Closed Syllable Exception: When the Rules Don't Apply
In English, we often follow the rule of closed syllables: a syllable is closed when it ends with a consonant. This means the vowel sound is short. Think of words like cat, dog, and hot. The vowel sound is short and clear.
But there are exceptions! While the closed syllable rule is a good guideline, it doesn't always apply. There are certain words that defy the rule and have long vowel sounds even when ending in a consonant.
Common Exceptions
Here are some examples of common words that break the closed syllable rule:
- A way (the "a" is long)
- Be fore (the "e" is long)
- The re cord (the "e" is long)
- Some times (the "i" is long)
- The re solve (the "e" is long)
Reasons for the Exceptions
These exceptions often arise due to the influence of certain factors:
- Etymology: Some words have a long vowel sound because they are derived from older forms of English or from other languages, where the vowel sound was traditionally long.
- Stress: The position of stress in a word can sometimes influence the vowel sound.
- Suffixes: Adding certain suffixes to a word can also change the vowel sound.
Learning the Exceptions
Unfortunately, there's no easy trick to learning all the closed syllable exceptions. The best way is to memorize these words as you encounter them in your reading and writing.
Remember, language is dynamic and always evolving. There will always be exceptions to the rules!