Which syllable type is defined as a final separate syllable containing a consonant followed by le, as in maple?

• A. Vowel-consonant-silent e syllable
• B. Consonant-le syllable
• C. Consonant blend
• D. Alphabetic principle

Answer: (B)

A consonant-le syllable is a final syllable that ends in -le and includes the consonant just before it, forming its own syllable. In maple, the word breaks as ma-ple, so the last syllable is ple, which has the consonant p plus le. The e is silent, and this final -le syllable stands alone. This pattern is different from a vowel-consonant-silent e syllable, where the silent e marks a change to the previous vowel within the same syllable, not forming a separate final -le syllable. It’s also not about a consonant blend or about the alphabetic principle, which is a broader letter-sound concept rather than a specific syllable type.