Name _______________________________________

Lesson 15   Unstressed syllables


several interest
privilege memory
different cafeteria
generous comfortable
decimal restaurant
chocolate temperature
probably literature
sophomore vegetable
positive mathematics

1. Look at the underlined letters.
Are they consonants or vowels? __________
Are any of them in the first syllable or the last syllable of a word? _____
   
2. Say each word slowly. Look again at the underlined letters. Do you pronounce the middle syllables in all of the words? __________

Lesson Generalization

The spelling problem in these words is caused by the pronunciation of the words. Some unaccented middle syllables are dropped when the words are spoken. Invent mnemonic devices for words that are special problems.

Decimal has a point in the middle.
O for some choc-o-late said the soph-o-more!
Hot temperatures can cause hot tempers.

Sometimes the unaccented syllable is easier to hear in another form of the word.

lite rature: literary, literal
memory: memorial
probably: probability


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