For example, the word Bahamas has three syllables, each with its own vowel sound: “ba,” “ha,” and “mas. " On the other hand, the word flat only has one vowel sound and therefore only one syllable. Remember to ignore silent vowels in this rule, such as the final -e in late. Even though the word late has two vowels, it only has one vowel sound and therefore one syllable. Keep in mind that two vowels next to one another can sometimes be two separate vowel sounds, as in chaos (with its two syllables “cha-” and “-os”). But sometimes two vowels next to one another can make a single vowel sound, as in leaf, which only has one syllable. Time and experience will allow you to determine whether a double vowel makes two vowel sounds or a single vowel sound. There are no syllables that do not involve a vowel sound in English.
The only exceptions to this rule are consonant digraphs, which are single sounds represented by two consonants. Common consonant digraphs include the ph, sh, th, wh, wr, ck, ng, and ch sounds. [3] X Research source These should be treated like a single consonant and should not be divided. For example, rather should be divided into rath-er, not rat-her.
For example, when you come across the word “habit,” you should first try dividing before the consonant: ha-bit. However, there is no word that sounds like “hay-bit” in English. You should therefore move on to the second method, which will give you hab-it, a common English word. These words will often begin with a shorter vowel sound instead of a longer vowel sound. Other words in this category include cabin (cab-in), panic (pan-ic), and second (sec-ond). Sometimes, there are differences between American and British English in where you divide the word. For example, Americans would usually divide the word “privacy” as “pri-va-cy” (with a long i sound). However, most British speakers would usually divide the word as “priv-a-cy” (with a short i sound).
Common bound morphemes include: un-, non-, pre-, post-, -ing, -ed, -er, -est, and -less.
The exception to this rule is when the -le is preceded by the ck digraph. These words are divided before the -le. For example, pickle should be divided into pick-le; buckle should be divided into buck-le; etc.
Know the difference between a short vowel sound and a long vowel sound. Be able to determine a vowel sound for one-syllable words based on the consonants around it. Recognize common English word patterns. For example, they should learn that many consonant-vowel-consonant words involve a short vowel sound, as in rat or tot, whereas many consonant-vowel-consonant-e words involve a long vowel sound, as in rate or tote. Memorize common vowel sounds that are spelled with two vowel letters, such as “ou,” “oi,” “ie,” “ea,” and “ei. "
For example, continue to ask students to read increasingly difficult texts to expose them to new words, longer words, and new sounds. Assign vocabulary lists to memorize. Make sure you tell students how to pronounce these words as well. Encourage your students to listen carefully to other speakers to hear how words are pronounced and divided into syllables.
- Compound words should be divided in-between the two base words.
- Bound morphemes often comprise their own separate syllable.
- If two consonants appear in the middle of a word, divide them in half.
- But never divide consonant digraphs, vowel digraphs, or diphthongs in have.
- When one consonant is sandwiched by two vowels, first try to divide the word before the consonant. If that doesn’t work, then try to divide the word after the consonant.
