Step-by-step English Level 1: The sounds of i and n
Part of the Step-by-step English Level 1 letter sounds: s, a, t, p, i, n chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
The sounds of i and n
The letter i makes the sound /i/, as in ink and igloo.
The letter n makes the sound /n/, as in nut and net.
Some picture names start with a letter that is easy to miss. Check the very first letter.
Key ideas
- i makes the sound /i/, as in ink and igloo.
- n makes the sound /n/, as in nut and net.
- The first letter tells you the first sound.
- Look at the first letter, not the last.
Method. Find the picture whose name starts with the right letter.
- Look at the first letter of each name. The first letter gives the first sound.sun: s ink: i nut: n
- Find the name that starts with the sound /i/. That is the picture you need.ink starts with i
- Write the answer. ink
Check. Only ink starts with i. ✓
Watch out. Look at the start of each name, not the end.
Method. Say the name, then pick its first letter.
- Say the name of the picture slowly. Find its first sound.ink
- Find the first letter of the name. The first letter stands for the first sound.ink starts with i
- Write the answer. i
Check. i is the first letter of ink. ✓
Watch out. Use the first letter only.
Method. Find the picture whose name starts with the right letter.
- Look at the first letter of each name. The first letter gives the first sound.sock: s pot: p igloo: i
- Find the name that starts with the sound /i/. That is the picture you need.igloo starts with i
- Write the answer. igloo
Check. Only igloo starts with i. ✓
Watch out. Look at the start of each name, not the end.
Watch out
Watch out: net ends with t, but it starts with n. Read the first letter only.Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Say "i" as in ink, short and sharp. Say "n" as in nut, with the tongue behind the teeth.
Exercise 1C Practice: the sounds of i and n
Method. Say the name, then pick its first letter.
- Say the name of the picture slowly. Find its first sound.igloo
- Find the first letter of the name. The first letter stands for the first sound.igloo starts with i
- Write the answer. i
Check. i is the first letter of igloo. ✓
Watch out. Use the first letter only.
Method. Find the picture whose name starts with the right letter.
- Look at the first letter of each name. The first letter gives the first sound.ink: i pen: p nut: n
- Find the name that starts with the sound /n/. That is the picture you need.nut starts with n
- Write the answer. nut
Check. Only nut starts with n. ✓
Watch out. Look at the start of each name, not the end.
Method. Say the name, then pick its first letter.
- Say the name of the picture slowly. Find its first sound.nut
- Find the first letter of the name. The first letter stands for the first sound.nut starts with n
- Write the answer. n
Check. n is the first letter of nut. ✓
Watch out. Use the first letter only.
Method. Find the picture whose name starts with the right letter.
- Look at the first letter of each name. The first letter gives the first sound.ink: i net: n pin: p
- Find the name that starts with the sound /n/. That is the picture you need.net starts with n
- Write the answer. net
Check. Only net starts with n. ✓
Watch out. Look at the start of each name, not the end.
Method. Say the name, then pick its first letter.
- Say the name of the picture slowly. Find its first sound.net
- Find the first letter of the name. The first letter stands for the first sound.net starts with n
- Write the answer. n
Check. n is the first letter of net. ✓
Watch out. Use the first letter only.
Method. Compare the first letters, then find the one that is different.
- Look at the first letter of each name. Find the letter that is different.ink: i igloo: i sun: s
- Find the one that is different. The others all start with the same letter.sun is different
- Write the answer. sun
Check. The others start with i. ✓
Watch out. Ignore the rest of each word. Compare only the first letters.
Method. Compare the first letters, then find the one that is different.
- Look at the first letter of each name. Find the letter that is different.nut: n net: n sun: s
- Find the one that is different. The others all start with the same letter.sun is different
- Write the answer. sun
Check. The others start with n. ✓
Watch out. Ignore the rest of each word. Compare only the first letters.
Method. Find the first letter, then check Sam's claim.
- Say the word slowly. Look at the first letter.ink
- Find the first letter. The first letter gives the first sound.first letter = i
- Compare with what Sam said. The two letters must match.s is not i
- Write the answer. No, ink starts with i.
Check. ink begins with i. ✓
Watch out. Look at the first letter, not a letter in the middle.
Method. Find the first letter, then check Sam's claim.
- Say the word slowly. Look at the first letter.nut
- Find the first letter. The first letter gives the first sound.first letter = n
- Compare with what Sam said. The two letters must match.s is not n
- Write the answer. No, nut starts with n.
Check. nut begins with n. ✓
Watch out. Look at the first letter, not a letter in the middle.