Websink Prep UKReception English and phonicsTextbook contentsEnglish and phonics textbooksReceptionYear 1Year 2Year 3Year 4Year 5Year 6Year 7Year 8Year 9Browse allPast papersFind a tutorBecome a tutor
Reception English · ReceptionChapter 8 · Common tricky words
Reception · Chapter 8

Common tricky words

By the end of this chapter you will be able to

  • I can find each tricky word in a list of written words
  • I can read each tricky word on sight, from its whole look
  • I can fill the gap in a sentence with the right tricky word
  • I can spell and count the letters of a tricky word
  • I can explain why some words are learned by their look

You should already know

  • Blending words (Chapter 6)
  • Segmenting and writing words (Chapter 7)

Where this leads

  • Reading and writing short sentences (Chapter 9)

Early Years Foundation Stage for England, English. Content: Read the common tricky words on sight, from the whole word, Read the tricky words: the, to, I, no, go, into, he, she, we, me, be, was, my, you, her, they, all, are, Use each tricky word in a phrase or sentence, and fill a gap with it, Spell each tricky word letter by letter, and count its letters, Explain why a tricky word cannot always be sounded out.

Exercise P  Do you remember?

1
FBlend the sounds p - a - n. Tap the picture of the word: pan, pin or pen.

pan
pin
pen
2
FWhich two letters make one sound at the end of duck?

duck
3
FWrite the letters of the word bus, one box at a time, in order.

bus
4
FRead the phrase a red hen. Tap the picture of the main word: hen, pen or pig.

hen
pen
pig
5
FWhich picture has the sound /ai/ in it? Tap the picture: rain, cup or moon.

rain
cup
moon
8.1

Tricky words: the, to, I, no, go

Reception
Read the, to, I, no and go on sight
Video lesson: Tricky words: the, to, I, no, goComing soon

Some words do not follow the sounds. You learn them by their look. These words are called tricky words.

Sam sees the word the on the page. It is a tricky word. Look at the whole word and say it: the.

Here are five: the, to, I, no, go. Look at each word, then say it.

thetoInogo
Five tricky words to learn by sight.

Key ideas

  • Tricky words are learned by their look.
  • Say the whole word, then find it again in a list.
  • The, to, I, no and go are common words in books.
Worked example 8.1.1
Find the tricky word the in the list. Tap it.
thetohe

Method. A tricky word does not follow the sounds, so learn how it looks.

  1. Look at the whole word. Learn the shape of the word.
    the
  2. Say the word. Say it the same way each time.
    the
  3. Find it again. Compare each word in the list with the word you are looking for.
    the is the word.

Check. Read the word again. It is the. ✓

Watch out. Tricky words cannot be sounded out in the usual way, so look at the whole word.

Worked example 8.1.2
Write the tricky word in the gap: I can see ___ dog.

Method. Read the whole sentence first. Then find the tricky word that fits the gap.

  1. Read the sentence. Read it all the way to the gap.
    I can see ___ dog.
  2. Find the tricky word. Read the word on sight, from the whole word.
    the
  3. Read the full sentence. Check that the sentence reads correctly.
    I can see the dog.

Check. Read the sentence again: I can see the dog.. ✓

Watch out. Tricky words are learned by their look, not by their sounds.

Worked example 8.1.3
Write the tricky word in the gap: Let us ___ to the shop.

Method. Read the whole sentence first. Then find the tricky word that fits the gap.

  1. Read the sentence. Read it all the way to the gap.
    Let us ___ to the shop.
  2. Find the tricky word. Read the word on sight, from the whole word.
    go
  3. Read the full sentence. Check that the sentence reads correctly.
    Let us go to the shop.

Check. Read the sentence again: Let us go to the shop.. ✓

Watch out. Tricky words are learned by their look, not by their sounds.

Watch out

Watch out: to sounds like the start of “two” or “too”, but it is spelled t-o. Learn its look.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Write each tricky word on a card. Show it for two seconds, then cover it and ask the child to say it.

Exercise 8A  Reading the, to, I, no and go

1
FFind the tricky word the in the list. Tap it.
thetohe
2
FFind the tricky word to in the list. Tap it.
thegoto
3
FFind the tricky word no in the list. Tap it.
onnogo
4
FFind the tricky word go in the list. Tap it.
gonoso
5
FWrite the tricky word in the gap: I can see ___ dog.
6
FWrite the tricky word in the gap: We walk ___ the park.
7
FWrite the tricky word in the gap: ___ can see the sun.
8
FWrite the tricky word in the gap: Mia said ___, thank you.
9
FWrite the letters of the tricky word to, one box at a time, in order.
10
FHow many letters are in the tricky word the? Write the number.
11
PSWhich tricky word means “not yes”? Write it.
12
RBen says the can be sounded out as t - h - e. Is he right? Explain.
the
13
PSRead the words in the list. Tap the word that means the same as the sign go. Tap: go, so or on.
gosoon
8.2

Tricky words: into, he, she, we, me

Reception
Read into, he, she, we and me on sight
Video lesson: Tricky words: into, he, she, we, meComing soon

Ellie jumps into the pond. Ellie says, “I can jump.” Then she says, “Look at me!”

The words he and she are for people. We means you and me together.

intohesheweme
Five more tricky words to learn by sight.

Key ideas

  • into has four letters, and the first two letters are in.
  • he and she are used for one person.
  • we means you and me together.
Worked example 8.2.1
Find the tricky word she in the list. Tap it.
shehewe

Method. A tricky word does not follow the sounds, so learn how it looks.

  1. Look at the whole word. Learn the shape of the word.
    she
  2. Say the word. Say it the same way each time.
    she
  3. Find it again. Compare each word in the list with the word you are looking for.
    she is the word.

Check. Read the word again. It is she. ✓

Watch out. Tricky words cannot be sounded out in the usual way, so look at the whole word.

Worked example 8.2.2
Write the tricky word in the gap: Sam said ___ can run.

Method. Read the whole sentence first. Then find the tricky word that fits the gap.

  1. Read the sentence. Read it all the way to the gap.
    Sam said ___ can run.
  2. Find the tricky word. Read the word on sight, from the whole word.
    we
  3. Read the full sentence. Check that the sentence reads correctly.
    Sam said we can run.

Check. Read the sentence again: Sam said we can run.. ✓

Watch out. Tricky words are learned by their look, not by their sounds.

Worked example 8.2.3
Write the tricky word in the gap: Look at ___.

Method. Read the whole sentence first. Then find the tricky word that fits the gap.

  1. Read the sentence. Read it all the way to the gap.
    Look at ___.
  2. Find the tricky word. Read the word on sight, from the whole word.
    me
  3. Read the full sentence. Check that the sentence reads correctly.
    Look at me.

Check. Read the sentence again: Look at me.. ✓

Watch out. Tricky words are learned by their look, not by their sounds.

Watch out

Watch out: he and she look alike. Look at the whole word, and find the second letter.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Ask: “Who is the word he for, and who is she for?”

Exercise 8B  Reading into, he, she, we and me

1
FFind the tricky word into in the list. Tap it.
intoinon
2
FFind the tricky word he in the list. Tap it.
shethehe
3
FFind the tricky word she in the list. Tap it.
weshehe
4
FFind the tricky word we in the list. Tap it.
wemehe
5
FFind the tricky word me in the list. Tap it.
wemyme
6
FWrite the tricky word in the gap: Jump ___ the pond.
7
FWrite the tricky word in the gap: Ann said ___ has a hat.
8
FWrite the tricky word in the gap: Sam said that ___ can run.
9
FWrite the tricky word in the gap: Come and play with ___.
10
FWrite the letters of the tricky word she, in boxes. Use sh and e.
11
FHow many letters are in the tricky word into? Write the number.
12
PSWhich tricky word means you and me together? Write it.
13
PSWrite the word he or she: Ben says that ___ has a red bag. Pick he or she to fit the sentence, and write the word.
14
RMia says into has two parts: in and to. Is she right? Explain.
into
15
FWrite the letters of the tricky word me, one box at a time, in order.
8.3

Tricky words: be, was, my, you, her, they, all, are

Reception
Read be, was, my, you, her, they, all and are on sight
Video lesson: Tricky words: be, was, my, you, her, they, all, areComing soon

This is my cat. Can you see her bag? They are happy. The cats all sat down.

Look at each word as a whole. Some letters do not make the sound you expect.

bewasmyyouhertheyallare
Eight more tricky words to learn by sight.

Key ideas

  • was has the sound /wos/, but it is learned by its look.
  • my and you are learned by their look.
  • her, they, all and are are tricky words too.
Worked example 8.3.1
Find the tricky word was in the list. Tap it.
wassatpat

Method. A tricky word does not follow the sounds, so learn how it looks.

  1. Look at the whole word. Learn the shape of the word.
    was
  2. Say the word. Say it the same way each time.
    was
  3. Find it again. Compare each word in the list with the word you are looking for.
    was is the word.

Check. Read the word again. It is was. ✓

Watch out. Tricky words cannot be sounded out in the usual way, so look at the whole word.

Worked example 8.3.2
Write the tricky word in the gap: This is ___ cat.

Method. Read the whole sentence first. Then find the tricky word that fits the gap.

  1. Read the sentence. Read it all the way to the gap.
    This is ___ cat.
  2. Find the tricky word. Read the word on sight, from the whole word.
    my
  3. Read the full sentence. Check that the sentence reads correctly.
    This is my cat.

Check. Read the sentence again: This is my cat.. ✓

Watch out. Tricky words are learned by their look, not by their sounds.

Worked example 8.3.3
Write the tricky word in the gap: The cats ___ sat on the mat.

Method. Read the whole sentence first. Then find the tricky word that fits the gap.

  1. Read the sentence. Read it all the way to the gap.
    The cats ___ sat on the mat.
  2. Find the tricky word. Read the word on sight, from the whole word.
    all
  3. Read the full sentence. Check that the sentence reads correctly.
    The cats all sat on the mat.

Check. Read the sentence again: The cats all sat on the mat.. ✓

Watch out. Tricky words are learned by their look, not by their sounds.

Watch out

Watch out: was looks like it should say /w/ /a/ /s/, but the sound is /wos/. Learn the whole word.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Ask the child to point to the whole word and say it. Do not spell it out loud for these words.

Exercise 8C  Reading be, was, my, you, her, they, all and are

1
FFind the tricky word was in the list. Tap it.
wassatpat
2
FFind the tricky word my in the list. Tap it.
bymemy
3
FFind the tricky word you in the list. Tap it.
yoyoudo
4
FFind the tricky word they in the list. Tap it.
theythemthen
5
FWrite the tricky word in the gap: Can ___ run fast?
6
FWrite the tricky word in the gap: The cat sat by ___ bag.
7
FWrite the tricky word in the gap: Please ___ quiet.
8
FWrite the tricky word in the gap: It ___ hot in the sun.
9
FWrite the tricky word in the gap: We ___ big.
10
FWrite the letters of the tricky word was, one box at a time, in order.
11
FHow many letters are in the tricky word are? Write the number.
12
PSWhich tricky word shows that something belongs to you? Write it.
13
RBen says all can be sounded out as a - l - l. Is he right? Explain.
all
14
PSWrite the tricky words in this sentence, in order: They can see my dog.
15
PSRavi writes “tehy” for the tricky word they. Write the right word.
16
FWrite the letters of the tricky word her, in boxes. Use h and er.
17
PSWrite the tricky word that means “belonging to her”. It is not my, you or they.
8.4

Tricky words in phrases and sentences

Reception
Read tricky words inside a phrase, Read tricky words in a short sentence
Video lesson: Tricky words in phrases and sentencesComing soon

Read the phrase go to the shop. Find the tricky words: go, to and the.

Read the sentence They can see my dog. Tricky words help the sentence make sense.

gototheshop
Find the tricky words in the phrase.

Key ideas

  • Read a phrase from left to right, one word at a time.
  • Find the tricky words and read them on sight.
  • Read the whole sentence to check that it makes sense.
Worked example 8.4.1
Write the tricky words in this phrase, in order: go to the shop.

Method. Read the phrase, then find the tricky words in it.

  1. Read the phrase. Read each word in order.
    go - to - the - shop
  2. Find the tricky words. go, to and the are tricky words.
    go, to, the
  3. Write the answer.
    go, to, the

Check. The tricky words are go, to and the. ✓

Watch out. Check each word against the list.

Worked example 8.4.2
Write the tricky word that is the first word of the sentence: I can see my dog.

Method. Look at the first word of the sentence.

  1. Read the first word. The first word is the one at the start.
    I
  2. Check that it is a tricky word. I is a tricky word.
    I
  3. Write the answer.
    I

Check. The first word is I. ✓

Watch out. Start with a capital letter for I.

Worked example 8.4.3
Write the tricky word in the gap: We can go ___ the park.

Method. Read the whole sentence first. Then find the tricky word that fits the gap.

  1. Read the sentence. Read it all the way to the gap.
    We can go ___ the park.
  2. Find the tricky word. Read the word on sight, from the whole word.
    to
  3. Read the full sentence. Check that the sentence reads correctly.
    We can go to the park.

Check. Read the sentence again: We can go to the park.. ✓

Watch out. Tricky words are learned by their look, not by their sounds.

Watch out

Watch out: I is always written as a capital letter, even in the middle of a sentence.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Read a sentence with the child. Ask: “Which words do you know on sight?” Then read the sentence again together.

Exercise 8D  Tricky words in phrases and sentences

1
FWrite the tricky words in this phrase, in order: go to the shop.
2
FWrite the tricky word in the gap: Let us ___ to the park.
3
FWrite the tricky word in the gap: We ___ going into the pond.
4
FWrite the tricky word in the gap: Look at ___ new hat.
5
FWrite the tricky word in the gap: ___ sat on a mat.
6
FWrite the tricky word that is the last word of this sentence: I can see her.
7
PSRead the sentence: Mia said no to the big dog. Write the tricky words in order.
8
FRead the phrase to the shop. Write the first tricky word of the phrase.
9
PSRead the sentence: They go to the park. Write the tricky words in order.
10
FWrite the letters of the tricky word all, in boxes. Use a and ll.
11
RRavi reads “I can see my dog” with two tricky words, I and my. Is he right? Explain.
Imy
12
PSWrite a sentence with the tricky word the in it. Write one sentence.
8.5

Mixed practice: all the tricky words

Reception
Read and use all the tricky words in this chapter
Video lesson: Mixed practice: all the tricky wordsComing soon

Now you know the tricky words: the, to, I, no, go, into, he, she, we, me, be, was, my, you, her, they, all, are.

Read each word on sight. Use the sentence to check it makes sense.

thetoInogointoheshewemebewasmyyouhertheyallare
All eighteen tricky words in this chapter.

Key ideas

  • There are eighteen tricky words in this chapter.
  • Learn each word by its look.
  • Read a sentence to check the word fits.
Worked example 8.5.1
Find the tricky word they in the list. Tap it.
themthenthey

Method. A tricky word does not follow the sounds, so learn how it looks.

  1. Look at the whole word. Learn the shape of the word.
    they
  2. Say the word. Say it the same way each time.
    they
  3. Find it again. Compare each word in the list with the word you are looking for.
    they is the word.

Check. Read the word again. It is they. ✓

Watch out. Tricky words cannot be sounded out in the usual way, so look at the whole word.

Worked example 8.5.2
Write the tricky word in the gap: Sam and Ann ___ going to the park.

Method. Read the whole sentence first. Then find the tricky word that fits the gap.

  1. Read the sentence. Read it all the way to the gap.
    Sam and Ann ___ going to the park.
  2. Find the tricky word. Read the word on sight, from the whole word.
    are
  3. Read the full sentence. Check that the sentence reads correctly.
    Sam and Ann are going to the park.

Check. Read the sentence again: Sam and Ann are going to the park.. ✓

Watch out. Tricky words are learned by their look, not by their sounds.

Worked example 8.5.3
Write the tricky word in the gap: The dog ran ___ the pond.

Method. Read the whole sentence first. Then find the tricky word that fits the gap.

  1. Read the sentence. Read it all the way to the gap.
    The dog ran ___ the pond.
  2. Find the tricky word. Read the word on sight, from the whole word.
    into
  3. Read the full sentence. Check that the sentence reads correctly.
    The dog ran into the pond.

Check. Read the sentence again: The dog ran into the pond.. ✓

Watch out. Tricky words are learned by their look, not by their sounds.

Watch out

Watch out: many tricky words look alike, such as he and she, or was and saw. Look at the whole word.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Make a set of cards with all eighteen words. Play a game: say a word, and the child finds it on a card.

Exercise 8E  Mixed tricky words

1
FFind the tricky word into in the list. Tap it.
beintothe
2
FFind the tricky word you in the list. Tap it.
youyouryes
3
FFind the tricky word all in the list. Tap it.
ballfallall
4
FFind the tricky word are in the list. Tap it.
armareate
5
FWrite the tricky word in the gap: Look at ___ hat.
6
FWrite the tricky word in the gap: We ___ going to the shop.
7
FWrite the tricky word in the gap: Can you ___ me?
8
FWrite the tricky word that goes in the gap: Mia said ___ is her friend. Choose he or she. Write the word.
9
FWrite the letters of the tricky word they, in boxes. Use th and ey.
10
FHow many letters are in the tricky word they? Write the number.
11
PSRead the sentence: We can go into the pond. Write the tricky words in order.
12
PSWhich word is a tricky word from this chapter: one or no? Write it.
13
PSBen writes “goo” for the tricky word go. Write the right word.
14
RPriya says the tricky word be has two sounds: b and e. Is she right? Explain.
be
15
PSWrite one sentence with a tricky word from this chapter in it. Write the sentence.

Chapter summary

SkillMethod
the, to, I, no, goLearn the look of the whole word
into, he, she, we, meRead each word on sight; he and she are for people
be, was, my, you, her, they, all, areLearn the look; was and all do not follow the usual sounds
Reading in sentencesFind the tricky words, then check the sentence makes sense

Can you…?

  • I can find each tricky word in a list of words
  • I can read each tricky word on sight
  • I can fill a gap in a sentence with the right tricky word
  • I can spell and count the letters of a tricky word

Key terms

tricky word
a word that does not follow the usual sounds, so it is learned by its look
on sight
read a word straight away, without sounding it out
gap
a space in a sentence where one word is missing

Exercise 8Z  Check-up

1
Find the tricky word the in the list. Tap it.
tothehe
2
Write the tricky word in the gap: I can see ___ cat.
3
Write the tricky word in the gap: Look at ___ dog.
4
How many letters are in the tricky word they? Write the number.
5
Find the tricky word go in the list. Tap it: no, so, go.
nosogo
6
Write the tricky word in the gap: We ___ going into the pond.
7
Write the letters of the tricky word to, one box at a time, in order.
8
Which tricky word means belonging to her? Write it.
9
Write the tricky words in this sentence, in order: They go into my house.
10
Explain why the tricky word was cannot be learned only by sounding it out. Use the words “look” and “sound”.
was

Total 17 marks. Allow about 17 minutes.

Exercise 8X  Practice test questions

1
FFind the tricky word you in the list. Tap it: yes, you, yo.[1 mark]
yesyouyo
2
FWrite the tricky word in the gap: Can ___ run fast?[1 mark]
3
FHow many letters are in the tricky word into? Write the number.[1 mark]
4
FWrite the letters of the tricky word me, one box at a time, in order.[1 mark]
5
FWrite the tricky word in the gap: Please ___ quiet.[1 mark]
6
PSFind the tricky words in this sentence: She went to the shop. Write them in order.[2 marks]
7
PSWrite the tricky word that means “belonging to me”. Write the word.[2 marks]
8
PSRavi writes “thay” for the tricky word they. Write the right word.[2 marks]
9
PSWrite a sentence with two tricky words from this chapter in it. Write the sentence.[3 marks]
10
RSam says all, are and be are all learned by their look, not by sounding them out. Is he right? Explain.[3 marks]
allarebe
← Chapter 7: Segmenting and writing wordsChapter 9: Reading and writing short sentences →

Websink Prep UK is an independent site. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by AQA, Pearson Edexcel, OCR, WJEC, Eduqas, CCEA, SQA, GL Assessment, CEM or the Department for Education. All exam board names and trademarks belong to their owners. Past papers are linked from the exam boards' own websites and are not hosted here.

About Websink Prep UK · Find a tutor · Privacy · Terms · Cookie settings