Here's a breakdown:
* Syllable: A single unit of pronunciation in a word. It often contains a vowel sound.
* Open Syllable: A syllable that ends with a vowel sound.
* Long Vowel Sound: The vowel sound is pronounced as its name (e.g., "a" as in "say", "e" as in "me", "i" as in "tie", "o" as in "go", "u" as in "cube").
Example:
The word "paper" has two syllables: "pa" and "per".
* "pa" is an open syllable because it ends with the vowel sound "a". Therefore, the "a" is pronounced long (as in "say").
* "per" is a closed syllable because it ends with the consonant "r". Therefore, the "e" is pronounced short (as in "pet").
Exceptions to the Rule:
There are a few exceptions to this rule, especially with the letter "y". Sometimes "y" acts as a vowel and sometimes as a consonant.
For example:
* "cry" - the "y" acts as a vowel, making it an open syllable and the "i" is pronounced long.
* "by" - the "y" acts as a consonant, making it a closed syllable and the "i" is pronounced short.
It's also important to note that the rule of open syllables only applies to single-syllable words. For words with multiple syllables, the position of the vowel within the word can influence the sound.