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Primary English · Year 4Chapter 2 · The statutory word list and the dictionary
Year 4 · Chapter 2

The statutory word list and the dictionary

By the end of this chapter you will be able to

  • Spell the words on the statutory list, and say what each word means
  • Find the tricky letters in a word, and learn the word with them
  • Put words in alphabetical order, looking at the second and third letters when the first letters match
  • Use the guide words, headword and definition in a dictionary to check the spelling and meaning of a word
  • Use a dictionary to find the correct spelling of a word that is spelt wrongly

You should already know

  • Alphabetical order by the first letter (Year 3)
  • The first half of the Year 3 and 4 word list, and its spelling patterns (Chapter 1 of this book and Year 3)
  • Index, glossary and dictionary (Year 3, Chapter 9)

Where this leads

  • Prefixes, suffixes and word families (Chapter 3)
  • Plurals and possession (Chapter 4)

National Curriculum for England, Key Stage 2 English, Year 4. Content: Spell the words on the statutory Years 3 and 4 word list, from accident to certain, with their meanings, Spell the words on the statutory list, from circle to extreme, with their meanings, Spell the words on the statutory list, from famous to important, with their meanings, Spell the words on the statutory list, from interest to opposite, with their meanings, Spell the words on the statutory list, from ordinary to regular, with their meanings, Spell the words on the statutory list, from reign to women, with their meanings, Use a dictionary to check spelling and meaning: put words in alphabetical order, using the first two or three letters.

Exercise P  Do you remember?

1
FPut these words in alphabetical order: pen, cup, bag.
2
FWhich letter is written in the word knee but is not said?
3
FWrite the opposite of early.
4
FWrite the vowel letters in the word bread, in the order they come.
5
FWrite the plural of city, which means more than one city.
2.1

The statutory word list: accident to certain

Year 4
Spell the words on the statutory list from accident to certain, with their meanings, Find the tricky letters in each word, and learn the word with them
Video lesson: The statutory word list: accident to certainComing soon
Story. Ali and Mia have a spelling test on Friday. Their teacher gives them a list of words from the statutory list for Years 3 and 4. Ali says, "I know most of them, but not all!" Mia shows him a trick that she uses every week.

The statutory word list is a list of words that pupils in Years 3 and 4 must learn to spell. The list is in alphabetical order. Each word has one spelling, so you must learn the letters rather than work out the word from its sound.

Some entries have brackets, such as accident(ally). The brackets mean that two words are on the list: accident and accidentally. This section starts at accident and ends at certain.

Mia's trick has five steps: look at the word, say it, cover it, write it from memory, and check it against the word.

accidentactuallybusinesscalendarcertain
The shaded letters are the tricky part of each word. Learn these letters first.

Key ideas

  • The statutory list is in alphabetical order. Brackets show two words, such as accident and accidentally.
  • Each word has one spelling. Learn the tricky letters, such as cc in accident and ai in certain.
  • UK English spells centre, not center, with -tre at the end.
  • Use the look, say, cover, write, check trick to learn each word.
Worked example 2.1.1
Write the word that means: by chance, and not on purpose.

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

  1. Read the meaning. Think about what the clue describes.
    by chance, and not on purpose
  2. Find the word that matches. Think of the one word on the list with this meaning.
    accidentally
  3. Check the tricky part. Accidentally is accidental with -ly added. Keep the al before the ly.
    Tricky part: cc
  4. Write the answer.
    accidentally

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

Watch out. Accidentally is accidental with -ly added. Keep the al before the ly.

Worked example 2.1.2
Write the missing word: Dad runs a small   that sells bikes.

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.
    Dad runs a small ___ that sells bikes.
  2. Find the word that fits the meaning. a shop or company that sells goods or services
    business
  3. Put the word in the gap. Read the sentence again. It makes sense.
    Dad runs a small business that sells bikes.
  4. Write the answer.
    business

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

Watch out. Business starts like busy, and it ends in -iness with two s letters.

Worked example 2.1.3
Write the missing letters: calend 

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

  1. Say the whole word, and look at each letter. Read every letter in order.
    calendar
  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 word ends in -ar, not -er.
    ar

Check. Put ar back in the box and read calendar. ✓

Watch out. The word ends in -ar, not -er.

Watch out

Watch out: accidentally keeps the al from accidental. It is not accidently. Also, busy and business have different spellings, even though business starts like busy.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Use the look, say, cover, write, check trick with five words at a time. Ask your child to write each word from memory, then check it. Keep the list the child cannot spell yet, and practise only those words.

Exercise 2A  Practice: accident to certain

1
FWrite the word that matches each meaning.
(a)Write the word that means: something bad that happens by chance, and that nobody meant.
(b)Write the word that means: by chance, and not on purpose.
(c)Write the word that means: real, or true, and not made up.
(d)Write the word that means: in fact, when the truth is known.
(e)Write the word that means: the place where someone lives, with its street and number.
2
FWrite the missing word in each sentence.
(a)Write the missing word: Ella wrote the   to the last question.
(b)Write the missing word: A rainbow may   after the rain.
(c)Write the missing word: The train will   at the station at six o'clock.
(d)Write the missing word: I   that you can finish the puzzle.
(e)Write the missing word: Sam rode his   to the park.
3
FWrite the missing letters.
(a)Write the missing letters: br th
(b)Write the missing letters: br the
(c)Write the missing letters: b ld
(d)Write the missing letters: b sy
(e)Write the missing letters: b siness
4
PSWrite each word correctly.
(a)Ali writes calender. Write it correctly.
(b)Mia writes cought. Write it correctly.
(c)Sam writes center. Write it correctly.
(d)Ben writes centuary. Write it correctly.
(e)Ella writes certian. Write it correctly.
5
RWrite the word that is spelt with the letters ai in the middle: centre, certain or century?
6
RMia says breath and breathe mean the same thing. Is she right? Explain.
7
RWhich word has a silent letter w: answer, arrive or appear?
8
PSWrite one sentence with the word calendar, spelt correctly.
9
RWhich of these is spelt correctly: accidently or accidentally?
10
RBen says that busy and business are spelt the same at the start, so they must be spelt the same at the end. Is he right? Explain.
2.2

The statutory word list: circle to extreme

Year 4
Spell the words on the statutory list from circle to extreme, with their meanings, Spell the number eight and the ordinal eighth, and tell them apart
Video lesson: The statutory word list: circle to extremeComing soon
Story. Ravi is learning the words for the next test. He finds a word with a double f, and a word with an e in the middle that he cannot spell, and he writes each one on a small card. He checks every card at the end of the day.

This section covers the next words on the statutory list, from circle to extreme. Some words have a double letter, such as different and disappear. Some end in a pattern, such as -ise in exercise.

Two entries are a pair: eight is the number, and eighth comes after the seventh. Both start with eight, but only eighth ends in th as an ordinal (a position in a list).

circledifferentdifficulteighthextreme
The shaded letters show the tricky part of each word.

Key ideas

  • Circle is a round shape where every point is the same distance from the middle.
  • Different and difficult both have a double f, but difficult has an i after the ff.
  • Eight is the number. Eighth is the position, as in the eighth day.
  • Extreme means very great, or as far as possible in one direction.
Worked example 2.2.1
Write the word that means: hard to do or to understand, and not easy.

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

  1. Read the meaning. Think about what the clue describes.
    hard to do or to understand, and not easy
  2. Find the word that matches. Think of the one word on the list with this meaning.
    difficult
  3. Check the tricky part. Ff, then i, then cult at the end. Do not forget the double f.
    Tricky part: ffi
  4. Write the answer.
    difficult

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

Watch out. Ff, then i, then cult at the end. Do not forget the double f.

Worked example 2.2.2
Write the missing word: Sam came   in the race.

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.
    Sam came ___ in the race.
  2. Find the word that fits the meaning. the one that comes after the seventh
    eighth
  3. Put the word in the gap. Read the sentence again. It makes sense.
    Sam came eighth in the race.
  4. Write the answer.
    eighth

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

Watch out. Eighth starts with eight, and ends in th.

Worked example 2.2.3
Write the missing letters: exerc 

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

  1. Say the whole word, and look at each letter. Read every letter in order.
    exercise
  2. Look at the empty box. The box stands for 3 letter(s) in a row.
    3 missing letter(s)
  3. Write the missing letters. The word starts with ex, and it ends with -ise.
    ise

Check. Put ise back in the box and read exercise. ✓

Watch out. The word starts with ex, and it ends with -ise.

Watch out

Watch out: eight and eighth both start with eigh. The common mistake is eigth. Check that the word has an i and a gh before the t.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Write different and difficult side by side. Ask your child to point to the double f in each, and say which word has an i after the ff.

Exercise 2B  Practice: circle to extreme

1
FWrite the word that matches each meaning.
(a)Write the word that means: a round shape where every point is the same distance from the middle.
(b)Write the word that means: with every part in place, and nothing missing.
(c)Write the word that means: to think carefully about something before you decide.
(d)Write the word that means: to keep going, or to go on after a stop.
2
FWrite the missing word in each sentence.
(a)Write the missing word: We must   which game to play first.
(b)Write the missing word: Can you   the picture in your own words?
(c)Write the missing word: The two socks were   colours.
(d)Write the missing word: The maths puzzle was very  .
(e)Write the missing word: The sun will   behind the hill.
3
FWrite the missing letters.
(a)Write the missing letters:  rly
(b)Write the missing letters:  rth
(c)Write the missing letters:  t
(d)Write the missing letters:  th
4
PSWrite each word correctly.
(a)Ali writes enuff. Write it correctly.
(b)Mia writes excercise. Write it correctly.
(c)Sam writes experiance. Write it correctly.
(d)Ben writes experimant. Write it correctly.
(e)Ella writes extremm. Write it correctly.
5
RWhich word has the letters ffi in it: different, difficult or disappear?
6
RWhich word has the letters sc in the middle: describe or decide?
7
RAli says eighth is spelt eigth, because it sounds like eight. Is he right? Explain.
8
PSWrite one sentence with the word exercise, spelt correctly.
9
FWrite the missing letters in disappear, and say how the word starts.
2.3

The statutory word list: famous to important

Year 4
Spell the words on the statutory list from famous to important, with their meanings, Spell the words with a capital letter, such as February, and the words that end in -ous, -ant and -ture
Video lesson: The statutory word list: famous to importantComing soon
Story. The class is writing a poster about its favourite things. Ella writes about the famous explorers they read about in history. Sam writes about February, which is the shortest month of the year.

This section covers the next group of words on the statutory list. The list is in alphabetical order, so these words start with f, g, h and i.

February is the name of a month, so it starts with a capital letter. It is also a word with a tricky first r.

Some words have an ending that you must learn: famous ends in -ous, important ends in -ant, and history ends in y. The endings are the key part to check.

WordTricky partWhy it is tricky
famous-ous at the endIt is not -us
Februarythe first rThe first r is often missed
grammarmm in the middleDouble m, then -ar
heardear in the middleHerd is a different word
important-ant at the endIt is not -ent
Tricky parts from this section, with the reason each one catches people out.

Key ideas

  • February is a month, and it starts with a capital letter.
  • Famous ends in -ous. Important ends in -ant. History ends in y.
  • Heard is the past tense of hear. Herd is a group of animals, and it is spelt differently.
  • Fruit, group and guide each have a tricky pair of letters in the middle.
Worked example 2.3.1
Write the word that means: having great value, or needed a lot.

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

  1. Read the meaning. Think about what the clue describes.
    having great value, or needed a lot
  2. Find the word that matches. Think of the one word on the list with this meaning.
    important
  3. Check the tricky part. The word ends in -ant, not -ent.
    Tricky part: ant
  4. Write the answer.
    important

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

Watch out. The word ends in -ant, not -ent.

Worked example 2.3.2
Write the missing word: We   the bell ring at nine o'clock.

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.
    We ___ the bell ring at nine o'clock.
  2. Find the word that fits the meaning. took in a sound with your ears; the past tense of hear
    heard
  3. Put the word in the gap. Read the sentence again. It makes sense.
    We heard the bell ring at nine o'clock.
  4. Write the answer.
    heard

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

Watch out. Ear is in the middle. Herd is a group of animals, which is a different word.

Worked example 2.3.3
Write the missing letters: Feb ary

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

  1. Say the whole word, and look at each letter. Read every letter in order.
    February
  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. It has a capital letter. The first r is often missed: Feb-ru-ary.
    ru

Check. Put ru back in the box and read February. ✓

Watch out. It has a capital letter. The first r is often missed: Feb-ru-ary.

Watch out

Watch out: heard and herd sound the same, but they are spelt differently and mean different things. Read the whole sentence before you choose.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Ask your child to write the names of the months in a line, and to point to the capital letter at the start of each. Then ask which word in this section is a month.

Exercise 2C  Practice: famous to important

1
FWrite the word that matches each meaning.
(a)Write the word that means: known by many people.
(b)Write the word that means: the one that you like best.
(c)Write the word that means: the second month of the year, after January.
(d)Write the word that means: ahead, or towards the front.
2
FWrite the missing word in each sentence.
(a)Write the missing word: I had a bowl of   with my yoghurt.
(b)Write the missing word: We learn about   in English lessons.
(c)Write the missing word: Our   sat together at the table.
(d)Write the missing word: The   stood at the gate of the castle.
3
FWrite the missing letters.
(a)Write the missing letters: g de
(b)Write the missing letters: h d
(c)Write the missing letters: h t
(d)Write the missing letters: h ht
4
PSWrite each word correctly.
(a)Ali writes histery. Write it correctly.
(b)Mia writes imagin. Write it correctly.
(c)Sam writes incease. Write it correctly.
(d)Ben writes importent. Write it correctly.
5
RAli says that February starts with a small letter, because it is only a month. Is he right? Explain.
6
RWhich word has the letters ou that say the oo sound, as in soup: group, guard or guide?
7
RMia writes I herd the bell at nine o'clock. Write the sentence correctly.
8
PSWrite one sentence with the word history, spelt correctly.
9
RWhich word ends in -ant: important, forward or famous?
10
FWrite the missing letters in imagine, and say how the word ends.
2.4

The statutory word list: interest to opposite

Year 4
Spell the words on the statutory list from interest to opposite, with their meanings, Spot silent letters, such as the s in island and the k in knowledge
Video lesson: The statutory word list: interest to oppositeComing soon
Story. Mia and her grandad visit the library on a cold Saturday. He chooses a book about an island. Mia finds a book about natural places, and they both sit by the window to read.

This section covers the middle words of the second half of the statutory list, from interest to opposite.

Some words have a letter that is written but not said, such as the s in island and the k in knowledge. Other words have a double letter, such as occasion and opposite.

Two entries are a pair: occasion is a special time, and occasionally means now and then. Both keep the double c.

interestislandknowledgelibraryoccasionally
The shaded letters show the tricky part. Some letters are written but not said.

Key ideas

  • Island has an s that is written but not said.
  • Knowledge starts with a k that is not said, and it ends in -dge.
  • Library has two r letters. Say lib-rar-y, and write both.
  • Occasion and occasionally both have a double c, but only occasionally ends in -ally.
Worked example 2.4.1
Write the word that means: a building or room where books are kept for people to borrow.

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

  1. Read the meaning. Think about what the clue describes.
    a building or room where books are kept for people to borrow
  2. Find the word that matches. Think of the one word on the list with this meaning.
    library
  3. Check the tricky part. Say lib-rar-y. The word has two r letters.
    Tricky part: rar
  4. Write the answer.
    library

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

Watch out. Say lib-rar-y. The word has two r letters.

Worked example 2.4.2
Write the missing word: Did you   the new sign on the gate?

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.
    Did you ___ the new sign on the gate?
  2. Find the word that fits the meaning. to see or spot something, or a sign that gives information
    notice
  3. Put the word in the gap. Read the sentence again. It makes sense.
    Did you notice the new sign on the gate?
  4. Write the answer.
    notice

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

Watch out. The c makes the s sound, and the word ends in -ce.

Worked example 2.4.3
Write the missing letters:  owledge

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

  1. Say the whole word, and look at each letter. Read every letter in order.
    knowledge
  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 k is written but not said. Dge is at the end.
    kn

Check. Put kn back in the box and read knowledge. ✓

Watch out. The k is written but not said. Dge is at the end.

Watch out

Watch out: a silent letter is written but not said. Do not leave out the letter just because you do not say it. Library, knowledge and island each need the silent letter written.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Ask your child to say the word knowledge, then point to the k and the d. Ask which letters are written but not said.

Exercise 2D  Practice: interest to opposite

1
FWrite the word that matches each meaning.
(a)Write the word that means: a feeling of wanting to know more about something.
(b)Write the word that means: a piece of land with water all around it.
(c)Write the word that means: what you know, from learning or from experience.
(d)Write the word that means: to find out or gain new skills by studying or practising.
2
FWrite the missing word in each sentence.
(a)Write the missing word: Measure the   of the table with a ruler.
(b)Write the missing word: We walked to the   to choose a new book.
(c)Write the missing word: My new coat is made from a soft  .
(d)Write the missing word: The nurse gave Grandad his   after breakfast.
3
FWrite the missing letters.
(a)Write the missing letters: men 
(b)Write the missing letters: min 
(c)Write the missing letters: nat al
(d)Write the missing letters: n ty
4
PSWrite each word correctly.
(a)Ali writes notise. Write it correctly.
(b)Mia writes ocassion. Write it correctly.
(c)Sam writes occasionaly. Write it correctly.
(d)Ben writes offen. Write it correctly.
(e)Ella writes oppisite. Write it correctly.
5
RWrite the letter that is written but not said in each word: island, knowledge, natural?
6
PSWhich word has the letters s that is not said, and means a piece of land with water all around it: island or notice?
7
RBen says library is spelt libary, because the second r is hard to say. Is he right? Explain.
8
RWhich word has a double letter c: notice, occasion or natural?
9
PSWrite one sentence with the word minute, meaning sixty seconds, spelt correctly.
10
FWrite the missing letters in length, and say how the word ends.
2.5

The statutory word list: ordinary to regular

Year 4
Spell the words on the statutory list from ordinary to regular, with their meanings, Spell the plural potatoes, and the possessive pair possess and possession
Video lesson: The statutory word list: ordinary to regularComing soon
Story. It is a busy Monday in the school kitchen. The cook writes a list of ingredients. She writes that the potatoes are for lunch, and that the new recipe needs a special pan.

This section covers the statutory words from ordinary to regular, which are the middle words in the second half of the list.

Some words have an ending that you must learn. Ordinary ends in -ary. Potatoes is a plural that ends in -oes, not -os.

Possess is a verb that means to own something. Possession is a noun, meaning something that belongs to you. Both have two s letters together.

WordEnding or spellingExample
ordinary-aryan ordinary day
particular-arvery particular about details
potatoes-oes, not -osmashed potatoes
possessionss, then -iona favourite possession
quarterqu at the starta quarter past three
Endings and spellings from this section, with an example of each.

Key ideas

  • Ordinary means normal and usual. It ends in -ary.
  • Potatoes ends in -oes, not -os. It is the plural of potato.
  • Possess means to own something. Possession means something that belongs to you.
  • Pressure, possible and possess each have two s letters together.
Worked example 2.5.1
Write the word that means: one of four equal parts, or fifteen minutes of an hour.

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

  1. Read the meaning. Think about what the clue describes.
    one of four equal parts, or fifteen minutes of an hour
  2. Find the word that matches. Think of the one word on the list with this meaning.
    quarter
  3. Check the tricky part. Qu is at the start, ar is in the middle, and the word ends in -er.
    Tricky part: qu
  4. Write the answer.
    quarter

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

Watch out. Qu is at the start, ar is in the middle, and the word ends in -er.

Worked example 2.5.2
Write the missing word: We had mashed   with our dinner.

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.
    We had mashed ___ with our dinner.
  2. Find the word that fits the meaning. round vegetables that grow under the ground and are cooked
    potatoes
  3. Put the word in the gap. Read the sentence again. It makes sense.
    We had mashed potatoes with our dinner.
  4. Write the answer.
    potatoes

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

Watch out. The plural ends in -oes, not -os.

Worked example 2.5.3
Write the missing letters: pre ure

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

  1. Say the whole word, and look at each letter. Read every letter in order.
    pressure
  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. Two s letters, then ure at the end.
    ss

Check. Put ss back in the box and read pressure. ✓

Watch out. Two s letters, then ure at the end.

Watch out

Watch out: probably has two b letters, but possible has two s letters, and potatoes has -oes at the end. Learn each word by its own letters.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Write possess and possession on two cards. Ask your child to point to the double s in each, and to say which word is a verb (possess) and which is a noun (possession).

Exercise 2E  Practice: ordinary to regular

1
FWrite the word that matches each meaning.
(a)Write the word that means: normal and usual, not special.
(b)Write the word that means: one special thing, or very careful about small details.
(c)Write the word that means: strange, or unusual in a way that is hard to explain.
(d)Write the word that means: it might be, or possibly.
2
FWrite the missing word in each sentence.
(a)Write the missing word: The new game is very   with children.
(b)Write the missing word: The runner was in first   at the finish line.
(c)Write the missing word: Ali does not   a bike, but he can borrow one.
(d)Write the missing word: My old teddy bear is my favourite  .
(e)Write the missing word: Is it   to finish the puzzle today?
3
FWrite the missing letters.
(a)Write the missing letters: potat 
(b)Write the missing letters: pre ure
(c)Write the missing letters: prob ly
(d)Write the missing letters: pro se
4
PSWrite each word correctly.
(a)Ali writes purpos. Write it correctly.
(b)Mia writes quater. Write it correctly.
(c)Sam writes questien. Write it correctly.
(d)Ben writes recient. Write it correctly.
(e)Ella writes reguler. Write it correctly.
5
RWhich word ends in -ary: ordinary, particular or popular?
6
RBen says probably has only one b, because it is short. Is he right? Explain.
7
PSWrite one sentence with the word possession, spelt correctly.
8
RWhich word has two s letters together: possible, perhaps or popular?
9
PSWrite the word in the sentence: Ali does not ___ a bike, but he can borrow one.
10
FWrite the missing letters in quarter, and say how it starts.
2.6

The statutory word list: reign to women

Year 4
Spell the words on the statutory list from reign to women, with their meanings, Spell though, although, thought and through, and woman and women, and tell them apart
Video lesson: The statutory word list: reign to womenComing soon
Story. On the last day of term, the class puts on a short play about a queen. A strange noise from the back of the hall makes everyone laugh. The teacher says the play was a lovely surprise, and everyone agrees.

This section covers the last words on the statutory list, from reign to women.

Some pairs look alike, but they are spelt differently: though and although both end in ough, but although starts with al. Thought is the past tense of think. Through means from one side to the other.

Woman is one adult female. Women is more than one. The plural does not add an s; the vowel in the middle changes.

WordMeaningTricky part
thougheven if; in spite of thisough at the end; gh not said
althoughin spite of the fact thatal at the start, then ough
thoughtan idea; the past tense of thinkough, then t at the end
throughfrom one side to the otherthr at the start, then ough
woman / womenone adult female / more than onethe o is the same in both
Words with the same letters in different places, and what each one means.

Key ideas

  • Though and although both mean in spite of this, but although starts with al.
  • Thought is the past tense of think. Through means from one side to the other.
  • Woman is one adult female. Women is more than one.
  • Reign means the time when a king or queen rules a country. Weight means how heavy something is.
Worked example 2.6.1
Write the word that means: in spite of the fact that.

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

  1. Read the meaning. Think about what the clue describes.
    in spite of the fact that
  2. Find the word that matches. Think of the one word on the list with this meaning.
    although
  3. Check the tricky part. Al is at the start, then ough at the end.
    Tricky part: ough
  4. Write the answer.
    although

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

Watch out. Al is at the start, then ough at the end.

Worked example 2.6.2
Write the missing word: The   of the parcel was too big for the post.

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.
    The ___ of the parcel was too big for the post.
  2. Find the word that fits the meaning. how heavy something is
    weight
  3. Put the word in the gap. Read the sentence again. It makes sense.
    The weight of the parcel was too big for the post.
  4. Write the answer.
    weight

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

Watch out. Eigh is in the middle, as in eight. Wait is spelt differently.

Worked example 2.6.3
Write the missing letters: thr 

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

  1. Say the whole word, and look at each letter. Read every letter in order.
    through
  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. Thr is at the start, then ough. The gh is written but not said.
    ough

Check. Put ough back in the box and read through. ✓

Watch out. Thr is at the start, then ough. The gh is written but not said.

Watch out

Watch out: weight and wait sound the same, but only weight has eigh. Check the meaning of the whole sentence before you choose the word.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Write though, although, thought and through on four cards. Ask your child to read a sentence, then to choose the card that fits the meaning.

Exercise 2F  Practice: reign to women

1
FWrite the word that matches each meaning.
(a)Write the word that means: the time when a king or queen rules a country.
(b)Write the word that means: to keep something in your mind so that you can recall it later.
(c)Write the word that means: a group of words that makes complete sense on its own.
(d)Write the word that means: apart from each other, not together.
2
FWrite the missing word in each sentence.
(a)Write the missing word: Today is a   day because it is my birthday.
(b)Write the missing word: Draw a   line with your ruler.
(c)Write the missing word: I heard a   noise coming from the attic.
(d)Write the missing word: It takes great   to lift that heavy rock.
(e)Write the missing word: I   we will be late if the bus is slow.
3
FWrite the missing letters.
(a)Write the missing letters: surpr 
(b)Write the missing letters: there 
(c)Write the missing letters: th 
(d)Write the missing letters: alth 
(e)Write the missing letters: th t
4
PSWrite each word correctly.
(a)Ali writes throgh. Write it correctly.
(b)Mia writes varios. Write it correctly.
(c)Sam writes wieght. Write it correctly.
(d)Ben writes womon. Write it correctly.
(e)Ella writes wimmen. Write it correctly.
5
RWhich word means in spite of the fact that, and starts with al: although, though or thought?
6
RWhich word has the letters eigh: weight, straight or strange?
7
PSMia writes We walked throgh the park. Write the sentence correctly.
8
PSWrite one sentence with the word women, spelt correctly, so that its meaning is clear.
9
RAli says woman and women are spelt the same, because they both have a w and an o. Is he right? Explain.
10
FWrite the missing word in each sentence, and say why it is the right word: It was raining; ___, we took our umbrellas.
2.7

The dictionary: alphabetical order, entries and definitions

Year 4
Put words in alphabetical order, using the first two or three letters, Use a dictionary to check the spelling and meaning of a word, using its headword and definition
Video lesson: The dictionary: alphabetical order, entries and definitionsComing soon

A dictionary is a book of words in alphabetical order. Words are arranged by the first letter. When two words start with the same letter, you look at the second letter. When those match too, you look at the third letter.

Each word in a dictionary has an entry. An entry has the headword (the word in bold at the start), then its definition (what it means), and sometimes an example sentence.

The guide words at the top of each page show the first and last word on that page. Any word on the page comes between them in alphabetical order.

calendarcaughtcentrecenturycertain
The first three letters are shaded. Most words are sorted by these letters.
HeadwordDefinition
centrethe middle point of a place, or of a circle
centurya period of one hundred years
certainsure, with no doubt at all
Three dictionary entries. The headword is in bold, and the definition says what the word means.

Key ideas

  • A dictionary puts words in alphabetical order: first letter, then second, then third.
  • Look at the second and third letters when the first letters are the same.
  • An entry gives the headword, then its definition.
  • Guide words at the top of a page are the first and last words on that page.
Worked example 2.7.1
Put these words in dictionary order: sheep, shadow, shell.

Method. Sort the words the way a dictionary does, letter by letter.

  1. Look at the first letter of each word. A dictionary goes A to Z by the first letter.
    s, s, s
  2. Where two words start with the same letter, compare the second letter. Put the words with the earlier second letter first.
    sh, sh, sh
  3. Where the first two letters match too, compare the third letter. If one word is the start of the other, the shorter word comes first.
    shadow < sheep < shell
  4. Write the words in order.
    shadow, sheep, shell

Check. Each word comes after the one before it in the alphabet. ✓

Watch out. Look at the second and third letters when the first letters are the same.

Worked example 2.7.2
Put these words in dictionary order: business, busy, build.

Method. Sort the words the way a dictionary does, letter by letter.

  1. Look at the first letter of each word. A dictionary goes A to Z by the first letter.
    b, b, b
  2. Where two words start with the same letter, compare the second letter. Put the words with the earlier second letter first.
    bu, bu, bu
  3. Where the first two letters match too, compare the third letter. If one word is the start of the other, the shorter word comes first.
    build < business < busy
  4. Write the words in order.
    build, business, busy

Check. Each word comes after the one before it in the alphabet. ✓

Watch out. Look at the second and third letters when the first letters are the same.

Worked example 2.7.3
Which two letters would you look at first in a dictionary to find library?

Method. Find the first two letters of the word.

  1. Look at the start of library. Dictionaries are in alphabetical order, so the first two letters decide where to look.
    l, i
  2. Check the second letter. The second letter is i, so the word is near the li words, not the la or le words.
    l, then i
  3. Write the two letters. These two letters show where to look in the dictionary.
    li

Check. Look for li in the dictionary. ✓

Watch out. Look at the first two letters, not just the first letter.

Watch out

Watch out: a short word can come after a long one. Busy comes after business, because the fourth letters are i and y, and i comes first. Compare the letters one at a time.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Use a real dictionary. Ask your child to find centre, then to look at the guide words on the page and say whether century would be on the same page.

Exercise 2G  Practice: the dictionary

1
FWrite the first two letters you would look at to find each word.
(a)Which two letters would you look at first in a dictionary to find library?
(b)Which two letters would you look at first in a dictionary to find calendar?
(c)Which two letters would you look at first in a dictionary to find decide?
(d)Which two letters would you look at first in a dictionary to find opposite?
2
PSPut these words in dictionary order: bicycle, breath, build, business, busy.
3
PSPut these words in dictionary order: earth, eight, enough, early.
4
RAli says busy comes before business, because it is shorter. Is he right? Explain.
5
RBen says learn comes after library in a dictionary. Is he right? Explain.
6
PSPut these words in dictionary order: remember, reign, regular, recent.
7
FWhich comes first in a dictionary: often or opposite?
8
RThe guide words at the top of a dictionary page are bread and bridge. Which of these words would be on the same page: breath, build or brush?
9
RWhich comes first in a dictionary, straight or strength? Explain why.
10
RPut these words in dictionary order: through, though, although, thought, therefore.
11
FIn a dictionary, what is the word in bold at the start of each entry called?
12
FWhich part of a dictionary entry tells you what a word means?

Chapter summary

SkillMethod
Words from accident to certainaccident(ally), actual(ly), address, answer, appear, arrive, believe, bicycle, breath, breathe, build, busy/business, calendar, caught, centre, century, certain
Words from circle to extremecircle, complete, consider, continue, decide, describe, different, difficult, disappear, early, earth, eight/eighth, enough, exercise, experience, experiment, extreme
Words from famous to importantfamous, favourite, February, forward(s), fruit, grammar, group, guard, guide, heard, heart, height, history, imagine, increase, important
Words from interest to oppositeinterest, island, knowledge, learn, length, library, material, medicine, mention, minute, natural, naughty, notice, occasion(ally), often, opposite
Words from ordinary to regularordinary, particular, peculiar, perhaps, popular, position, possess(ion), possible, potatoes, pressure, probably, promise, purpose, quarter, question, recent, regular
Words from reign to womenreign, remember, sentence, separate, special, straight, strange, strength, suppose, surprise, therefore, though/although, thought, through, various, weight, woman/women
The dictionaryAlphabetical order by the first, second and third letters. An entry has a headword and a definition. Guide words are the first and last words on a page.

Can you…?

  • I can spell the words on the statutory list, from accident to women
  • I can say what each word means, and find its tricky letters
  • I can put words in alphabetical order, using the second and third letters when the first letters match
  • I can use the guide words, headword and definition in a dictionary
  • I can use a dictionary to check the spelling and meaning of a word

Key terms

statutory word list
a list of words that pupils in Years 3 and 4 must learn to spell
alphabetical order
the order of the letters of the alphabet, from a to z
dictionary
a book of words in alphabetical order, with their meanings
entry
the information in a dictionary about one word, starting with its headword
headword
the word in bold at the start of a dictionary entry
definition
what a word means, as given in a dictionary entry
guide words
the first and last words on a dictionary page, at the top of the page
silent letter
a letter that is written in a word but is not said

Exercise 2Z  Check-up

1
Write the missing word: Running fast makes your   beat more quickly.
2
Write the missing letters: bel ve
3
Write the word that means: a chart that shows the days, weeks and months of the year.
4
Mia writes accidently. Write it correctly.
5
Write the missing word: The   of the parcel was too big for the post.
6
Put these words in dictionary order: build, breathe, bicycle, breath.
7
Write the word that means: in spite of the fact that.
8
Mia says busy comes before business in a dictionary. Is she right? Explain.
9
Ben says heard and herd are spelt the same, and mean the same. Is he right? Explain.
10
Put these words in dictionary order: through, though, although, thought, therefore.

Total 20 marks. Allow about 20 minutes.

Exercise 2X  Practice test questions

1
FWrite the word that means: very great, or as far as possible in one direction.[1 mark]
2
FWrite the missing letters: vari [1 mark]
3
PSBen writes libary for library. Write the word correctly.[1 mark]
4
PSPut these words in dictionary order: library, length, island, learn.[2 marks]
5
FWrite the letter that is written but not said in knowledge, and the letter that is written but not said in island.[2 marks]
6
RAli says that straight and strength both start with str, so they are in the same place in a dictionary. Is he right? Explain.[2 marks]
7
PSWrite one sentence with the word occasionally, spelt correctly.[2 marks]
8
RPut these words in dictionary order: disappear, different, difficult, describe.[3 marks]
9
RUse a dictionary idea to find which word would be on the same page as the guide words bread and bridge: breath, build or brush. Explain how you know.[3 marks]
10
PSWrite one sentence with the word though, and one with the word although, so that each meaning is clear.[3 marks]
← Chapter 1: Spelling patterns in depthChapter 3: Prefixes, suffixes and word families →

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