Final answer:
A consonant blend is a group of two or more consonants where each letter's sound can be heard, contrary to the claim that it represents a new sound. Letters like 'w' can serve as vowels in certain contexts, while 'u' is generally a vowel but sounds like 'w' after 'q'.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that a consonant blend is a group of consecutive letters that represent a new sound is false. A consonant blend is actually a grouping of two or more consecutive consonant letters that are pronounced individually, and each letter within the blend maintains its sound when combined with other letters. Unlike consonant blends, a digraph is a combination of two letters that together form a single, new sound such as sh in 'ship' or ch in 'chair'.
Understanding letters in terms of sounds is fundamental in learning how to read and write. For instance, a consonant sound like p in 'pat' often signals to us the beginning of a syllable or word, while a vowel sound like a carries the weight or is the peak of a syllable. In some cases, letters like w can function as a vowel when teamed with other vowels to spell a single sound, as in 'low', but usually, w serves as a consonant.
When we consider the letter u, it's commonly a vowel except when used after in words like 'quick' where it creates a consonant sound similar to w. These intricacies of the English language are what make it challenging, yet interesting to learn.