Strong and weak vowels: the ə vowel

This lesson will help you to recognize the weak syllables with the [ ə ] vowel in order to know how to spell and mark the right word stress.

1. Spelt with [a] strong pronunciation would have [ æ ]

– Attend [ə`tend]; character [`kærəktə]

2. Spelt with [ar], strong pronunciation would have [ɑː]

– Particular [pətɪkjələ]; molar [`məʊlə], monarchy [`mɔnəkɪ]

3. Adjective ending spelt [..ate ], strong pronunciation would have [eɪ]

– intimate [`ɪntɪmət] ; accurate [`ækjərət]; desolate [ `desələt] ( bị tàn phá , hoang vắng, không người ở) ngoại trừ trường hợp private [`praɪvɪt ]

4. Spelt with […o] strong pronunciation would have [ɔ] or [əʊ]

– Example: tomorrow [ tə`mɔrəʊ] ; potato [ pə`teɪtəʊ] ; carrot [`kærət]

5. Spelt with [..or ] strong pronunciation would have [ɔː]

– forget [ fə`get]; ambassador [æm`bæsədə] ; opportunity [,ɔpə`tjuːnətɪ]

6. Spelt with [..e] strong pronunciation would have [ e ]

– Settlement [ `setlmənt ] ; violet [ `vaɪələt ]; postmen [ `pəʊstmən ]

7. Spelt with [ er ] strong pronunciation would have [ ɜː ]

– Perhaps [ pə`hæps] ; stronger [ `strɔŋgə ] ; superman [ `suːpəmæn ]

8. Spelt with [ough] there are many production for the letter sequence [ough]

– Thorough [ `θʌrə ] = hoàn toàn, kỹ lưỡng, triệt để, chu đáo

– Borough [ `bʌrə ] = “thành phố, khu” ở Mỹ

9. Spelt with [ u ] strong pronunciation would have [ ʌ ]

– Autumn [ `ɔːtəm ] ; support [ sə`pɔːt ]

10. Spelt with [ ou ] strong pronunciation might have [ aʊ ]

– Gracious [ `greɪʃəs ]; callous [ `kæləs ] = nhẫn tâm (nghĩa bóng) , chai tay, chân./.