Before we begin to understand what an open and closed syllable is, I would like to immediately warn you - in English language The reading rules have so many exceptions that it is better to simply remember to read as many words as possible, and read the rest by analogy.
But at school they teach the rules and give grades... To apply the rules correctly, let’s first understand the syllables.
In English, just like in Russian, words are divided into syllables. Very often, in order to correctly read a vowel in a syllable, it is necessary to determine the type of syllable - an open or closed syllable.
Let's take the usual Russian word « book"let's divide it into syllables: BOOK. Both syllables end in a vowel sound, which means both syllables OPEN.
Let's take the word " trap", divide into syllables: TRAP. In this example, both syllables end in a consonant, which means both CLOSED.
But determining the syllable of an English syllable is not as easy as in Russian. A typical English word contains 2, maximum 3 syllables, so finding a syllable is not difficult.
If you take the floor name, then you might think that it has 2 syllables, but we all know that it is read, that is, there is one syllable. Let's take a closer look at why everything is so.
Open syllable
1. If there is no consonant after a vowel in a syllable.
For example: go, no, ago, my, hi, be, me.
2. If after a vowel there is immediately an “e” at the end of the word
For example: pie, lie, toe, blue, bye, dye.
3. If there is a consonant, but it is immediately followed by a “silent” vowel “e”, which is not readable.
For example: name, blade, take, these, mine, time, type.
3. After a stressed vowel - consonant+le
For example: table, noble.
Remember!!! IN open syllable vowels are read Also, as they are called in .
Closed syllable
If a syllable contains one or more consonant letters after a vowel (except for the letter r).
For example: bad, cat, vet, strip, stop, camp, battle, end, center, pink.
But in English there are “tricky” vowels and consonants. They can be read differently depending on how they are located in the word.
Closed syllable. In a closed syllable, a stressed vowel is followed by one or more consonants (except r); a vowel in a closed syllable conveys a short sound.
Example words with open type syllables
- pen - [ pen ] - feather
- cat - [ kæt ] - cat
There are four types of syllables in English, more on that. Types of syllables
Rules for reading vowels in open and closed syllables.
The most common rules for reading English vowels are the rules for reading them in four syllable types.
The vowels i and y are, as it were, duplicating each other (in the sense of the rules for reading them). The letter y is found mainly at the end of words, and the letter i is found in the middle of words and almost never at the end.
1 Alphabetical reading, i.e. The pronunciation corresponding to the name of the letter in the alphabet has vowels only in the second type of syllable, which is also called open, since it ends with a vowel.
2 A syllable becomes closed if a vowel is followed by one or more consonants.
3 In polysyllabic words, according to the rules of English syllable division, one consonant, being on the border of syllables between the readable vowels, goes to the next syllable. For example, in the word lad [ læd ] guy, the consonant d refers to the first and only syllable, “closing” it. In the word lady [ ˈleɪdi ] Lady the same consonant belongs to the second syllable, while the first remains open.
4 If there are two or more consonants at the boundary of syllables, then at least one of them necessarily goes to the previous syllable, making it closed: splendid [ ˈsplɛndɪd ] magnificent, luxurious.
This also applies to cases where combinations of consonants produce only one sound: funny [ ˈfʌni] funny, amusing ticket [ ˈtɪkɪt ] ticket, coupon
The syllable boundary then passes directly along this sound. The preceding syllable becomes closed, although the sound itself belongs to the following syllable.
5 The letter x conveying two sounds is considered as two consonants boxer [ ˈbɒksə ] boxer
6 The final silent vowel e serves to indicate the openness of syllables ending with the consonants made [ ˈmeɪd ] made . The letter e at the end of a word is read only when it is the only vowel: be [ bi] be .
7 Sound [ (j) u: ] after sibilants, consonants [ r ] and combinations of consonants ending in [ l ], pronounced [ u: ]
- rule [ ruːl ] rule, rule, power
- blue [ bluː ] blue, light blue
- shoot [ ʃuːt ] take off, shoot.
In other cases, [ juː ]
- few [ fjuː ] little, a little
- use [ ˈjuːs ] benefit, use, application
In American English the sound [ juː ] occurs much less frequently than in British, which in the following transcriptions is designated as [ (j) u: ].
8 Syllables closed with a consonant r or letter combinations r + consonant are distinguished into a separate, third type of syllable, with special reading rules. In disyllabic words, with several consonants starting with r at the boundary of syllables, r goes to the preceding syllable, the rest to the subsequent one (including cases of rr):
- [German] ˈdʒəːmən ] German
- porridge [ ˈpɒrɪdʒ ] porridge .
9 Finally, if immediately after the r, which closes the syllable, there is again a vowel, an open syllable of the fourth type is formed. If one letter r stands on a syllable boundary in two-syllable words, then general rule syllable division it goes to the subsequent syllable, but at the same time it is an indicator of reading the preceding vowel according to the rules of syllables of the fourth type:
staring [ ˈsteərɪŋ ] bright .
10 The rules for reading open syllables of types 2 and 4 have quite a few exceptions regarding polysyllabic words in which the vowels in the indicated syllables are read according to the rules of closed type syllables.
11 The consonant r after vowels in syllables of the third and fourth type is not readable in British English. However, if the next word begins with a vowel, the final silent -r or -re ceases to be silent:
to take care of [ təˈ teɪk ker əv ] take care . In the American version, the consonant r is always pronounced.
12 The vowels e, i, y and u in syllables of the third type produce the same sound [ ə: ] , and their reading in syllables of the fourth type is easily obtained from the alphabetic by adding the sound [ ə ] .
13 The vowel o in syllables of the third and fourth types is read the same [ ɔː ]
14 Letter combinations -er -re at the end of words that produce the same vowel sound [ ə ] , are considered as the vowel opening the previous syllable: metre [ ˈmiːtə ] meter The letter combination -le at the end of words has a similar property: table [ ˈteɪbl] table . Sonorant consonant [ l ]. similar in sound characteristics to vowels, acts in such cases as a syllabic vowel.
In this lesson:
Alphabet for letter A
Open and closed syllable
There are many reading rules in the English language, but the most, most, most “basic” are the rules for reading vowels in open and closed syllables.
There is NO need to “learn the rules” of reading separately. You need to learn quite a lot of words - examples of this rule. By memorizing the rules, you remember patterns, which you then notice in unfamiliar words.
Let's go through the dictionary
Once upon a time, it seems like a long time ago, there were no electronic dictionaries. Why, back then there were no computers. The translation of unfamiliar words had to be looked for by leafing through a thick, solid book DICTIONARY. Probably, even now every student of English has a large or not very large English-Russian dictionary, which is called “hardcover”.
It is, of course, easier to look for a translation of a word in the electronic version of the dictionary, but when you hold a book in your hands, you see more words, it is easier to find words in which the vowel means a certain sound. So, let's go through the dictionary and look for patterns.
"Alphabet" for the letter "A"
| [x] | |
| ant - ant act act apple - apple |
able ace ace |
| bad - bad bag - bag |
baby ["beIbi] child bake bacon ["beIkn] bacon bait bait |
| camp - camp cat - cat |
cable cable cake |
| daddy - dad dam - dam |
date date, date day day daisy ["deIzI] daisy danger ["deInGq] danger |
| enamel enamel embarrass to embarrass |
enable promote embrace |
| fan - fan, fan fact fact fax fax |
face face fame fake - fake, counterfeit |
| gas - gas ganster - ganster |
game game gate |
| hat - hat hand - hand | hate |
| jam ["Gxm] - jam, jam jaguar ["Gxgjq] jaguar |
Jane -Jane jail ["GeIl] prison |
| lamp - lamp | lady ["leIdI] - lady, lady |
| mad - crazy | make - do, produce |
| narrow ["nxrqV] narrow | name - name, call |
| pack pack, flock | pale - pale |
| rat - rat | radio ["reIdiqV] radio |
| sad - sad | safe safe |
| tank tank | take |
Aa Bb Cc Dd Ee Ff Gg Hh Ii Jj Kk Ll Mm Nn Oo Pp Qq Rr Ss Tt Uu Vv Ww Xx Yy Zz
Open and closed syllable
This table does not contain words for all letters of the alphabet, but this is enough. As you can see, there are a lot of things in English short words type
hat is a closed syllable - after the letter a there is one consonant and nothing else.
hate is an open syllable - after the letter a there is one consonant and a “silent” letter e (it is not pronounced).
Using such examples, the rules for reading vowels in open and closed (stressed!) syllables are the easiest to remember. So,
In an open stressed syllable, vowels are read in the same way as they are called (as in the alphabet), i.e. This is alphabetical reading.
Unfortunately, it's not that simple. Even this “simple” rule does not apply to all words. To read a vowel letter it is important what letters exactly? stand in front of her and behind her. Therefore, the letter a can also be read as [L] or [R]. But more on that in the next lesson.
In the meantime, try to remember the words from the table above and
transcription signs [x] and .
More:
First, let's find out what's different open syllable in English from closed and using examples, let's see how to correctly read letters in a particular syllable.
Open syllable in English
If a word ends in a vowel, it is an open syllable.
name - name
my - mine
take - take
You've probably already noticed that in almost all cases, the vowel letter e at the end of a word is silent (not readable). Let's now take a closer look at how to correctly read vowels in an open stressed syllable.
In an open syllable, all vowels are read as in the alphabet. The exception is the letter y. There are 6 vowels in total in the alphabet. Let's look at each of them in the table below.
English vowels and examples of their pronunciation in words
Aa
name - name
lake - lake
say - say
As you already noticed, the last vowel in English word not readable. It only says that the first vowel in a word should be read as in the alphabet.
Ee
be - to be
me - me
settle - bench
In most prepositions we pronounce the last vowel, as in the example with the prepositions be (to be) and me (me).
II
nice - to be
like - me
line - bench
Oo
no - no
nose - nose
go - go, go
Uu
mute - mute
tune - tune
Yy
my - mine
skype - skype
The vowel y in an English word conveys sound despite the fact that its transcription is .
Closed syllable in English.
If a word ends with a consonant, then it is closed syllable.
pen - pen
good [ɡʊd] - good
sit - sit
Let's look at the rules for reading each vowel separately in closed syllable in English.
English vowels and examples of their pronunciation in a closed syllable
Aa
bad - bad
dad - dad
back - back
black - black
flat - apartment
The letter Aa in a closed stressed syllable is read as the sound [æ]. This sound is similar to something between Russian A and E. In the examples you can clearly hear how to pronounce this sound. Practice well before moving on to the next letter.
Oo
stop - stop
box - box
from - from, from
shop - store
hot - hot
Letter Oo in a closed stressed syllable is read as the sound [ə]. This sound is similar to the Russian sound O, but in Russian, when we pronounce O, we extend our lips forward; in English, when pronouncing the sound [ə], our lips do not extend forward. In the examples you can clearly hear how to pronounce this sound.
II
big - big
film - film
milk - milk
sit - sit
fish - fish
The letter Ii in a closed stressed syllable is read as the sound [I]. This sound is similar to the Russian sound I. In the examples you can clearly hear how to pronounce this sound.
Ee
best - best
bed - bed
dress - dress
egg - egg
get - receive
The letter Ee in a closed stressed syllable is read as the sound [e]. This sound is similar to the Russian sound E. In the examples you can clearly hear how to pronounce this sound.
Uu
cup - cup
sun - sun
run - run
fun - fun
up - up
The letter Uu in a closed stressed syllable is read as the sound [ʌ]. This sound is similar to the Russian A sound, but in English it is more intense. In the examples you can clearly hear how to pronounce this sound.
Yy
gym - gym
myth - myth
rhythm - rhythm
The letter Yy in a closed stressed syllable is read the same as the letter Ii. This sound is similar to the Russian sound I. In the examples you can clearly hear how to pronounce this sound.
Useful
A diphthong is when one letter contains two sounds. For example, the letter a has two sounds.
Open closed syllable in English: exercises
Now let's practice a little. Choose which sound is present in the word.
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A trainer for reading English vowels in open and closed syllables. For children who are just starting to learn english letters, it is very difficult to learn English sounds.
The simulator is used to practice open and closed syllables and is intended for 2nd grade students. According to Biboletova’s educational complex (4th quarter). According to Vereshchagina's teaching materials (end of the second quarter - beginning of the second quarter). According to the Starlight educational complex (end of September). This simulator will not only help you remember vowel letters and sounds, but will also help you distinguish in what position a letter is read in an open or closed syllable.
Aa
cake, Kate, name, plane, plate, snake, take, Jane, sale
hat, cat, bat, fat, Sam, cap, bad, parrot, carrot, rat, ant, many, black, map, can
a black cat, a bad snake, many parrots, a fat rat, a black rat and a fat cat, a cake and a plate, a black bat hat
Take a cat. Take a plate. Take a black rat and a fat cat. Take a map.
Take a cake, Kate. Jane, take a parrot and a carrot. Take a fat cat and a black hat, Sam.
What's your name? How many plates has Jane got? Has Sam got a map?
[əʊ] no, rose, stone, open, home, go, globe
[ͻ] on, not, hot, dog, frog, doll, hop, robot, box, clock
Rose, doll, frog, home, robot, dog, stone, box
No, go, globe, hop, hot, doll, doll, home
go home, a big dog, a big doll, a big box, a small clock, a box and a dog
Go home. A big dog has a big clock. A small frog has a big box.
Open a box. A frog opens a small box. I have at a doll at home.
Have they got a doll at home? - No, they haven’t. They have got a robot at home.
Kite, mice, bike, hi, Mike, nice, fine, like, white, nine
[i] Tim, Bill, pink, kitten, big, little, pig, milk, it, his, with
a little kite, a little cat, a little pig, a little hat, little mice
a nice bike, a nice cat, a nice pet, nice mice
a big kitten, a big pink kitten, a big fat cat, a big plane
I like my bike. I like my cat. I like my big fat cat. I like my nice little pink pig. I am fine.
I like my little nice mice. I like my nice pink kite. I like it.
I like to play with my nice little kitten. Let's play with his big bike.
Ee
see, be, Pete, he, beet, she, bee, keep, we, green, sweet,
Ned, pet, let"s, hen, ten, pen, desk, red, bed, Bet, lemon,
Pete, bed, Ted, let, green, pen, bee
Peg, desk, see, keep, red, hen, beet
Green pen, red desk, Pete and a bee, Ted and his pet,
A black desk, a big red hen on the little black desk
See a red beet. Take a pen. Take a hen. Keep a green pen. See a black desk.
Take a pen, Pete. His pen is bad. His desk is big. Ted, see a big bee.
Let's play with a pet, Pete. What green toys has Peg got?
Computer, pupil, tube, due, student, tulip, music
Up, cup, bus, cut, sun, sunny, plus, puppy, funny
Computer, bus, cup, pupil, plus, student
Up, puppy, tube, student, pupil, sun, cut
A sunny day, a sunny smile, a big bus and a little cup,
A big funny puppy, a funny puppy and a sunny smile
Get up, puppy. Let's listen to the music. Students are funny.
Let's play computer games with the students. They are funny.
My, fly, why, try, cry, type
Funny, puppy, sunny, system, myth, baby
Funny, why, cry, funny, try, fly, system, myth
A big fly, my big fly, a big fat funny fly, a big thin funny puppy
Don't cry. Don't try. Don't fly. Fly my little kite.
Try to cry, my baby. I want you to try to cry. Why do you cry?
Why don't you try to cry? Fly! Fly a kite. Fly my little funny kite.
For the full text of the material on the Trainer for reading English vowels in open and closed syllables, see the downloadable file.
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