Meetings 1 - Phase 1 Arriving & Starting the Meeting
Schwa Minimal Pair Listening Trainer
Listen to sentences A and B. Decide which word you hear (noun / verb, adjective / verb, etc.). Click “Show / Hide Answer & Schwa” to reveal the correct form and see where the schwa /ə/ appears in the IPA.
Audio: Add your recordings into an audio/ folder using the suggested filenames (e.g.
01_address_noun.mp3, 01_address_verb.mp3) and adjust paths if needed.
1. address (noun) vs address (verb)
Sentence A (noun):
We wrote the address on the project documents.
[ Wir haben die Adresse auf die Projektdokumente geschrieben. ]
Sentence B (verb):
We must address the hydrogen storage issue.
[ Wir müssen das Wasserstoffspeicherproblem angehen. ]
Correct (schwa form): address (verb) → /əˈdres/
As a verb, the stress moves to the second syllable and the first vowel weakens to a schwa /ə/.
2. conduct (noun) vs conduct (verb)
Sentence A (noun):
Good engineering conduct is essential.
[ Gutes technisches Verhalten ist entscheidend. ]
Sentence B (verb):
We will conduct the hydrogen flow test tomorrow.
[ Wir werden morgen den Wasserstoffflusstest durchführen. ]
Correct (schwa form): conduct (verb) → /kənˈdʌkt/
As a verb, the first syllable becomes schwa /ə/ and the stress shifts to the second syllable.
3. record (noun) vs record (verb)
Sentence A (noun):
We updated the safety record.
[ Wir haben den Sicherheitsbericht aktualisiert. ]
Sentence B (verb):
We must record the electrolysis results.
[ Wir müssen die Elektrolyseergebnisse aufzeichnen. ]
Correct (weakened first syllable): record (verb) → /rɪˈkɔːd/ (often reduced towards schwa in fast speech)
As a verb, the stress moves to the second syllable and the first syllable weakens.
4. object (noun) vs object (verb)
Sentence A (noun):
The object in the tank is a pressure sensor.
[ Der Gegenstand im Tank ist ein Drucksensor. ]
Sentence B (verb):
The engineers object to shutting down the project.
[ Die Ingenieure widersprechen der Schließung des Projekts. ]
Correct (schwa form): object (verb) → /əbˈdʒekt/
As a verb, the first syllable becomes schwa /ə/.
5. present (adjective) vs present (verb)
Sentence A (adjective):
The present strategy works well.
[ Die derzeitige Strategie funktioniert gut. ]
Sentence B (verb):
They will present the hydrogen plan tomorrow.
[ Sie werden morgen den Wasserstoffplan präsentieren. ]
Correct (schwa-like weakening in first syllable): present (verb) → /prɪˈzent/
As a verb, stress shifts and the first vowel is weakened, often approaching schwa.
6. permit (noun) vs permit (verb)
Sentence A (noun):
We need a construction permit for the new tank.
[ Wir benötigen eine Baugenehmigung für den neuen Tank. ]
Sentence B (verb):
The system will not permit a restart without pressure balance.
[ Das System erlaubt keinen Neustart ohne Druckausgleich. ]
Correct (schwa form): permit (verb) → /pəˈmɪt/
As a verb, the first syllable becomes schwa and the stress moves to the second.
7. project (noun) vs project (verb)
Sentence A (noun):
This hydrogen project is the largest in the region.
[ Dieses Wasserstoffprojekt ist das größte in der Region. ]
Sentence B (verb):
We need software to project future hydrogen demand.
[ Wir brauchen Software, um die zukünftige Wasserstoffnachfrage zu prognostizieren. ]
Correct (schwa form): project (verb) → /prəˈdʒekt/
As a verb, the first syllable is reduced to schwa.
8. export (noun) vs export (verb)
Sentence A (noun):
Hydrogen exports are expected to increase.
[ Wasserstoffexporte werden voraussichtlich steigen. ]
Sentence B (verb):
Germany may export electrolyser technology.
[ Deutschland könnte Elektrolyseurtechnologie exportieren. ]
Correct (reduced first syllable): export (verb) → /ɪkˈspɔːt/
As a verb, the stress moves to the second syllable and the first syllable weakens.
9. increase (noun) vs increase (verb)
Sentence A (noun):
There was a major increase in hydrogen demand.
[ Es gab einen starken Anstieg der Wasserstoffnachfrage. ]
Sentence B (verb):
Electrolysis plants will increase production next year.
[ Elektrolyseanlagen werden nächstes Jahr die Produktion erhöhen. ]
Correct (weakened first syllable): increase (verb) → /ɪnˈkriːs/ (first syllable often reduced)
As a verb, the main stress falls on the second syllable.
10. present (noun/adjective) vs present (verb)
Sentence A (noun/adjective):
The present report shows good efficiency.
[ Der aktuelle Bericht zeigt gute Effizienz. ]
Sentence B (verb):
Engineers will present their findings on Friday.
[ Ingenieure werden ihre Ergebnisse am Freitag präsentieren. ]
Correct (schwa-like weakening): present (verb) → /prəˈzent/
In the verb form, the first syllable is often reduced and the stress shifts.
Schwa Minimal Pair Listening Trainer (with Speech Synthesis)
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1. address (noun) vs address (verb)
Sentence A (noun):
We wrote the address on the project documents.
[ Wir haben die Adresse auf die Projektdokumente geschrieben. ]
Sentence B (verb):
We must address the hydrogen storage issue.
[ Wir müssen das Wasserstoffspeicherproblem angehen. ]
Correct (schwa form): address (verb) → /əˈdres/
2. conduct (noun) vs conduct (verb)
Sentence A (noun):
Good engineering conduct is essential.
[ Gutes technisches Verhalten ist entscheidend. ]
Sentence B (verb):
We will conduct the hydrogen flow test tomorrow.
[ Wir werden morgen den Wasserstoffflusstest durchführen. ]
Correct: conduct (verb) → /kənˈdʌkt/
3. record (noun) vs record (verb)
Sentence A (noun):
We updated the safety record.
[ Wir haben den Sicherheitsbericht aktualisiert. ]
Sentence B (verb):
We must record the electrolysis results.
[ Wir müssen die Elektrolyseergebnisse aufzeichnen. ]
Correct: record (verb) → /rɪˈkɔːd/