How many phonemes are there in the word "Eaten"?

The correct answer is that the word "eaten" contains four phonemes. Phonemes are the distinct units of sound in a word that can distinguish one word from another. In the case of "eaten," it can be broken down into its phonemic components: /iː/, /t/, /ə/, and /n/.

1. /iː/ represents the vowel sound like the long 'e' in "see."

2. /t/ is the consonant sound at the beginning of "ten."

3. /ə/ is the schwa sound, which is an unstressed vowel sound found in many words. In "eaten," it sounds like the 'a' in "sofa."

4. /n/ is the final consonant sound similar to that in "no."

Counting these individual sounds illustrates that there are indeed four phonemes in "eaten." Understanding phonemes is essential for phonics instruction and addressing dyslexia, as it helps learners decode and spell words accurately.