They plan to decrease production next month.
9. export
- Noun: Coffee is a major export of Colombia.
- Verb: They export goods to over 50 countries.
10. import
- Noun: The country relies heavily on oil import.
- Verb: We import most of our electronics from Asia.
11. rebel
- Noun: The rebel forces took control of the town.
- Verb: Teenagers often rebel against authority.
12. refuse
- Noun: The street was full of refuse after the festival.
- Verb: I refuse to accept those terms.
13. address
- Noun: What’s your home address?
- Verb: She will address the issue in her speech.
14. contest
- Noun: He won the singing contest.
- Verb: They plan to contest the election results.
15. protest
- Noun: A large protest was held downtown.
- Verb: Students protest against tuition hikes.
16. transfer
- Noun: The transfer took place last week.
- Verb: I want to transfer to another department.
17. convert
- Noun: He’s a recent convert to Buddhism.
- Verb: They plan to convert the warehouse into a studio.
18. insult
- Noun: That comment was a real insult.
- Verb: Don’t insult my intelligence.
19. object
- Noun: The museum displayed a rare object.
- Verb: I strongly object to that proposal.
20. conduct
- Noun: His conduct during the meeting was inappropriate.
- Verb: She will conduct the orchestra tonight.