英語最常發的音是稱schwa /ʃwɑː/, 國際音標是用一個倒寫的e字代表: /ə/。它是一個弱音 (weak form) 。 普遍香港和亞洲人都把它讀成強音 (strong form)、或不知它的全在，以為是外國人讀得快，輕輕帶過的效果。試用schwa sounds 讀出以下實例：
My mothər is coming tə see me təmorrow aftərnoon. She often comes over on Satərdays becəse my fathər is ət the football. Thə’s nothing thət mum hates more thən football.
1. Spoken English is divided into strong and weak forms.
2. The weak vowel /ə/ is the most common sound in English.
3. /ə/ is often found in unstressed syllables of words.
4. /ə/ can also be found in function words (e.g., are /ər/, a /ə/ and of /əf/)
