Final answer:
The fundamental rule for dividing words into syllables is that each syllable should end in a consonant and join a vowel occurring between consonants to the following consonant.
Step-by-step explanation:
The fundamental rule for dividing words into syllables is that each syllable should end in a consonant and join a vowel occurring between consonants to the following consonant.
For example, the word 'better' is divided into two syllables: 'bet-ter'. The first syllable ends in a consonant 't' and joins the vowel 'e' occurring between consonants 'b' and 't' to the following consonant 't'.
Another example is the word 'rhythm', which is divided into two syllables: 'rhythm'. The first syllable ends in a consonant 'm' and joins the vowel 'y' occurring between consonants 'r' and 'th' to the following consonant 'th'.