[General] Schwa sound in main verbs that also function as auxiliary verbs.

Dear members and teachers:


As to my knowledge, Schwa sound does not occur in verbs unless they are auxiliary verbs in a sentence. I would like to know why sometimes the verb TO BE is reduced to Schwa, even though it is acting as main verb. I find that TO BE is reduced to Schwa in these sentences.

a) I am happy to hear about he. /əm/

b) They were in the city for a tour. /wər/

c) She was the first to know it. /wəz/

d) You are an English and Spanish teacher. /ər/

1) In which cases does the verb TO BE has to be reduced to Schwa sound when it is not an auxiliary verb?


Hoping for you assitance and help in this matter.

The apprentice said:

Dear members and teachers:


As to my knowledge, Schwa sound does not occur in verbs unless they are auxiliary verbs in a sentence. I would like to know why sometimes the verb TO BE is reduced to Schwa, even though it is acting as main verb. I find that TO BE is reduced to Schwa in these sentences.

a) I am happy to hear about he. /əm/

b) They were in the city for a tour. /wər/

c) She was the first to know it. /wəz/

d) You are an English and Spanish teacher. /ər/

1) In which cases does the verb TO BE has to be reduced to Schwa sound when it is not an auxiliary verb?


Hoping for you assitance and help in this matter.

Click to expand...

I am not sure I understand your question, but I think I disagree with your statements.

1. You will hear "am" pronounced as both "am" (as in yam) and "em" (as in hem).
2. The pronunciation of "were" (as in "her") is not a schwa. It is normal.
3. I don't often hear "was" pronounced with a short e sound. "Was" rhymes with "fuzz".
4. I don't often here "are" pronounced with a short e sound. "Are" rhymes with "car".

I am not proficient in phonetic symbols so I hope I have not misinterpreted your symbols.

MikeNewYork said:

1. You will hear "am" pronounced as both "am" (as in yam) and "em" (as in hem).

Click to expand...

In normal conversation in BrE, I am is contracted to I'm. If it is not contacted, am is normally pronounced as /əm/ unless it is stressed; when stressed, it is /æm/.We do not hear /em/ in BrE.

2. The pronunciation of "were" (as in "her") is not a schwa. It is normal.

Click to expand...

That is not true of BrE. The normal pronunciation in conversation is /wə(r)/. We hear /wɜr)/ only when the word is stressed.

3. I don't often hear "was" pronounced with a short e sound. "Was" rhymes with "fuzz".

Click to expand...

Once again, this is not true of BrE. Was is normally pronounced /wəz/ (The schwa is not a 'short e'). When stressed, it is pronounced /wɒz/, which does not rhyme with fuzz in BrE.

4. I don't often here "are" pronounced with a short e sound.

Click to expand...

As I said before, schwa is not a ''short e'.

"Are" rhymes with "car".

Click to expand...

It does in BrE when stressed. Otherwise it is /ə(r)/.

The apprentice said:

In which cases does the verb TO BE [STRIKE]has[/STRIKE] have to be reduced to Schwa sound when it is not an auxiliary verb?

Click to expand...

BE never has to be contracted or pronounced with a schwa, but it normally is in everyday conversation, unless it is stressed.

5jj said:

In normal conversation in BrE, I am is contracted to I'm. If it is not contacted, am is normally pronounced as /əm/ unless it is stressed; when stressed, it is /æm/.We do not hear /em/ in BrE.That is not true of BrE. The normal pronunciation in conversation is /wə(r)/. We hear /wɜr)/ only when the word is stressed.Once again, this is not true of BrE. Was is normally pronounced /wəz/ (The schwa is not a 'short e'). When stressed, it is pronounced /wɒz/, which does not rhyme with fuzz in BrE. As I said before, schwa is not a ''short e'. It does in BrE when stressed. Otherwise it is /ə(r)/.BE never has to be contracted or pronounced with a schwa, but it normally is in everyday conversation, unless it is stressed.

Click to expand...

Somehow I knew BrE would be different. :-D

MikeNewYork said:

Somehow I knew BrE would be different.

Click to expand...

I stressed 'in BrE' in my post, because that is the variety I know best. However, I believe that what I wrote is true of many speakers of AmE. I have frequently heard contracted forms or schwa from the Americans that I know, and rarely heard, in normal conversation, the forms that you mentioned.

5jj said:

I stressed 'in BrE' in my post, because that is the variety I know best. However, I believe that what I wrote is true of many speakers of AmE. I have frequently heard contracted forms or schwa from the Americans that I know, and rarely heard, in normal conversation, the forms that you mentioned.

Click to expand...

And I hear them all the time. I respect your knowledge of phonetic symbols, but people argue about them. I was taught in a simpler fashion.

"Was" as in fuzz or buzz.
"Were" as in her or cur.

That works in an environment in which everyone uses the same pronunciation. It is probably not the best.

I agree with the schwa in "am", but I hear no change in "are" and "were", for example.

MikeNewYork.

Thanks for replying.

As far as my phonetics knowledge, FUZZ and BUZZ have the short ''u'' sound /ʌ/. I have also heard WAS pronounced with the short ''o'' sound /ɒ/, and when reduced, with the Schwa /ə/, but I do not disregard that WAS can be pronounced with a short ''u'' sound too.

This is the short ''e'' sound /ɛ/ as in SEND; TENDER;

In my country - Dominican Republic -, due to geographical position, american English (AmE) is predominant.

Dear 5jj:


Very good your explanation, but please, may you teach me in which sort of sentences I should reduced the verb TO BE to the Schwa sound?

I would - as always -appreciate your assistance and help.


My best regards.

The apprentice said:

MikeNewYork.

Thanks for replying.

As far as my phonetics knowledge, FUZZ and BUZZ have the short ''u'' sound /ʌ/. I have also heard WAS pronounced with the short ''o'' sound /ɒ/, and when reduced, with the Schwa /ə/, but I do not disregard that WAS can be pronounced with a short ''u'' sound too.

This is the short ''e'' sound /ɛ/ as in SEND; TENDER;

In my country - Dominican Republic -, due to geographical position, american English (AmE) is predominant.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the explanation. As I said, phonetic symbols mean little to me.

The apprentice said:

[STRIKE]may[/STRIKE] can you teach me in which sort of sentences I should reduce[STRIKE]d[/STRIKE] the verb TO BE to the Schwa sound?

Click to expand...

As I have already said, BE never has to be contracted or pronounced with a schwa, but it normally is in everyday conversation, unless it is stressed.