Open and Closed Syllables online exercise - Free Printable

Let's solve this spelling worksheet step by step. The task is to determine whether the first syllable of each word is open or closed, based on the rules provided.

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🔹 Rules Recap:

- Open Syllable:
1. Has one vowel.
2. The vowel does not have a vowel after it.
3. The vowel says the long sound (e.g., "me" — the 'e' is long).

- Closed Syllable:
1. Has one vowel.
2. The vowel has a consonant after it.
3. The vowel says the short sound (e.g., "met" — the 'e' is short).

> Note: We are focusing only on the first syllable of each word.

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Now, let’s analyze each word:

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1. apron

- Syllables: a-pron
- First syllable: a
- Vowel: 'a' → followed by p (a consonant) → closed syllable
- Sound: 'a' in "ap" is short (like in "cat") → short sound
✔ Answer: CLOSED

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2. insect

- Syllables: in-sect
- First syllable: in
- Vowel: 'i' → followed by n (a consonant) → closed syllable
- Sound: 'i' is short (like in "sit") → short sound
✔ Answer: CLOSED

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3. robot

- Syllables: ro-bot
- First syllable: ro
- Vowel: 'o' → followed by b (a consonant) → closed syllable
- Sound: 'o' is short (like in "hot") → short sound
✔ Answer: CLOSED

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4. unit

- Syllables: u-nit
- First syllable: u
- Vowel: 'u' → followed by n (a consonant) → closed syllable
- Sound: 'u' is short (like in "cup") → short sound
✔ Answer: CLOSED

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5. pillow

- Syllables: pil-low
- First syllable: pil
- Vowel: 'i' → followed by l (a consonant) → closed syllable
- Sound: 'i' is short (like in "sit") → short sound
✔ Answer: CLOSED

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6. frozen

- Syllables: fro-zon
- First syllable: fro
- Vowel: 'o' → followed by z (a consonant) → closed syllable
- Sound: 'o' is short (like in "hot") → short sound
✔ Answer: CLOSED

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7. dentist

- Syllables: den-tist
- First syllable: den
- Vowel: 'e' → followed by n (a consonant) → closed syllable
- Sound: 'e' is short (like in "bed") → short sound
✔ Answer: CLOSED

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8. spider

- Syllables: spi-der
- First syllable: spi
- Vowel: 'i' → followed by d (a consonant) → closed syllable
- Sound: 'i' is short (like in "sit") → short sound
✔ Answer: CLOSED

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9. absent

- Syllables: ab-sent
- First syllable: ab
- Vowel: 'a' → followed by b (a consonant) → closed syllable
- Sound: 'a' is short (like in "cat") → short sound
✔ Answer: CLOSED

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✔ Final Answers:

1. apron → closed
2. insect → closed
3. robot → closed
4. unit → closed
5. pillow → closed
6. frozen → closed
7. dentist → closed
8. spider → closed
9. absent → closed

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📌 Conclusion:

All the first syllables in these words are closed syllables because each has a single vowel followed by a consonant, and the vowel makes a short sound.

There are no open syllables in this list.

Let me know if you'd like a visual breakdown or explanation for any specific word!