Memorable Schwa Sets:
#3 'Perhaps I Forgot (To Survive)'
#3 'Perhaps I Forgot (To Survive)'
This is a multi-part series on 'Selectively Lazy English'. If you're new, you can jump back to the first set of resources ... or start at the very beginning with my intro article.
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lazy schwa words
TIP: It's a good idea listen to the audio without looking at the written examples – at least when you start.
We pronounce the highlighted spelling patterns with a lazy schwa vowel in all of the word examples below, and in all contexts – even if a speaker wants to heavily emphasise the word.
per- perhaps, perceive, percent, perspective, perform, to perfect (verb form)
for- forgive, forget, forbid, forfend
sur- surrender, survive, surprise
honourable mention: particular
lazy schwa sentences:
Perhaps it’s better to forgive and forget.
I perceived it as wrong.
Surprisingly, they surrendered, but only fifty percent of them survived.
From my perspective, the club’s been performing well this season.
exception words:
per- perfect (adj form), permanent, person
for- forfeit, fortune
sur- surface, surgeon, surname
exception sentences:
Fortunately, they want to forfeit the game – that’s good fortune!
The surface of the water was perfectly and permanently still.
The surgeon was an amazing person, but I can’t remember his surname.