Year 4 English: Greek and French ch
Part of the Year 4 English spelling patterns in depth chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
Greek and French ch
In Year 3 you met ch in echo and chef. Here are more words with ch.
In some words, ch makes the k sound, as in kite: anchor, stomach, chaos, character, architect and mechanic.
In other words, ch makes the sh sound, as in shop: moustache, parachute, chandelier, crochet and avalanche.
Key ideas
- Ch can make the k sound, as in kite, for example in anchor and stomach.
- Ch can make the sh sound, as in shop, for example in moustache and chandelier.
- You cannot tell the sound from the letters alone, so learn each word.
- UK English spells it moustache, not mustache.
Method. Match the meaning to the word, then check its spelling.
- Read the meaning. Think about what the clue describes.a person in a story, or the qualities that make someone who they are
- Find the word that matches. Think of the one word with this meaning.character
- Check the tricky part. The ch makes the k sound, as in kite.Tricky part: ch
- Write the answer. character
Check. Read character and check each letter against the word. ✓
Watch out. The ch makes the k sound, as in kite.
Method. Think what the sentence means, then choose the word that fits the gap and its spelling.
- Read the sentence with the gap. Think what the sentence means.The ___ fixed the brakes on the bus.
- Find the word that fits the meaning. a person who repairs engines and machinesmechanic
- Put the word in the gap. Read the sentence again. It makes sense.The mechanic fixed the brakes on the bus.
- Write the answer. mechanic
Check. Read the whole sentence with mechanic in it. ✓
Watch out. The ch makes the k sound, as in kite.
Method. Say the whole word, then fill the box with the tricky letters.
- Say the whole word. Read every letter in order.avalanche
- Look at the empty box. The box stands for 2 letter(s) in a row.2 missing letter(s)
- 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.
Watch out
Watch out: the same letters can make different sounds. The ch in stomach makes the k sound, but the ch in crochet makes the sh sound.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Read each word aloud, then say which sound the ch makes, as in kite or as in shop. Ask your child to write the word and tick it when the ch is right.
Exercise 1C Practice: Greek and French ch
Method. Match the meaning to the word, then check its spelling.
- Read the meaning. Think about what the clue describes.a heavy hook that holds a boat still in the water
- Find the word that matches. Think of the one word with this meaning.anchor
- Check the tricky part. The ch makes the k sound, as in kite.Tricky part: ch
- Write the answer. anchor
Check. Read anchor and check each letter against the word. ✓
Watch out. The ch makes the k sound, as in kite.
Method. Match the meaning to the word, then check its spelling.
- Read the meaning. Think about what the clue describes.the part of your body where food goes after you swallow it
- Find the word that matches. Think of the one word with this meaning.stomach
- Check the tricky part. The ch makes the k sound, as in kite.Tricky part: ch
- Write the answer. stomach
Check. Read stomach and check each letter against the word. ✓
Watch out. The ch makes the k sound, as in kite.
Method. Match the meaning to the word, then check its spelling.
- Read the meaning. Think about what the clue describes.a state of complete confusion and mess
- Find the word that matches. Think of the one word with this meaning.chaos
- Check the tricky part. The ch makes the k sound, as in kite.Tricky part: ch
- Write the answer. chaos
Check. Read chaos and check each letter against the word. ✓
Watch out. The ch makes the k sound, as in kite.
Method. Match the meaning to the word, then check its spelling.
- Read the meaning. Think about what the clue describes.hair that grows on the upper lip
- Find the word that matches. Think of the one word with this meaning.moustache
- Check the tricky part. The ch makes the sh sound, as in shop. UK English spells it moustache, not mustache.Tricky part: ch
- Write the answer. moustache
Check. Read moustache and check each letter against the word. ✓
Watch out. The ch makes the sh sound, as in shop. UK English spells it moustache, not mustache.
Method. Think what the sentence means, then choose the word that fits the gap and its spelling.
- Read the sentence with the gap. Think what the sentence means.The ___ drew plans for the new library.
- Find the word that fits the meaning. a person who plans and designs buildingsarchitect
- Put the word in the gap. Read the sentence again. It makes sense.The architect drew plans for the new library.
- Write the answer. architect
Check. Read the whole sentence with architect in it. ✓
Watch out. The ch makes the k sound, as in kite.
Method. Think what the sentence means, then choose the word that fits the gap and its spelling.
- Read the sentence with the gap. Think what the sentence means.The skydiver pulled the cord to open her ___.
- Find the word that fits the meaning. a large cloth canopy that slows a person as they fall from the skyparachute
- Put the word in the gap. Read the sentence again. It makes sense.The skydiver pulled the cord to open her parachute.
- Write the answer. parachute
Check. Read the whole sentence with parachute in it. ✓
Watch out. The ch makes the sh sound, as in shop.
Method. Think what the sentence means, then choose the word that fits the gap and its spelling.
- Read the sentence with the gap. Think what the sentence means.Sparkling crystals hung from the ___ in the hall.
- Find the word that fits the meaning. a light that hangs from a ceiling, with many arms for the bulbschandelier
- Put the word in the gap. Read the sentence again. It makes sense.Sparkling crystals hung from the chandelier in the hall.
- Write the answer. chandelier
Check. Read the whole sentence with chandelier in it. ✓
Watch out. The ch makes the sh sound, as in shop.
Method. Say the whole word, then fill the box with the tricky letters.
- Say the whole word. Read every letter in order.crochet
- Look at the empty box. The box stands for 2 letter(s) in a row.2 missing letter(s)
- Write the missing letters. The ch makes the sh sound, as in shop. Learn the whole word, with its ch and its et ending.ch
Check. Put ch back in the box and read crochet. ✓
Watch out. The ch makes the sh sound, as in shop. Learn the whole word, with its ch and its et ending.
Method. Say the whole word, then fill the box with the tricky letters.
- Say the whole word. Read every letter in order.character
- Look at the empty box. The box stands for 2 letter(s) in a row.2 missing letter(s)
- Write the missing letters. The ch makes the k sound, as in kite.ch
Check. Put ch back in the box and read character. ✓
Watch out. The ch makes the k sound, as in kite.
Method. Say the whole word, then fill the box with the tricky letters.
- Say the whole word. Read every letter in order.chaos
- Look at the empty box. The box stands for 2 letter(s) in a row.2 missing letter(s)
- Write the missing letters. The ch makes the k sound, as in kite.ch
Check. Put ch back in the box and read chaos. ✓
Watch out. The ch makes the k sound, as in kite.
Method. Compare the wrong spelling with the word we want.
- Look at mustache. Compare it with the word moustache.mustache is not right
- Find the tricky part. The ch makes the sh sound, as in shop. UK English spells it moustache, not mustache.Tricky part: ch
- Write the word correctly. moustache
Check. Read moustache and check each letter. ✓
Watch out. The ch makes the sh sound, as in shop. UK English spells it moustache, not mustache.
Method. Compare the wrong spelling with the word we want.
- Look at avalanch. Compare it with the word avalanche.avalanch is not right
- Find the tricky part. The ch makes the sh sound, as in shop. The final e is needed.Tricky part: ch
- Write the word correctly. avalanche
Check. Read avalanche and check each letter. ✓
Watch out. The ch makes the sh sound, as in shop. The final e is needed.
Method. Compare the wrong spelling with the word we want.
- Look at ancor. Compare it with the word anchor.ancor is not right
- Find the tricky part. The ch makes the k sound, as in kite.Tricky part: ch
- Write the word correctly. anchor
Check. Read anchor and check each letter. ✓
Watch out. The ch makes the k sound, as in kite.
Method. Say each word and find the sound of its ch.
- Check anchor and chaos. The ch in both makes the k sound, as in kite.anchor, chaos
- Check parachute and crochet. The ch in both makes the sh sound, as in shop.parachute, crochet
- Write the answer. k sound: anchor, chaos. sh sound: parachute, crochet.
Check. Each word is in the right list. ✓
Watch out. Check the sound each word makes, not only the letters.
Method. Compare the sound of ch with the example word.
- Look at chandelier. The ch is at the start of the word.chandelier
- Compare with the examples. The ch in chandelier makes the sh sound, as in shop, not the k sound in kite.sh sound, as in shop
- Write the answer. No. The ch in chandelier makes the sh sound, as in shop.
Check. chandelier starts with the sh sound. ✓
Watch out. Learn each word with its ch.
Method. Find the one word whose ch makes a different sound.
- Look at chaos and character. In both words the ch makes the k sound, as in kite.chaos, character
- Look at avalanche. The ch in avalanche makes the sh sound, as in shop.avalanche: sh sound
- Write the answer. avalanche
Check. avalanche has the sh sound. ✓
Watch out. Check the sound of ch in each word.
Method. Use architect in a sentence that makes sense.
- Think of a person who designs buildings. An architect plans and designs buildings.a person who designs buildings
- Write the sentence. Check the ch in the middle of the word.The architect drew a plan for the school.
- Write the answer. Accept any correct sentence with architect, for example: The architect drew a plan for the school.
Check. architect has the ch that makes the k sound. ✓
Watch out. Check the ch in the middle.
Method. Say the whole word, then fill the box with the tricky letters.
- Say the whole word. Read every letter in order.chandelier
- Look at the empty box. The box stands for 2 letter(s) in a row.2 missing letter(s)
- Write the missing letters. The ch makes the sh sound, as in shop.ch
Check. Put ch back in the box and read chandelier. ✓
Watch out. The ch makes the sh sound, as in shop.
Method. Compare the two words and think about the letters and the sounds.
- Look at stomach. The ch makes the k sound.stomach: k sound
- Look at crochet. The ch makes the sh sound.crochet: sh sound
- Write the answer. Accept any answer that says the same letters can make different sounds, so each word must be learnt, for example: ch says k in stomach and sh in crochet.
Check. The same letters can make different sounds. ✓
Watch out. Spelling tells you the letters, not always the sound.