Final answer:
Consonant blends are groups of consonants where each consonant's sound can be heard distinctly, while consonant clusters are a broader term that includes any grouping of consonants, including blends.
Step-by-step explanation:
The difference between a consonant blend and a consonant cluster is subtle, as both refer to a group of consonants found together in a word without a vowel between them. However, the term 'consonant blend' is typically used to describe when two or more consonants are blended together and each consonant's sound can be heard distinctly. An example would be the word block, where you can hear both the b and l sounds. On the other hand, 'consonant cluster' is a more general term that refers to any grouping of consonants that can include blends and other consonant combinations.
Understanding how to identify and pronounce these can be especially important when dealing with spelling patterns and sounds as in the case with the VCle and VCCle patterns. For instance, the VCle pattern, with a long vowel, is seen in words like gable, whereas the VCCle pattern with a short vowel is seen in words like rifle. These patterns help indicate how to properly spell and pronounce the final consonant sounds in words.