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Primary English · Year 1Chapter 4 · Tricky words
Year 1 · Chapter 4

Year 1 English Tricky Words: worked examples and questions with answers

By the end of this chapter you will be able to

  • Find the tricky part of a tricky word
  • Read and spell the tricky words for Year 1
  • Say why a word is tricky
  • Choose the right tricky word for a gap in a sentence
  • Use the method: look, say, cover, write, check

You should already know

  • Letters and their sounds (Chapter 1)
  • Two letters that make one sound (Chapter 2)
  • Other ways to write a sound (Chapter 3)

Where this leads

  • Adding endings (Year 1 English Chapter 5)
  • Making sentences (Year 1 English Chapter 6)

National Curriculum for England, Key Stage 1 English, Year 1. Content: Read and spell Year 1 common exception words (tricky words), Find the tricky part of a word, the part that does not follow the usual sound, Say why a word is tricky, and spell it correctly in sentences.

Printable worksheets. Every lesson in this chapter has a free worksheet and an answer sheet to download and print.

Exercise P  Do you remember?

1
FWhich letter comes after d in the alphabet?
a, b, c, d ...
2
FWrite the capital letter for g.
?small g, big ?
3
FThe word ship has 4 letters but only 3 sounds. Which two letters make one sound?
4
FWhich word has the letters ai together: rain or rat?
?Look at both letterstogether.
5
FCount the letters and sounds in cat.
(a)How many letters?
(b)How many sounds?
4.1

What makes a word tricky?

Year 1
Read and spell common exception words, Explain the tricky part

Printable: Worksheet (PDF) · Answers (PDF) · Open this lesson on its own page

Video lesson: What makes a word tricky?Coming soon
Class time.

Most words sound the way they look. You can say each sound and write a letter for it. Cat is like this: c, a, t.

Some words have one part that does not follow the usual sound. These are tricky words. You cannot sound out the tricky part, so you learn it by heart. The tricky part is shown in red below.

catwe can sound it outtheas in “fun”aas in “fun”Ias in “sky”
Look at the red part. That is the tricky part.

Key ideas

  • Most words can be sounded out, letter by letter.
  • A tricky word has one part that does not follow the usual sound.
  • Learn the tricky part by heart.
  • Use the method: look, say, cover, write, check.
Worked example 4.1.1
Is cat a tricky word? Explain.

Method. Check each word for a part that does not follow the usual sound.

  1. Say the sounds in cat. Each letter makes its usual sound.
    c - a - t
  2. Check the rule. A word with no unusual part can be sounded out.
    c, a and t all follow the rule
  3. Write the answer.
    No. cat is not a tricky word.

Check. Sound out cat: c, a, t. It works all the way. ✓

Watch out. A short word can still be a word we sound out.

Worked example 4.1.2
Which part of the is tricky?
the

Method. Find the part of the word that does not follow the usual sound.

  1. Say the word slowly. Listen to each part of it.
    the
  2. Find the unusual letters. The e makes the “uh” sound, as in “fun”. It does not make the “eh” sound in “bed”.
    The tricky part is e
  3. Write the answer.
    e

Check. Read the again and point to e. ✓

Watch out. Do not try to sound out the tricky part. Learn it by heart.

Worked example 4.1.3
Put these steps in the right order: write, look, check, cover, say
Five steps!

Method. Think about the order of the steps.

  1. Find the first step. We look at the word first.
    look
  2. Find the middle steps. Say it, then cover it and write it from memory.
    say, cover, write
  3. Find the last step. Check your writing against the word.
    look, say, cover, write, check

Check. The steps in order are look, say, cover, write, check. ✓

Watch out. Do not skip the check. It shows the tricky part was learned.

Watch out

Watch out: a tricky word is not only a long word. Cat is short and can be sounded out. The is short but is tricky, because the e does not make the sound we expect.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Tricky words are called common exception words in schools. Show your child the word, cover it, and ask them to write it. Then look back together and check the tricky part. Five minutes a day is enough.

Exercise 4A  Finding the tricky part

1
FWhich word is tricky: cat or the?
2
FWhich word is tricky: dog or a?
3
FWhich word is tricky: map or I?
4
FLook at the word the. Which letter is the tricky one?
the
5
FAli fed ___ cat.
6
FNoah has ___ red ball.
7
PSToday ___ am going to the park.
8
PSLeo wrote i for the word I. What is wrong?
i
9
PSPut these letters in order to make a tricky word: e, h, t
10
FIn the method look, say, cover, write, check, which step comes after say?
4.2

The letter o in tricky words

Year 1
Read and spell common exception words, The tricky part of each word

Printable: Worksheet (PDF) · Answers (PDF) · Open this lesson on its own page

Video lesson: The letter o in tricky wordsComing soon
Kitchen table.

The letter o can make many sounds. In to and do it makes the sound in moon. In go, no and so it makes the sound in boat, with no other letter to help. In love, come, some and today it makes a short “u” sound, as in fun. In one and once it makes a “w” sound first, then the “u” sound.

Look at each card. The red part is the tricky part.

toas in “moon”doas in “moon”todayas in “fun”goas in “boat”noas in “boat”soas in “boat”oneas in “fun”onceas in “fun”loveas in “fun”comeas in “fun”someas in “fun”
The red o is the tricky part of each word.

Key ideas

  • The o in to and do says the sound in moon.
  • The o in go, no and so says the sound in boat.
  • The o in love, come and some says the sound in fun.
  • The o in one and once starts with a w sound.
Worked example 4.2.1
Which letter in to is the tricky one?
to

Method. Find the tricky o, then say what sound it makes.

  1. Look at the word. Find the letter that does not follow the usual sound.
    to
  2. Say the sound it makes. The o says the sound in moon.
    the sound in moon
  3. Write the answer.
    o

Check. Read to in your head: the o is the tricky letter. ✓

Watch out. The o is tricky in to, but the t is not.

Worked example 4.2.2
Write the missing letter:
t day

Method. Say the whole word, then find the letters that are missing.

  1. Say the whole word. Read every letter in order.
    today
  2. Look at the empty box. The box stands for 1 letter(s).
    1 missing letter(s)
  3. Write the missing letters. The first o makes the “uh” sound, as in “fun”, so we say “tuh-day”.
    o

Check. Put o back into the box and read the word: today. ✓

Watch out. Write the tricky letters exactly as they are in the word.

Worked example 4.2.3
Why is go tricky?
go

Method. Think about the sound the o makes, then look at the letters after it.

  1. Say go. The o says the sound in boat.
    go: oh
  2. Look at the letters after the o. Words like boat have oa, but go has only the letter o.
    go: o and nothing else
  3. Write the reason.
    The o says oh, but there is no second letter to show it.

Check. Say no and so too: the same. ✓

Watch out. Look at the whole word to find the odd part.

Watch out

Watch out: to and do have the sound in moon, but go, no and so have the sound in boat. Do not guess by the sound. Learn each word by heart.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Play a card game. Put the cards in two piles: moon and boat. Ask your child to read each word and say which pile it goes in. Then ask them to write the words on paper.

Exercise 4B  The letter o

1
FLook at the word to. Which letter is the tricky one?
to
2
FWrite the missing letter: t day
3
FCan we ___ to the park now?
4
PSWhich word rhymes with so: no or to?
so
5
FWrite the word that means the opposite of yes.
6
RWhich word does NOT have the oh sound like boat: go, no, so, do?
7
PSLook at the picture. Write the word for the number of apples.
8
PSDad saw a fox ___ in the garden.
9
PSI ___ my dog very much.
10
PSPlease ___ and play with us.
11
PSI have ___ stickers for you.
12
RExplain why go, no and so are tricky. Use one sentence.
go, no, so
4.3

The letters a, ai and ay in tricky words

Year 1
Read and spell common exception words, The tricky part of each word

Printable: Worksheet (PDF) · Answers (PDF) · Open this lesson on its own page

Video lesson: The letters a, ai and ay in tricky wordsComing soon
Shopping.

The letter a is tricky in was, which makes the sound in hot. In are and ask it makes the sound in car.

The letters ai in said make the sound in bed. The letters ay in says make the same sound, and the last s in says makes the z sound, as in zip.

wasas in “hot”saidas in “bed”saysas in “bed”areas in “car”askas in “car”
The red part of each word is the tricky part.

Key ideas

  • The a in was says the sound in hot.
  • The ai in said says the sound in bed.
  • The a in are and ask says the sound in car.
  • The s at the end of says says the z sound.
Worked example 4.3.1
Which letter in was is the tricky one?
was

Method. Find the part of the word that does not follow the usual sound.

  1. Say the word slowly. Listen to each part of it.
    was
  2. Find the unusual letters. The a makes the “o” sound, as in “hot”. It does not make the “ar” sound in “car”.
    The tricky part is a
  3. Write the answer.
    a

Check. Read was again and point to a. ✓

Watch out. Do not try to sound out the tricky part. Learn it by heart.

Worked example 4.3.2
Write the missing letters:
s d

Method. Say the whole word, then find the letters that are missing.

  1. Say the whole word. Read every letter in order.
    said
  2. Look at the empty box. The box stands for 2 letter(s).
    2 missing letter(s)
  3. Write the missing letters. The ai makes the “e” sound, as in “bed”. It does not make the “ay” sound in “day”.
    ai

Check. Put ai back into the box and read the word: said. ✓

Watch out. Write the tricky letters exactly as they are in the word.

Worked example 4.3.3
Which letter in says makes the z sound, as in zip?
zip

Method. Look at the end of the word.

  1. Find the last letter. It is the letter that makes the z sound.
    Last letter in says: s
  2. Say the z sound. The s at the end of is, his and has says “z”, as in “zip”.
    like “zip”
  3. Write the answer.
    s

Check. The last s is the one that says z, as in zip. ✓

Watch out. The s at the start of a word, as in sun, says the s sound.

Watch out

Watch out: said is not spelled like sad or day. The ai makes the e sound in bed, so write a and i together, then d.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Ask your child to read the word said in a sentence: “Mum said, ‘Time for bed.’” Then ask them to cover the word and write it. Look back together at the ai.

Exercise 4C  The letters a, ai and ay

1
FLook at the word was. Which letter is the tricky one?
was
2
FThe tricky part of was makes the sound in “hot”. True or false?
3
FWrite the missing letters: s d
4
FAmira ___ hello to her friend.
Hello!
5
FMum ___ it is time for bed.
6
PSBen wrote sed for the word said. Write it correctly.
sed
7
PSWhich letter in are is quiet?
are
8
FWhich word means to put a question to someone: ask or was?
?
9
RWhich word does NOT have the ar sound like car: was, ask, are?
10
PSIn says, which letter makes the z sound, as in zip?
zip
11
RExplain how you know that said is a tricky word. Use one sentence.
?
4.4

The letters e and y that say a long sound

Year 1
Read and spell common exception words, The tricky part of each word

Printable: Worksheet (PDF) · Answers (PDF) · Open this lesson on its own page

Video lesson: The letters e and y that say a long soundComing soon
Playtime.

Words such as he, she, me, we and be end with an e that says the sound in tree. The word they makes the sound in day. In by and my, the y says the sound in sky.

Each one has a letter that does not do what we expect, so each is tricky.

heas in “tree”sheas in “tree”meas in “tree”weas in “tree”beas in “tree”theyas in “day”byas in “sky”myas in “sky”
Look at the red letter in each word.

Key ideas

  • The e in he, she, me, we and be says the sound in tree.
  • The ey in they says the sound in day.
  • The y in by and my says the sound in sky.
Worked example 4.4.1
Which letter in he is the tricky one?
he

Method. Find the part of the word that does not follow the usual sound.

  1. Say the word slowly. Listen to each part of it.
    he
  2. Find the unusual letters. The e makes the “ee” sound, as in “tree”. It does not make the “eh” sound in “bed”.
    The tricky part is e
  3. Write the answer.
    e

Check. Read he again and point to e. ✓

Watch out. Do not try to sound out the tricky part. Learn it by heart.

Worked example 4.4.2
Write the missing letters: th 

Method. Say the whole word, then find the letters that are missing.

  1. Say the whole word. Read every letter in order.
    they
  2. Look at the empty box. The box stands for 2 letter(s).
    2 missing letter(s)
  3. Write the missing letters. The ey makes the “ay” sound, as in “day”. It does not make the “eh” sound in “bed”.
    ey

Check. Put ey back into the box and read the word: they. ✓

Watch out. Write the tricky letters exactly as they are in the word.

Worked example 4.4.3
Is the y in by the same sound as the y in happy?
?

Method. Say each sound in your head, then compare the sound of by with the sound of happy.

  1. Look at by. The y says the sound in sky.
    by: igh, as in sky
  2. Look at happy. The y at the end of happy says the ee sound, as in tree.
    happy: ee, as in tree
  3. Write the answer.
    No. The two y sounds are different.

Check. Sky and tree are different sounds, so the y is not the same. ✓

Watch out. Look at the example word for each sound, not the letter alone.

Watch out

Watch out: he, she, me, we and be do not say the eh sound in bed. They say the ee sound, as in tree.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Read the words aloud and point to the e or y each time. Ask: “Which sound does this letter make?” Then ask your child to spell it from memory.

Exercise 4D  The letters e and y

1
FWrite the missing letter: sh 
2
FDad and I went out. ___ had lots of fun.
Lots of fun!
3
FWhich word means belonging to me: my or by?
4
FThe y in my makes the sound in “happy”. True or false?
5
FWhich word has the ay sound like day: they or he?
6
PSPlease can you play with ___?
7
PSElla wrote shee for the word she. Write it correctly.
shee
8
PSI want to ___ a good friend.
9
FWhich word does NOT have the ee sound like tree: he, we, me, by?
10
FWrite the missing letters: th 
11
RWhy is be a tricky word? Explain in one sentence.
be
4.5

The letters ou and ere in tricky words

Year 1
Read and spell common exception words, The tricky part of each word

Printable: Worksheet (PDF) · Answers (PDF) · Open this lesson on its own page

Video lesson: The letters ou and ere in tricky wordsComing soon
In the garden.

The letters ou make three sounds in tricky words. In you they make the sound in moon. In our and house they make the sound in cow. In your they make the sound in door.

The letters ere also make three sounds: here says the sound in ear, there and where say the sound in hair, and were says the sound in her.

youas in “moon”youras in “door”ouras in “cow”houseas in “cow”hereas in “ear”thereas in “hair”whereas in “hair”wereas in “her”
The red part of each word is the tricky part.

Key ideas

  • The ou in you says the sound in moon.
  • The ou in our and house says the sound in cow.
  • The ere in here says the sound in ear.
  • The ere in there and where says the sound in hair.
Worked example 4.5.1
Which letter at the end of house is quiet?

Method. Look at the end of house, then think about the sound it makes.

  1. Look at the last letter. The e at the end is at the end of house.
    house: last letter e
  2. Say the word. The ou says the sound in cow, and the e is quiet.
    the e does not make a sound
  3. Write the answer.
    e

Check. House has the same ou sound as cow. The e is quiet. ✓

Watch out. Quiet letters are written but not said.

Worked example 4.5.2
Write the missing letters: h 

Method. Say the whole word, then find the letters that are missing.

  1. Say the whole word. Read every letter in order.
    here
  2. Look at the empty box. The box stands for 3 letter(s).
    3 missing letter(s)
  3. Write the missing letters. The ere makes the “eer” sound, as in “ear”. It does not make the “air” sound in “hair”.
    ere

Check. Put ere back into the box and read the word: here. ✓

Watch out. Write the tricky letters exactly as they are in the word.

Worked example 4.5.3
Does the ou in you make the sound in cow?

Method. Say each word, then look at what the ou makes in it.

  1. Look at you. The ou says the sound in moon.
    you: oo, as in moon
  2. Look at our. The ou says the sound in cow.
    our: ow, as in cow
  3. Write the answer. The ou in you does not say the sound in cow.
    No. The ou in you is different.

Check. Moon and cow are different sounds. ✓

Watch out. Look at the sound, not only the letters.

Watch out

Watch out: here, there and where look alike, but here says the sound in ear, and there and where say the sound in hair.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Use a map, or point to places in the room. Say: “Put the toy here. Put it there.” Then ask your child to write the word for each place.

Exercise 4E  The letters ou and ere

1
FThe ou in you makes the sound in “moon”. True or false?
2
FIs this ___ bag?
3
FLook at the word house. Which letter at the end is quiet?
4
FWrite the missing letters: h 
5
FI live ___ with Mum and Dad.
6
FWhich word asks about a place: where, were or here?
?
7
PSThey ___ at the party yesterday.
8
PSLook at the map. Mum is at A. The park is at B. Fill the gap: The park is over ___.
AB
9
PSElla wrote thair for the word there. Write it correctly.
thair
10
RWhich word is the odd one out: house, our, you?
11
RWhy is were a tricky word? Explain in one sentence.
were
4.6

Surprise sounds in tricky words

Year 1
Read and spell common exception words, Use tricky words in sentences and in a story

Printable: Worksheet (PDF) · Answers (PDF) · Open this lesson on its own page

Video lesson: Surprise sounds in tricky wordsComing soon
A trip to the park, like the story.

Some letters make a surprise sound. The s at the end of is, his and has says the z sound, as in zip. The f in of says the v sound, as in van. The u in put, push, pull and full says the sound in book.

The ie in friend says the e sound in bed, and the ch in school says the k sound in cat.

Read the story. It uses many of the tricky words from this chapter.

Today Amira and her friend Jack go to the park. They put their bags down by the big tree. Jack pushes the swing. Amira pulls the rope. Then they sit on the bench. Amira says, “Let’s come back here after school.” Jack says, “Yes, I will.”
isas in “zip”hisas in “zip”hasas in “zip”ofas in “van”putas in “book”pushas in “book”pullas in “book”fullas in “book”friendas in “bed”schoolas in “cat”
The red part of each word is the tricky part.

Key ideas

  • The s at the end of is, his and has says the z sound.
  • The f in of says the v sound, as in van.
  • The u in put, push, pull and full says the sound in book.
  • The ie in friend and the ch in school are tricky too.
Worked example 4.6.1
Which letter at the end of his makes the z sound?
his

Method. Look at the end of the word.

  1. Find the last letter. It is the letter that makes the z sound.
    Last letter in his: s
  2. Say the z sound. The s at the end of is, his and has says “z”, as in “zip”.
    like “zip”
  3. Write the answer.
    s

Check. The last s is the one that says z, as in zip. ✓

Watch out. The s at the start of a word, as in sun, says the s sound.

Worked example 4.6.2
Write the missing letters: p ll

Method. Say the whole word, then find the letters that are missing.

  1. Say the whole word. Read every letter in order.
    pull
  2. Look at the empty box. The box stands for 1 letter(s).
    1 missing letter(s)
  3. Write the missing letters. The u makes the “oo” sound, as in “book”. It does not make the “uh” sound in “fun”.
    u

Check. Put u back into the box and read the word: pull. ✓

Watch out. Write the tricky letters exactly as they are in the word.

Worked example 4.6.3
Is the ie in friend the same sound as the ee in tree?

Method. Compare the two sounds.

  1. Look at friend. The ie makes the e sound, as in bed.
    friend: e, as in bed
  2. Look at tree. The ee makes the ee sound.
    tree: ee
  3. Write the answer.
    No. The two sounds are different.

Check. Bed and tree have different vowel sounds. ✓

Watch out. Friend is tricky because the ie does not say ee.

Watch out

Watch out: the s in is does not say the s sound in sun. It says the z sound, as in zip. The f in of says v, not f.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Read the story together, one sentence at a time. Ask your child to find each tricky word and point to its red part. Then ask: “What happens next?” to practise reading for meaning.

Exercise 4F  Surprise sounds and the story

1
FWhich letter at the end makes the z sound? (a) is (b) his (c) has
zip
(a)is
(b)his
(c)has
2
FThe f in of makes the sound in “fan”. True or false?
3
FWhich word does NOT have the oo sound like book: put, pull, pat, full?
4
PSPlease ___ your coat on the peg.
5
PSCan you ___ the door shut?
6
PSThe cup is ___. Do not spill it.
7
FWhich word has the ch that says the k sound, as in cat: school or chair?
?
8
PSBen wrote frend for the word friend. Write it correctly.
frend
9
FWho is Amira’s friend in the story?
?
10
FWhere do Amira and Jack put their bags? Use the words in the story.
11
PSWho pulls the rope in the story?
12
RWhat do you think Amira and Jack will do next? Use the story to help you.
?

Chapter summary

SkillMethod
Find the tricky partLook for the letters that do not follow the usual sound, and learn them by heart.
The letter oTo and do say oo as in moon. Go, no and so say oh as in boat. Love, come, some and today say u as in fun. One and once start with w.
The letters a and aiWas says o as in hot. Said says e as in bed. Are and ask say ar as in car.
The letters e and yHe, she, me, we and be say ee as in tree. They says ay as in day. My and by say igh as in sky.
The letters ou and ereYou says oo. Our and house say ow as in cow. Here says eer, and there and where say air.
Surprise soundsIs, his and has end with z. Of says v. Put, push, pull and full say oo as in book. Friend says e. School says k.

Can you…?

  • I can find the tricky part of a tricky word
  • I can read and spell the Year 1 tricky words in this chapter
  • I can say what sound the tricky part makes, using an example word
  • I can use the method: look, say, cover, write, check
  • I can choose the right tricky word for a gap in a sentence

Key terms

tricky word
a word with a part that does not follow the usual sound, also called a common exception word
tricky part
the letters in a word that do not follow the usual sound
quiet letter
a letter that we write but do not say, such as the e at the end of house
sound
the noise a letter or group of letters makes, such as the sound in moon
look, say, cover, write, check
a method for learning a tricky word by heart

Exercise 4Z  Check-up

1
Write the word for the picture.
2
Look at the word one. Which letter is the tricky one?
one
3
Write the missing letters: f ll
4
Dad ___ we can go to the park after lunch.
5
The o in come makes the sound in “fun”. True or false?
6
Ben wrote wunce for the word once. Write it correctly.
wunce
7
Which word does NOT have the e sound like bed: said, friend, my?
8
Write the missing letters: w 
9
Which two words have the same tricky sound, as in car? are, ask, was
10
Explain in one sentence why friend is tricky.
friend

Total 15 marks. Allow about 15 minutes.

Exercise 4X  End-of-chapter quiz

1
FWhich word is tricky: sun or they?[1 mark]
2
PSWrite the word that means the feeling this heart shows.[1 mark]
3
FWrite the missing letters: p sh[1 mark]
4
FWhich letter in my makes the sound in sky?[1 mark]
5
PSAli ___ the fish in the bowl.[1 mark]
6
RBen says, “The o in go makes the sound in moon.” Is Ben right? Explain.[2 marks]
7
PSMia wrote wair for the word where. Write it correctly.[2 marks]
wair
8
PSLook at the picture of the house. Fill the gap: This is my ___.[2 marks]
9
FWhich word does NOT have the ee sound like tree: she, be, they, we?[2 marks]
10
RWhy is once tricky? Explain in one sentence.[2 marks]
once
← Chapter 3: More ways to write a soundChapter 5: Adding endings →

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