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Tired

The document discusses the syllabic structure of the words "tired" and "bored" and how this determines their comparative forms. It notes that: 1) "tired" and "bored" can be pronounced as either mono-syllabic or di-syllabic words depending on whether the "rd" is interpreted as one or two sounds. 2) As mono-syllabic words, they take the comparative ending "-er" (e.g. "tireder"). 3) As di-syllabic words, they take the comparative adverb "more" (e.g. "more tired"). 4) In short, the comparative

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83 views

Tired

The document discusses the syllabic structure of the words "tired" and "bored" and how this determines their comparative forms. It notes that: 1) "tired" and "bored" can be pronounced as either mono-syllabic or di-syllabic words depending on whether the "rd" is interpreted as one or two sounds. 2) As mono-syllabic words, they take the comparative ending "-er" (e.g. "tireder"). 3) As di-syllabic words, they take the comparative adverb "more" (e.g. "more tired"). 4) In short, the comparative

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Lê Trung Kiên
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© © All Rights Reserved
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"tired" and "bored" are exceptions to the rule. They are di-syllabic words (i.e.

, they each have


two syllables, or they can be read that way) which makes them compatible with comparative
"more":

EX: "tired" has two syllables (tai ' rd), so "more tired".
EX: "bored" has two syllables (bo ' [w]rd), so "more bored".

The 2nd syllable 'rd is somewhat of a maverick. You see, "r" is not a vowel, but it does have
vowel-like properties, so it either functions as the syllable's nucleus (i.e., tai'rd, bo'[w]rd) or it
colors the vowel before it (i.e., bord), or it does both. That is, mono-syllablic, bord and di-
syllabic, bo'[w]rd). So, rd, not -ed, is subject to interpretation. The "e" of -ed is not
pronounced in "tired" or "bored". It's silent.

mono-syllabic
"tired" has only one vowel (taird), which makes it a mono-syllabic word, so "tireder", not
"more tired".

di-syllabic
"tired" has two vocalic sounds (tai'rd), which makes it a di-syllabic word, so "more tired", not
"tireder".

Similarly,

"bored" has one vowel (bord), so "boreder".


"bored" has two vocalic sounds (bo'[w]rd), so "more bored"

In short, if you pronounce "bored" as one syllable, then it takes comparative -er; if you
pronounce "bored" as two syllables, then it takes comparative "more".

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