Mississippi Foundations of Reading Practice Test

In phonics, which structure is indicated by the pattern VCCV?

1. A single consonant between two vowels

2. Two consonants between two vowels

3. Ternary structure of consonants and vowels

4. A vowel followed by two consonants

The correct answer is: Two consonants between two vowels

The pattern VCCV refers to a phonetic structure within words where there are two consonants situated between two vowels. This structure highlights how consonants can be positioned in relation to vowels within syllables, and understanding this pattern is essential for phonics instruction as it supports decoding and spelling. In this case, the two consonants are sandwiched between the first vowel on the left and the second vowel on the right, forming a natural break within the word that typically indicates how the word can be divided into syllables. For instance, in the word "comet," the structure can be seen as consisting of 'o' (vowel), 'm' (consonant), 'e' (vowel), and the layout fits the VCCV pattern, enhancing comprehension of syllabic division.