Which group includes sounds like 'w' and 'y' that behave like consonants but have vowel-like qualities?

• A. Stops
• B. Fricatives
• C. Liquids
• D. Glides

Answer: (D)

Glides are sounds that act like consonants in how they function in syllables, but they have vowel-like qualities in articulation. The sounds like w and y are voiced and produced with an open, relatively unobstructed vocal tract, and they quickly glide toward the following vowel rather than making a full, closed constriction. This combination of a consonant-like role (onset positions, linking sounds) and vowel-like articulation (soft, smooth, transitional movement) is what characterizes them as glides, also known as semi-vowels. They are distinct from stops (which involve a complete closure and release), fricatives (which create turbulent noise), and liquids (which have a more complex, resonant constriction).