109k views
4 votes
Basic rule for dividing words: while there are exceptions, syllables with short vowels usually attach the next consonant to the ________________ ___________________ (man-u-script, not ma-nu-script).

A) Second vowel.
B) First vowel.
C) Third vowel.
D) Final consonant.

User FrBrGeorge
by
8.2k points

1 Answer

4 votes

Final answer:

Syllables with short vowels usually connect the next consonant to the first vowel. 'Manuscript' is divided as 'man-u-script' because of the VCC pattern which indicates a short first vowel. The VCle pattern suggests a long vowel, distinguished from the VCC where consonants follow the vowel in the same syllable. Option B) First vowel is the correct answer.

Step-by-step explanation:

The basic rule for dividing words into syllables is that syllables with short vowels usually attach the following consonant to the first vowel. For example, the word 'manuscript' is divided as 'man-u-script', not 'ma-nu-script' because the first syllable has a short vowel sound, and the consonant 'n' attaches to it. This rule reflects the common pattern wherein the presence of a consonant right after a vowel typically indicates that the vowel sound is short, noted as the VCC (Vowel-Consonant-Consonant) pattern.

When analyzing the patterns in word syllabification where the first vowel is followed by double consonants, such as the word 'latter', which displays the VCC pattern, we recognize that the vowel is short. Conversely, in the VCle pattern, where the consonant is not immediately followed by another consonant, the vowel is generally long as in the example word 'later' with a VCV (Vowel-Consonant-Vowel) pattern.

Another related rule in English syllabification involves 'twinning' or doubling the final consonant when adding a vowel-starting suffix to a word with one vowel sound, ending with a consonant-vowel-consonant (CVC) pattern, especially if the last vowel is stressed.

User Jmuc
by
7.2k points
Welcome to QAmmunity.org, where you can ask questions and receive answers from other members of our community.