Which statement about syllables is true?

Which statement about syllables is true?

• A. A syllable cannot contain a vowel.
• B. A syllable is a unit of pronunciation that can only occur at the end of a word.
• C. A syllable is a group of letters with no vowel.
• D. A syllable is a unit of pronunciation that typically contains a vowel sound and may include consonants.

Answer: (D)

Syllables are units of pronunciation built around a vowel sound, with consonants that may surround that vowel. The idea in the statement that a syllable typically contains a vowel sound and may include consonants best captures how syllables function in spoken words. The vowel sound acts as the nucleus of the syllable, and consonants can attach before or after it, as in words like cat (one syllable with a single vowel sound) or beauty (three syllables, each centered on a vowel sound). The other ideas don’t fit because a syllable relies on a vowel sound to be complete. Saying a syllable cannot contain a vowel goes against how syllables carry their sound. Saying a syllable can only occur at the end of a word ignores that syllables appear at the beginning and in the middle as well. And claiming a syllable is a group of letters with no vowel misstates the basic structure, since the vowel sound (or a vowel-like element) is essential to forming a syllable.

Syllables are units of pronunciation built around a vowel sound, with consonants that may surround that vowel. The idea in the statement that a syllable typically contains a vowel sound and may include consonants best captures how syllables function in spoken words. The vowel sound acts as the nucleus of the syllable, and consonants can attach before or after it, as in words like cat (one syllable with a single vowel sound) or beauty (three syllables, each centered on a vowel sound).

The other ideas don’t fit because a syllable relies on a vowel sound to be complete. Saying a syllable cannot contain a vowel goes against how syllables carry their sound. Saying a syllable can only occur at the end of a word ignores that syllables appear at the beginning and in the middle as well. And claiming a syllable is a group of letters with no vowel misstates the basic structure, since the vowel sound (or a vowel-like element) is essential to forming a syllable.