What is a syllable composed of?

A syllable is composed of onsets and rimes, making this the correct answer. In phonetics, an onset refers to the initial consonant sound(s) of a syllable, while the rime includes the vowel and any following consonant sounds. For example, in the word "cat," the onset is the "c" sound and the rime is "at," which consists of the vowel "a" and the consonant "t." Understanding syllables in this manner helps in teaching reading and pronunciation, as it allows students to break down words into manageable parts, facilitating decoding and phonics skills.

In contrast, focusing solely on vowel sounds or consonant sounds lacks the complete structure of a syllable, as it overlooks the crucial combination of these sounds that form rimes and onsets. Additionally, suggesting words and phrases is misleading, as syllables are components of words, not standalone elements that include multiple words or phrases. Thus, recognizing the structure of syllables through onsets and rimes is essential for foundational literacy skills.