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What is a syllable? A syllable is the sound of a vowel (a, e, i, o, u) that's created when pronouncing a word. The number of times that you hear the sound of a vowel (a, e, i, o, u) in a word is equal to the number of syllables the word has. For Example: * cake - has 1 syllable * eat - has 1 syllable * cheese - has 1 syllable * eating - has 2 syllables (eat - ing) * chicken - has 2 syllables (chick - en) * worrying - has 3 syllables (wor - ry - ing) Syllables Rules: * A syllable is the sound of a vowel (a, e, i, o, u) that's created when pronouncing a word. * The number of times that you hear the sound of a vowel (a, e, i, o, u) in a word is equal to the number of syllables the word has. How To Find Syllables: * Count the number of vowels (a, e, i, o, u, and sometimes y) in the word. * Subtract any silent vowels (like the silent 'e' at the end of a word). * Subtract 1 vowel from every diphthong. o A diphthong is when two volwels make only 1 sound (oi, oy, ou, ow, au, aw, oo, ...). * The number you are left with should be the number of vowels in the word. How To Divide A Word Into Syllables: * Divide off any compound words, prefixes, suffixes, and root words that have vowels. o sports/car, house/boat, un/happy, pre/paid, re/write, farm/er, hope/less * Divide between two middle consonants o hap/pens, bas/ket, let/ter, sup/per, din/ner o Never split up consonant digraphs as they really represent only one sound ("th", "sh", "ph", "th", "ch", and "wh"). * Usually divide before a single consonant. o o/pen, i/tem, e/vil, re/port. o The only exceptions are those times when the first syllable has an obvious short sound, as in "cab/in". * Divide before an "-le" syllable. o a/ble, fum/ble, rub/ble, mum/ble o The only exceptions are "ckle" words like "tick/le". Phonics, Syllable and Accent Rules Phonics Rules The vowels are "a,e,i,o, and u"; also sometimes "y" & "w". This also includes the diphthongs "oi,oy,ou,ow,au,aw, oo" and many others. The consonants are all the other letters which stop or limit the flow of air from the throat in speech. They are: "b,c,d,f,g,h,j,k,l,m,n,p,qu,r,s,t,v,w,x,y,z,ch,sh,th,ph,wh, ng, and gh". 1. Sometimes the rules don't work. There are many exceptions in English because of the vastness of the language and the many languages from which it has borrowed. The rules do work however, in the majority of the words. 2. Every syllable in every word must have a vowel. English is a "vocal" language; Every word must have a vowel. 3. "C" followed by "e, i or y" usually has the soft sound of "s". Examples: "cyst", "central", and "city". 4. "G" followed by "e, i or y" usually has the soft sound of "j". Example: "gem", "gym", and "gist". 5. When 2 consonants are joined together and form one new sound, they are a consonant digraph. They count as one sound and one letter and are never separated. Examples: "ch,sh,th,ph and wh". 6. When a syllable ends in a consonant and has only one vowel, that vowel is short. Examples: "fat, bed, fish, spot, luck". 7. When a syllable ends in a silent "e", the silent "e" is a signal that the vowel in front of it is long. Examples: "make, gene, kite, rope, and use". 8. When a syllable has 2 vowels together, the first vowel is usually long and the second is silent. Examples: "pain, eat, boat, res/cue, say, grow". NOTE: Diphthongs don't follow this rule; In a diphthong, the vowels blend together to create a single new sound. The diphthongs are: "oi,oy,ou,ow,au,aw, oo" and many others. 9. When a syllable ends in any vowel and is the only vowel, that vowel is usually long. Examples: "pa/per, me, I, o/pen, u/nit, and my". 10. When a vowel is followed by an "r" in the same syllable, that vowel is "r-controlled". It is not long nor short. "R-controlled "er,ir,and ur" often sound the same (like "er"). Examples: "term, sir, fir, fur, far, for, su/gar, or/der". Basic Syllable Rules 1. To find the number of syllables: ---count the vowels in the word, ---subtract any silent vowels, (like the silent "e" at the end of a word or the second vowel when two vowels a together in a syllable) ---subtract one vowel from every diphthong, (diphthongs only count as one vowel sound.) ---the number of vowels sounds left is the same as the number of syllables. The number of syllables that you hear when you pronounce a word is the same as the number of vowels sounds heard. For example: The word "came" has 2 vowels, but the "e" is silent, leaving one vowel sound andone syllable. The word "outside" has 4 vowels, but the "e" is silent and the "ou" is a diphthong which counts as only one sound, so this word has only two vowels sounds and therefore, two syllables. 2. Divide between two middle consonants. Split up words that have two middle consonants. For example: hap/pen, bas/ket, let/ter, sup/per, din/ner, and Den/nis. The only exceptions are the consonant digraphs. Never split up consonant digraphs as they really represent only one sound. The exceptions are "th", "sh", "ph", "th", "ch", and "wh". 3. Usually divide before a single middle consonant. When there is only one syllable, you usually divide in front of it, as in: "o/pen", "i/tem", "e/vil", and "re/port". The only exceptions are those times when the first syllable has an obvious short sound, as in "cab/in". 4. Divide before the consonant before an "-le" syllable. When you have a word that has the old-style spelling in which the "-le" sounds like "-el", divide before the consonant before the "-le". For example: "a/ble", "fum/ble", "rub/ble" "mum/ble" and "this/tle". The only exception to this are "ckle" words like "tick/le". 5. Divide off any compound words, prefixes, suffixes and roots which have vowel sounds. Split off the parts of compound words like "sports/car" and "house/boat". Divide off prefixes such at "un/happy", "pre/paid", or "re/write". Also divide off suffixes as in the words "farm/er", "teach/er", "hope/less" and "care/ful". In the word "stop/ping", the suffix is actually "-ping" because this word follows the rule that when you add "-ing" to a word with one syllable, you double the last consonant and add the "-ing". Accent Rules When a word has more than one syllable, one of the syllables is always a little louder than the others. The syllable with the louder stress is the accented syllable. It may seem that the placement of accents in words is often random or accidental, but these are some rules that usually work. 1. Accents are often on the first syllable. Examples: ba'/sic, pro'/gram. 2. In words that have suffixes or prefixes, the accent is usually on the main root word. Examples: box'/es, un/tie'. 3. If de-, re-, ex-, in-,po-, pro-, or a- is the first syllable in a word, it is usually not accented. Examples: de/lay', ex/plore'. 4. Two vowel letters together in the last syllable of a word often indicates an accented last syllable. Examples: com/plain', con/ceal'. 5. When there are two like consonant letters within a word, the syllable before the double consonants is usually accented. Examples: be/gin'/ner, let'/ter. 6. The accent is usually on the syllable before the suffixes -ion, ity, -ic, -ical, -ian, -ial, or -ious, and on the second syllable before the suffix -ate. Examples: af/fec/ta'/tion, dif/fer/en'/ti/ate. 7. In words of three or more syllables, one of the first two syllables is usually accented. Examples: ac'/ci/dent, de/ter'/mine. 1. The "a" in the word "shape" is long short r-controlled silent part of a diphthong Answer:long. Rule 7: When a syllable ends in a silent "e", the preceding vowel is usually long. "Shape" has a silent "e" which makes the "a" long. 2. The "e" in the word "Cel/tic" is long short r-controlled silent part of a diphthong Answer:short. Rule 6: When a syllable ends in a consonant, the preceeding vowel is usual short. "Celtic" has two syllables, the first ending in the "l". The single "e" in that syllable is short. 3. The "o" in the word "out" is part of a long short r-controlled silent part of a diphthong Answer:diphthong. A diphthong is a blend of vowel sounds.. In "out" the "o" and the "u" blend to form a new sound. Diphthongs are exceptions to Rule #8: "When two vowels are togehter, the first is usually long and the second is silent." 11. The "a" in the word "lat/i/tude" is long short r-controlled silent part of a diphthong Answer:short Rule 6: When a syllable ends in a consonant, the preceeding vowel is usual short. Here the first syllable ends in a "t" making a "closed syllable" and the "a" short. 12. The "u" in the word "lat/i/tude" is long short r-controlled silent part of a diphthong Answer:long Rule 7: When a syllable ends in a silent "e", the preceeding vowel is usual long. Here the last syllable ends in a silent "e" making the "u" long. 13. The "e" in the word "lat/i/tude" is long short r-controlled silent part of a diphthong Answer:silent Rule 7: When a syllable ends in a silent "e", the preceeding vowel is usual long. Here the last syllable ends in a silent "e" making the "u" long. 14. The first "o" in the word "no/tion" is... long short r-controlled silent part of a diphthong Answer:long Rule # 9: When a syllable ends in a vowel and has only one vowel, the vowel is usually long. The first syllable ends with an "o" so it is long. 15. The "a" in the word "Math" is... long short r-controlled silent part of a diphthong Answer:short Rule 6: When a syllable ends in a consonant, the preceeding vowel is usual short. The syllable ends with a "th" making the "a" short. 16. The "o" in the word "form" is... long short r-controlled silent part of a diphthong Answer:r-controlled Rule #10. When a vowel is followed by an "r" in the same syllable, that vowel is "r-controlled". It is not long nor short. "R-controlled "er,ir,and ur" often sound the same (like "er"). Examples: "term, sir, fir, fur, far, for, su/gar, or/der". The "o" is followed with an "r" making the "o" r-controlled. 17. The second "e" in the word "teacher" is... long short r-controlled silent part of a diphthong Answer:r-controlled This one is r-controlled also. Rule #10. When a vowel is followed by an "r" in the same syllable, that vowel is "r-controlled". 18. The first "e" in the word "teacher" is... long short r-controlled silent part of a diphthong Answer:long Same word, but different vowel. Rule #8. When a syllable has 2 vowels together, the first vowel is usually long and the second is silent. 19. The "y" in the word "encyclopedia" is... long short r-controlled silent part of a diphthong Answer:long Encyclopedia is divided "en/cy/clo/pe/di/a. ". The second syllable ends in a vowel. It follows rule # 9. When a syllable ends in any vowel and is the only vowel, that vowel is usually long. Examples: "pa/per, me, I, o/pen, u/nit, and my". 20. The "o" in the word "window" is... long short r-controlled silent part of a diphthong Answer:long Window is divided "win/dow ". The second syllable has two vowels together. It follows rule # 8. When a syllable has 2 vowels together, the first vowel is usually long and the second is silent. Examples: "pain, eat, boat, res/cue, say, grow". The letters "ow" can also signal a diphthong which sounds like "ou", but in this case, we follow the rule. 21. The second "w" in the word "window" is... long short r-controlled silent part of a diphthong Answer:silent Same word, but different vowel. Since "w" is the second vowel, it is silent. The rule is #8: When a syllable has 2 vowels together, the first vowel is usually long and the second is silent. Examples: "pain, eat, boat, res/cue, say, grow". The letters "ow" can also signal a diphthong which sounds like "ou", but in this case, we follow the rule. 22. The "i" in the word "window" is... long short r-controlled silent part of a diphthong Answer:short Same word, but different vowel. The first syllable is "win". Since it ends in a consonant, the vowel is short. It follows rule #6: When a syllable ends in a consonant and has only one vowel, that vowel is short. Examples: "fat, bed, fish, spot, luck". 23. The "e" in the word "hacker" is... long short r-controlled silent part of a diphthong Answer:r-controlled This follows rule#10: When a vowel is followed by an "r" in the same syllable, that vowel is "r-controlled". It is not long nor short. "R-controlled "er,ir,and ur" often sound the same (like "er"). Examples: "term, sir, fir, fur, far, for, su/gar, or/der". 24. The "a" in the word "access" is... long short r-controlled silent part of a diphthong Answer:short "Access" is divided "ac/cess". Both syllables end in a consonant, making the vowels short. This follows rule#6: When a syllable ends in a consonant and has only one vowel, that vowel is short. 25. The "i" in the word "online" is... long short r-controlled silent part of a diphthong Answer:long "Online" is divided "on/line". The second syllable ends in a silent "e", which makes the "i" long.. This follows rule#7: When a syllable ends in a silent "e", the silent "e" is a signal that the vowel in front of it is long. 26. The first "e" in the word "replacement" is... long short r-controlled silent part of a diphthong Answer:long "Replacement" is divided "re/place/ment". The first syllable ends in a vowel. Since it is the only vowel, then the vowel is long according to rule #9:When a syllable ends in any vowel and is the only vowel, that vowel is usually long. Examples: "pa/per, me, I, o/pen, u/nit, and my". 27. The second "e" in the word "replacement" is... long short r-controlled silent part of a diphthong Answer:silent "Replacement" is divided "re/place/ment". The second syllable ends in a silent "e". This follows rule #7: When a syllable ends in a silent "e", the silent "e" is a signal that the vowel in front of it is long. Examples: "make, fete, kite, rope, and use". 28. The third "e" in the word "replacement" is... long short r-controlled silent part of a diphthong Answer:short "Replacement" is divided "re/place/ment". The third syllable ends in a consonant and has only one vowel. This follows rule #6: When a syllable ends in a consonant and has only one vowel, that vowel is short. Examples: "fat, bed, fish, spot, luck". 29. The "y" in the word "physics" is... long short r-controlled silent part of a diphthong Answer:short "Physics" is divided "phys/ics". The first syllable ends in a consonant (the letter "s")and has only one vowel. This follows rule #6 again: When a syllable ends in a consonant and has only one vowel, that vowel is short. Examples: "fat, bed, fish, spot, luck". 30. The "i" in the word "physics" is... long short r-controlled silent part of a diphthong Answer:short "Physics" is divided "phys/ics". The second syllable ends in a silent "c" making the "i" short. This follows rule #6:When a syllable ends in a consonant and has only one vowel, that vowel is short. Examples: "fat, bed, fish, spot, luck". 31. The "a" in the word "Glendale" is... long short r-controlled silent part of a diphthong Answer:long Glendale "Glendale" is divided "Glen/dale". The second syllable ends in a silent "e" making the "a" long. This follows rule #7: When a syllable ends in a silent "e", the silent "e" is a signal that the vowel in front of it is long. 32. The "o" in the word "ointment" is... long short r-controlled silent part of a diphthong Answer:part of a diphthong "oi" "ointment" is divided "oint/ment". The first syllable has the two vowels together. Ordinarily this would make the first vowel long and the second vowel silent, but diphthongs are exceptions. 33. The "u" in the word "church" is... long short r-controlled silent part of a diphthong Answer:r-controlled This follows rule #10: When a vowel is followed by an "r" in the same syllable, that vowel is "r-controlled". It is not long nor short. "R-controlled "er,ir,and ur" often sound the same (like "er"). Examples: "term, sir, fir, fur, far, for, su/gar, or/der". 34. The "a" in the word "affirm" is... long short r-controlled silent part of a diphthong Answer:short "Affirm" is divided "af/firm". The first syllable ends in a consonant. This follows rule #6. 35. The second "e" in the word "marketplace" is... long short r-controlled silent part of a diphthong Answer:silent "Marketplace" is divided "mar/ket/place". The last syllable ends in a silent "e". This follows rule #7: When a syllable ends in a silent "e", the silent "e" is a signal that the vowel in front of it is long. 36. The "a" in the word "faith" is... long short r-controlled silent part of a diphthong Answer:long "Faith" has two vowels together that are not diphthongs. This follows rule #8: When a syllable has 2 vowels together, the first vowel is usually long and the second is silent. Examples: "pain, eat, boat, res/cue, say, grow". 37. The "o" in the word "join" is... long short r-controlled silent part of a diphthong Answer:part of a diphthong "Join" has two vowels together which are diphthongs. 38. The "e" in the word "rerun" is... long short r-controlled silent part of a diphthong Answer:long "Rerun" is divided "re/run". The first syllable ends in a vowel and follows rule # 9. It is not r-controlled because the "r" that follows the "e" is not in the same syllable. 39. The "e" in the word "student" is... long short r-controlled silent part of a diphthong Answer:short "Student" is divided "stu/dent". The second syllable ends in a consonant and has only one vowel. This follows rule # 6. http://english.glendale.cc.ca.us/phonics.html http://www.howmanysyllables.com/whataresyllables.html |