Using consonant-vowel notation, which syllable structures correctly describe the words 'Quack' and 'Brushing'?

• A. Quack: CVCC; Brushing: CCVCVC
• B. Quack: CCVC; Brushing: CVCCVC
• C. Quack: CCVC; Brushing: CCVCVC
• D. Quack: CCVCVC; Brushing: CCVC

Answer: (C)

Consonant-vowel notation treats each syllable as a sequence of consonants (C), a vowel (V), and any trailing consonants (C). An onset is the leading consonant cluster, the nucleus is the vowel, and the coda is the ending consonant cluster.

Quack has one syllable. The onset is the two-consonant cluster /kw/, so that’s CC. The vowel is /æ/, a single V. The ending consonant is /k/, a C. Put together, Quack is CCVC.

Brushing has two syllables: brush and -ing. The first syllable has onset /br/ (two Cs), a vowel /ʌ/ (V), and a coda /ʃ/ (C), giving CCVC. The second syllable has no onset, a vowel /ɪ/ (V), and a coda /ŋ/ (C), giving VC. Combined across the word, Brushing is CCVCVC.

So the best match is Quack: CCVC and Brushing: CCVCVC. The other patterns misplace either the onset size or the second syllable’s structure (for example, assuming an initial single-consonant onset or an initial consonant in the second syllable).