What is an r controlled vowel?

An r-controlled vowel is a vowel that is followed by the letter "r" and whose pronunciation is influenced by the presence of the "r" sound. When a vowel is followed by an "r," it is typically not pronounced as it normally would be. Instead, the vowel sound is modified by the "r" and can sound different depending on the particular vowel and the position of the "r" in the word.

For example, in the word "car," the letter "a" is an r-controlled vowel and is pronounced as a different sound than it would be if it were not followed by an "r." The "a" in "car" sounds like the "ar" in the word "carp."

Common r-controlled vowels include "ar" (as in car), "er" (as in her), "ir" (as in bird), "or" (as in for), and "ur" (as in fur). These combinations of vowels and the letter "r" create unique sounds that are distinct from the regular vowel sounds. R-controlled vowels are typically taught in early elementary school as part of phonics instruction.