Which letter combination is the r-controlled vowel in 'car'?

Which letter combination is the r-controlled vowel in 'car'?

• A. Er
• B. Ir
• C. Or
• D. Ar

Answer: (D)

R-controlled vowels are when the letter r following a vowel changes how that vowel sounds, giving it a distinct, rhotic quality. In the word car, the vowel is the letter a, but the r after it colors that sound to form the “ar” blend you hear in car. So the r-controlled vowel here is the ar combination, not er, ir, or or. Those other patterns appear in different words with their own rhotic sounds (for example, er in her, ir in bird, or in fork), but they don’t match the sound you hear in car.

R-controlled vowels are when the letter r following a vowel changes how that vowel sounds, giving it a distinct, rhotic quality. In the word car, the vowel is the letter a, but the r after it colors that sound to form the “ar” blend you hear in car. So the r-controlled vowel here is the ar combination, not er, ir, or or. Those other patterns appear in different words with their own rhotic sounds (for example, er in her, ir in bird, or in fork), but they don’t match the sound you hear in car.