North Carolina Foundations of Reading Practice Test

What must every syllable contain?

1. A consonant

2. A diphthong

3. A vowel

4. An abbreviation

The correct answer is: A vowel

Every syllable must contain a vowel because vowels are the core components that define the structure of a syllable. A syllable typically consists of a vowel sound, which can be accompanied by consonants either before or after it. This vowel serves as the nucleus of the syllable, providing the necessary sound element that allows it to be pronounced. While consonants can appear in syllables, they are not mandatory; some syllables can exist solely with a vowel sound, such as "I" or "a." Diphthongs, which are combinations of two vowel sounds, may appear in syllables but are not obligatory for syllable formation. Similarly, abbreviations do not have any relevance to the fundamental structure of syllables. Therefore, the presence of a vowel is essential for identifying and constructing syllables in words.