The phrase "i" before "e" except after "c". Is there any weight to that? I mean "weight" "feild" and "ancient", are these just exceptions and I'm too buzzed to think of ones that follow the rule, or is this a rule that English barely follows? (Not that English strictly follows any rule.)
2007-01-01 00:28:03 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
LOL my bad on the "feild"
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
2007-01-01 00:32:04 · update #1
The rest of the "i before e except after c" rule is "when ie/ei is pronounced as a long e"
eight, weigh, weight, freight are pronounced as a long a
ancient is pronounced as sh
leisure, seizure are followed by a phonetic z
rottweiler is german (and in any event is pronounced as a long i)
weird would be a true exception
There may be a few more examples in the "ancient category" and "rottweiler category", but I think that covers the exceptions and shows how each of them follow their own rule.
2007-01-01 03:46:23 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
English doesn't have set rules for its vowels, so often any "sorta rule" like the one you mention,, has so many exceptions, that it does practically make it meaningless,,,,,, although, you left out part of the rule,,,, which is "i before e, except after c,,,,, or sounded as a as in neighbor" ,,, which would then include weight ,,,,
this is why,, since English is not a phonetic language, each vowel doesnt sound the same no matter how it is used (with few exceptions) and we dont use vowel marks to distinguish long sounds from short in our writing,,,,,,, i have never understood why schools and teachers jumped on the "teach reading by phonetics bandwagon"
2007-01-01 00:34:00 · answer #2 · answered by dlin333 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is a good general rule with some exceptions, usually those words with an "ay" sound - weight, vein are examples.
There are spelling and grammatical rules in English that it is worthwhile taking the time to learn if you want other people to read what you write. It is courteous to your readers if you write well.
2007-01-01 00:33:54 · answer #3 · answered by tentofield 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The entire "rule" is as follows: "i" before "e", except after "c" or when sounded like "a" is in "neighbor" and "weigh". "Field" follows the first part of the rule.
There are exceptions to every rule, as in the spelling of "ancient", but generally in spelling the rule holds true.
2007-01-01 00:33:30 · answer #4 · answered by Scrapaholic 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The complete grammar rule is
"i before e, except after c; or when sounded as 'a' as in neighbor and weigh."
When this is followed it works.
2007-01-01 00:31:41 · answer #5 · answered by thankyou "iana" 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
English grammar is not as easy as German or Russian grammar but it is not without rules. See the link below.
2007-01-01 00:31:12 · answer #6 · answered by Great Dane 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Weird
2007-01-01 00:33:16 · answer #7 · answered by Jonnyboy 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The second half is "or when sounding like a such as neighbor and weigh". So "weight" is covered.
2007-01-01 00:29:40 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
"feild"?? Perhaps you mean "field".... Happy New Year!!
2007-01-01 00:30:42 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋