L.4.2.D

Spelling Patterns

Correct spelling helps readers understand your writing.

Knowing spelling patterns can help you become a better speller.

Syllable Patterns

Syllable: A syllable is defined by an unbroken vowel sound in a word. Words can have one or more syllables. The number of syllables is like the number of beats in a word. Knowing different syllable division patterns can help you spell words correctly.

Closed Syllables

When the vowel sound in a syllable is short, it is "closed off" by a consonant sound. Closed syllables are surrounded by or end with one or more consonants.

Example:

pumpkin → pump · kin

muffin → muf · fin

Open Syllables

When a syllable is "open," it ends with a vowel sound and usually makes a long vowel sound.

Example:

silent → si · lent

solo → so · lo

Final Stable Syllables

A final stable syllable only comes at the end of a word. It consists of a combination of letters that makes a reliable sound. Some final stable syllables include consonant + le, -tion, -sion, -ture, and -age.

Example:

dimple → dim · ple

snuggle → snug · gle

population → pop · u · la · tion

expression → ex · pres · sion

mixture → mix · ture

cabbage → cab · bage

VCe Syllables

A VCe syllable, or "magic e" syllable, makes a long vowel sound that is spelled with a single vowel, followed by a single consonant, followed by a silent e.

Example:

reproduce → re · pro · duce

compose → com · pose

r-Controlled Vowels

When a vowel is followed by an r in a syllable, the r changes the sound. An ar makes an /ar/ sound. An er makes an /ər/ sound. An ir also makes an /ər/ sound, as does a ur. An or may make an /ər/ sound or an /or/ sound.

Example:

depart → de · part

finger → fin · ger

thirteen → thir · teen

export → ex · port

purple → pur · ple

Vowel Teams

Vowels sometimes work in teams to make single sounds.

ea,ee

Syllables with an ea or ee vowel team often make a long e sound. However, sometimes syllables with the ea vowel team make a short e sound.

Example:

reason → rea · son

weather → weath · er

oa,oe

Syllables with an oa or oe vowel team often make a long o sound.

Example:

tomatoes → to · ma · toes

oi,oy

Syllables with an oi or oy vowel team often make an /oy/ sound, as in boy.

Example:

destroy → de · stroy

ei,ie

Syllables with an ei or ie vowel team often make the long e sound.

Example:

relief → re · lief

There are many other vowel and letter teams. Here are a few more examples:

Example:

ai: contain and rainforest

ou, ow: council, flowers

ow: window, lower

Sometimes there are syllable breaks between two vowels. Then, each vowel makes its own sound, rather than working together as a team to make one sound. This is a Vowel-Vowel (VV) syllable division pattern.

Example:

poet → po · et

rodeo → ro · de · o

algebraic → al · ge · bra · ic

❋ ❋ ❋ ❋ ❋ ❋ ❋ ❋ ❋ ❋ ❋ ❋ ❋ ❋ ❋ ❋ ❋ ❋ ❋ ❋ ❋ ❋ ❋ ❋ ❋ ❋ ❋ ❋ ❋ ❋

Go to the next page to practice spelling words with these spelling patterns.

Common Core Standards

Spelling

Literacy.L.4.2d

Spell grade-appropriate words correctly, consulting references as needed.