SCHWA WITH ARTICLES, PREPOSITIONS AND CONJUNCTIONS

Short words like articles (a, the), conjuctions (and, but) and prepositions (of, at) are usually unstressed. Listen to this chant. Every line has the stress pattern oOoO. They have this rhythm because the first and third words are all unstressed. These unstressed words are in blue. The stressed words are in red.

A SHOPPING LIST

Some milk and eggs,

A tin of peas,

A snack for lunch,

Some fruit and cheese.

The loaf of bread,

A jar of jam,

Some juice to drink,

A piece of ham.

Some pears or grapes,

Some beans and rice,

A can of beer

As cold as ice.

(English Pronunciation in Use, by Mark Hancock)

LISTENING  EXERCISE

Click on this link and do the exercise. Remember to listen and repeat the sentences and try to imitate the stress and rhythm to improve your pronunciation and accent.