Year 4 English Spelling patterns in depth: check-up and practice test questions

Method. Think what the sentence means, then choose the word that fits the gap and its spelling.

1. Read the sentence with the gap. Think what the sentence means.
   In ___ we learn why things fall to the ground.
2. Find the word that fits the meaning. the science of matter, energy and forces
   physics
3. Put the word in the gap. Read the sentence again. It makes sense.
   In physics we learn why things fall to the ground.
4. Write the answer.
   physics

Check. Read the whole sentence with physics in it. ✓

Watch out. The y makes the i sound, as in sit. The ph at the start makes the f sound.

Method. Say the whole word, then fill the box with the tricky letters.

1. Say the whole word. Read every letter in order.
   avalanche
2. Look at the empty box. The box stands for 2 letter(s) in a row.
   2 missing letter(s)
3. Write the missing letters. The ch makes the sh sound, as in shop. The final e is needed.
   ch

Check. Put ch back in the box and read avalanche. ✓

Watch out. The ch makes the sh sound, as in shop. The final e is needed.

Method. Match the meaning to the word, then check its spelling.

1. Read the meaning. Think about what the clue describes.
   the view of land, such as hills, trees and rivers
2. Find the word that matches. Think of the one word with this meaning.
   scenery
3. Check the tricky part. The sc makes the s sound, as in sun. The c is not said on its own.
   Tricky part: sc
4. Write the answer.
   scenery

Check. Read scenery and check each letter against the word. ✓

Watch out. The sc makes the s sound, as in sun. The c is not said on its own.

Method. Choose the word by its meaning, not by how it sounds.

1. Read the sentence. Think about what the gap means.
   The bridge was built with strong ___ beams.
2. Match the meaning. The word that fits has this meaning.
   steel means a strong metal
3. Check the other word. Put it in the gap. Does it still mean the same?
   steal (to take something that is not yours) does not fit this meaning
4. Write the answer.
   steel

Check. Read the sentence with steel in the gap. ✓

Watch out. Homophones and near-homophones can sound alike. The meaning of the sentence decides which one to write.

Method. Compare the wrong spelling with the word we want.

1. Look at facinate. Compare it with the word fascinate.
   facinate is not right
2. Find the tricky part. The sc in the middle makes the s sound, as in sun.
   Tricky part: sc
3. Write the word correctly.
   fascinate

Check. Read fascinate and check each letter. ✓

Watch out. The sc in the middle makes the s sound, as in sun.

Method. Say the whole word, then fill the box with the tricky letters.

1. Say the whole word. Read every letter in order.
   straightforward
2. Look at the empty box. The box stands for 4 letter(s) in a row.
   4 missing letter(s)
3. Write the missing letters. The aigh makes the ay sound, as in play. Straight is in the middle of the word.
   aigh

Check. Put aigh back in the box and read straightforward. ✓

Watch out. The aigh makes the ay sound, as in play. Straight is in the middle of the word.

Method. Say each word and find the sound of its ch.

1. Look at moustache and chandelier. Both make the sh sound, as in shop.
   moustache, chandelier
2. Look at anchor. The ch in anchor makes the k sound, as in kite.
   anchor: k sound
3. Write the answer.
   anchor

Check. anchor has the k sound. ✓

Watch out. Learn each word with its ch.

Method. Compare the sound of ou with the example word.

1. Look at colour. The ou is in the middle of the word.
   col-our
2. Compare with soup. The ou in colour makes the u sound, as in cup, not the oo sound in soup.
   u sound, as in cup
3. Write the answer.
   No. The ou in colour makes the u sound, as in cup.

Check. colour has the u sound. ✓

Watch out. The ou can make more than one sound.

Method. Think what the sentence means, then choose the word that fits the gap and its spelling.

1. Read the sentence with the gap. Think what the sentence means.
   Please ___ this message to the head teacher.
2. Find the word that fits the meaning. to carry something from one place to another, or to pass on a message
   convey
3. Put the word in the gap. Read the sentence again. It makes sense.
   Please convey this message to the head teacher.
4. Write the answer.
   convey

Check. Read the whole sentence with convey in it. ✓

Watch out. The ey makes the ay sound, as in play.

Method. Find the word with the meaning, then check its spelling.

1. Read the meaning. A drawing that shows numbers as lines or bars.
   a drawing of numbers
2. Find the word. graph has ph, which makes the f sound.
   graph
3. Write the answer.
   graph

Check. graph has ph. ✓

Watch out. The ph makes the f sound.

Method. Match the meaning to the word, then check its spelling.

1. Read the meaning. Think about what the clue describes.
   a person who plans and designs buildings
2. Find the word that matches. Think of the one word with this meaning.
   architect
3. Check the tricky part. The ch makes the k sound, as in kite.
   Tricky part: ch
4. Write the answer.
   architect

Check. Read architect and check each letter against the word. ✓

Watch out. The ch makes the k sound, as in kite.

Method. Say the whole word, then fill the box with the tricky letters.

1. Say the whole word. Read every letter in order.
   rhythm
2. Look at the empty box. The box stands for 1 letter(s) in a row.
   1 missing letter(s)
3. Write the missing letters. The y makes the i sound, as in sit. The rh at the start makes the r sound.
   y

Check. Put y back in the box and read rhythm. ✓

Watch out. The y makes the i sound, as in sit. The rh at the start makes the r sound.

Method. Compare the wrong spelling with the word we want.

1. Look at stomak. Compare it with the word stomach.
   stomak is not right
2. Find the tricky part. The ch makes the k sound, as in kite.
   Tricky part: ch
3. Write the word correctly.
   stomach

Check. Read stomach and check each letter. ✓

Watch out. The ch makes the k sound, as in kite.

Method. Choose the word by its meaning, not by how it sounds.

1. Read the sentence. Think about what the gap means.
   The bridge was built with strong ___ beams.
2. Match the meaning. The word that fits has this meaning.
   steel means a strong metal
3. Check the other word. Put it in the gap. Does it still mean the same?
   steal (to take something that is not yours) does not fit this meaning
4. Write the answer.
   steel

Check. Read the sentence with steel in the gap. ✓

Watch out. Homophones and near-homophones can sound alike. The meaning of the sentence decides which one to write.

Method. Compare scale with a word where sc makes the s sound.

1. Look at scale. The sc is at the start of the word.
   scale
2. Compare the sound. The sc in scale makes the sk sound, as in sky.
   sk sound, as in sky
3. Write the answer.
   No. In scale the sc makes the sk sound, as in sky.

Check. Not every sc makes the s sound. ✓

Watch out. Learn each word with its sound.

Method. Say each word and find the letter you do not say.

1. Look at knuckle. The k is written but not said.
   k
2. Look at column. The n is written but not said, so the mn makes the m sound.
   n
3. Write the answer.
   k, n

Check. k in knuckle and n in column are silent. ✓

Watch out. A silent letter is written but not said.

Method. Find the word where gh makes the f sound.

1. Look at ghost. The gh makes the g sound.
   ghost: g sound
2. Look at laugh. The gh makes the f sound.
   laugh: f sound
3. Write the answer.
   laugh

Check. In night the gh is silent. ✓

Watch out. Learn each word with its gh.

Method. Compare the endings of the two words.

1. Look at cheque. It ends with que, which makes the k sound.
   cheque: que
2. Look at mosque. It also ends with que, which makes the k sound.
   mosque: que
3. Write the answer.
   Yes. Both end with que, which makes the k sound, as in kite.

Check. Both endings match. ✓

Watch out. Check the ending of each word.

Method. Use weight in a sentence that makes sense.

1. Think of how heavy something is. Weight means how heavy something is.
   how heavy
2. Write the sentence. Check the eigh in the middle of the word.
   Check the weight of the parcel.
3. Write the answer.
   Accept any correct sentence with weight, for example: Check the weight of the parcel.

Check. weight has the eigh spelling. ✓

Watch out. Weight has eigh, not ai.

Method. Use each word so that its meaning is clear.

1. Use principal. A principal is the head teacher, or the main one.
   The principal opened the assembly.
2. Use principle. A principle is a rule or belief about how to behave.
   Honesty is a good principle.
3. Write the answer.
   Accept any two correct sentences, where principal means head teacher or main, and principle means a rule or belief, for example: The principal opened the assembly. Honesty is a good principle.

Check. Each word fits its meaning. ✓

Watch out. Principal and principle have different meanings.