Importance of the schwa / ᵊ /in English

Limericks are short poems. They are funny - if you like that type of humour!

We are going to use them here because they are good examples of the typical rhythm of spoken
English.

1. There was once a lady from Niger

There once was a lady from Niger,

Who went for a ride on a tiger.

They came back from the ride

With the lady inside,

And a smile on the face of the tiger.

2. There once was a lady from Ryde

There once was a lady from Ryde,

Who ate a green apple and died.

The apple fermented

Inside the lamented

And made cider inside her inside.

3. There once was a fellow from Ryde

There once was a fellow from Ryde,

In a funeral procession was spied.

When asked who was dead,

He giggled and said:

"I don't know. I just came for the ride."

 Importance of the schwa / ᵊ /in English

Limericks are short poems. They are funny - if you like that type of humour!

We are going to use them here because they are good examples of the typical rhythm of spoken
English.

1. There was once a lady from Niger

There once was a lady from Niger,

Who went for a ride on a tiger.

They came back from the ride

With the lady inside,

And a smile on the face of the tiger.

2. There once was a lady from Ryde

There once was a lady from Ryde,

Who ate a green apple and died.

The apple fermented

Inside the lamented

And made cider inside her inside.

3. There once was a fellow from Ryde

There once was a fellow from Ryde,

In a funeral procession was spied.

When asked who was dead,

He giggled and said:

"I don't know. I just came for the ride."