Lesson 15   Unstressed vowels

relative	related	fantasy	fantastic
human	humanity	company	companion
geography	geographical	democracy	democratic
emphasis	emphatic	allergy	allergic
grammar	grammatical	comedy	comedian
angel	angelic	remedy	remedial
parent	parental	terrify	terrific
artist	artistic	hostile	hostility
medicine	medicinal	melody	melodious
biology	biological	editor	editorial

1.	Say the first word in each pair aloud. Is the underlined vowel in a stressed or unstressed syllable? __________ Can the vowel be clearly heard or identified? _____
2.	Say the second word in each pair aloud. Is the same underlined vowel in a stressed or an unstressed syllable? __________ Can the vowel be more easily identified in these words? _____

Lesson Generalization Unstressed vowels cause spelling problems because they are difficult to hear and identify. A vowel in an accented syllable is pronounced more clearly. Is the e more clearly pronounced in com' e dy or co me' di an ? Many words have a form in which the accent shifts to a different syllable. A vowel that is difficult to identify in one form may be easier to hear in the other form.

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Grade 7 Spelling SkillBuilders