Unit 25 -
Spelling the schwa ending: er, ar,
or, our, re,
a
 |
These letter patterns can be used to spell clear vowel
sounds: |
 |
 |
 |
| eras in person |
ar as in shark |
or as in fork |
They can also be used to spell the schwa sound at the end of a
word:
 |
 |
 |
| er as in computer |
or as in monitor |
ar as in calendar |
|
|
If you are unsure about the schwa sound, look back at
Unit 24. |
 |
There is no certain way of telling which
ending to use for the schwa sound, but there are some helpful hints: |
1. (A rule)
If the word is a comparative (an adjective meaning 'more'), always
use -er :
| big - bigger |
fast - faster |
sweet - sweeter |
noisy - noisier |
2. (A guide, not a rule)
The -or ending often follows ct, it, at, rr,
or ess :
| actor |
visitor |
dictator |
terror |
successor |
3. (A guide, not a rule)
The -ar ending often follows l :
| collar |
regular |
particular |
similar |
