How can I separate words in English ?

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ESL forum > Ask for help > How can I separate words in English ?

How can I separate words in English ?

ximons

How can I separate words in English ?

Good evening dear friends. I need your help. How can I separate the words in English ? Is it possible ? I hope your answer. Thanks a lot. Ximons.

18 Feb 2009

libertybelle

Ahhhh.............. what do you mean by seperate word? You mean syllables?

18 Feb 2009

ximons

Yes, Libertybelle. I mean syllables. Ximons.

18 Feb 2009

MissMelissa12

well words in English unlike Spanish or portuguese are separated according to their sounds and not graphically.

For example. Pronounce these words!

->believe = be-lieve (2 syllables)

->Pronounce = pro-nounce

In Spanish and Im pretty sure in portueguese we would separate them like this: be -lie-ve / pro-noun-ce but this does not happen like this in English.

Miss Melissa.

19 Feb 2009

use a dictionary. Some of these books have the lexis separated into syllables

19 Feb 2009

libertybelle

A dictionary is a good helper. When I write lyrics under music notes, there is a rule that all lyricists use.
prefixes and suffixes are always in a syllable by themselves.
For example
be-liev-ing (be is the prefix and ing the suffix)

We usually don �t divide a word between vowels either.

Hope this helps.
L

19 Feb 2009

Ivona

My dear Libertybelle,

I don �t think that BE- in believe is a prefix, because the root cannot be LIEVE. It doesn �t mean anything. -ING is as suffix, and BELIEVE is the root of the word.

19 Feb 2009

As a child I learned the "clap method" of determining syllables:

Simply "clap" the word out with your hands(clap your hands in rhythm as you say the word)--the number of claps is the number of syllables, it �s not fool-proof but it is pretty accurate.

Douglas

19 Feb 2009

ximons

Good morning dear friends and thanks for your answers about my questions. Have a good day. Ximons

19 Feb 2009

Jayho

As part of spelling strategies I teach my intermediate adult students about syllables. I use a primary spelling handbook that I purchased at my local bookstore for AUS $10 when I was teaching kids - a bargain. It clearly shows how to break the words into syllables using three easy rules and has activities that don �t look like they are for young learners. I �ve tried the clapping method which has worked really well with some classes and sadly not others. Each class is truly different.

One of my favourite sites, BBC Skillswise, has good stuff for younger learners. Each topic includes factsheets, worksheets, games and quizzes. Often you don �t need to make your own WS - just use theirs. Click this link for the syllables page: http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/words/spelling/soundandspell/syllables/worksheet.shtml

19 Feb 2009

libertybelle

Sorry to correct you Ivona, but be is a prefix.

You can read more here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_prefixes

Prefix	Meaning	Example
a-/an-	lacking in, lack of	asexual, anemic
a-	verb > predicative adjective with progressive aspect	afloat, atremble
anti-	against	anti-war, antivirus, anti-human
arch-	supreme, highest, worst	arch-rival
be-	equipped with, covered with, beset with (pejorative or facetious)	bedeviled, becalm, bedazzle, bewitch

19 Feb 2009

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