Open Syllable Patterns and CVCe Patterns

bro / ken The word broken has two syllables. The syllables break between the vowel o and the consonant k. When a syllable ends with a vowel, the syllable is usually pronounced with a long vowel sound. This is called an open syllable. It is called an open syllable because there is nothing to stop the sound. Your mouth is open (try it- make any vowel sound and you’ll notice that your mouth is open!! Your lips, tongue, throat, or teeth won’t be stopping the sound!)

cli/ent The syllable break is between two vowels - i and e. When a syllable breaks between two vowels, the first syllable is an open syllable and the second syllable is usually a closed syllable. Sometimes vowels form what is called a digraph like the vowels ee in the word feed or the vowels ea in the word break. These letters stay together in the same syllable and won’t be broken up.

de/ride The syllable break is between – e and r. The first syllable ends with a vowel. Therefore, it is an open syllable and the vowel has a long sound. The second syllable follows the CVCe pattern. Although it is a closed syllable, the i has a long sound because of the silent e at the end of the syllable. Remember- identifying syllables and their patterns is one more tool to help you read unfamiliar words! *Note to teachers- “One syllable in a multisyllabic word receives more emphasis or stress. The vowel sound in this syllable is heard most clearly. Stress is indicated in dictionary pronunciation keys by accent marks. In addition to one primary accent, some words also have one or more secondary accents. Vowels in unstressed syllables become schwas. The accent in most two syllable words falls on the first syllable. However, (generally) in words with prefixes the accent falls on the root or base word. Blevins, Teaching Phonics & Word Study in the Intermediate Grades, 2001

Where are the syllable breaks? What are the syllable patterns? Try these. Where are the syllable breaks? What are the syllable patterns?

vacation va/ca/tion The first and second syllables are open.

female fe/male The first syllable is an open syllable. The second syllable is closed and follows the CVCe pattern

music mu/sic The first syllable is open. The second syllable is closed.

stabilize sta/bil/ize The first syllable is open. What about the second syllable- open or closed? What about the 3rd syllable? Why does it have a long sound?

reentry re/en/try open, closed, open

Look in the story, “Line Drive Look in the story, “Line Drive.” Find longer words with open syllable patterns.