Step-by-step English Level 1: The sounds of s and a
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 s and a
Each letter has a sound. The sound is the noise the letter makes.
The letter s makes the sound /s/, as in sun and sock.
The letter a makes the sound /a/, as in ant and apple.
Look at the first letter of a picture name. It tells you the first sound.
Key ideas
- s makes the sound /s/, as in sun and sock.
- a makes the sound /a/, as in ant and apple.
- The first letter of a picture name gives the first sound.
- Say each sound short and clear.
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.igloo: i sun: s net: n
- Find the name that starts with the sound /s/. That is the picture you need.sun starts with s
- Write the answer. sun
Check. Only sun starts with s. ✓
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.sun
- Find the first letter of the name. The first letter stands for the first sound.sun starts with s
- Write the answer. s
Check. s is the first letter of sun. ✓
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.pen: p ink: i sock: s
- Find the name that starts with the sound /s/. That is the picture you need.sock starts with s
- Write the answer. sock
Check. Only sock starts with s. ✓
Watch out. Look at the start of each name, not the end.
Watch out
Watch out: sun has a u in the middle. For the first sound, only the first letter counts.Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Say the sounds, not the letter names: "sss" for s, and "a" as in ant. Point to the letter, then the picture, then the first letter of the name.
Exercise 1A Practice: the sounds of s and a
Method. Say the name, then pick its first letter.
- Say the name of the picture slowly. Find its first sound.sock
- Find the first letter of the name. The first letter stands for the first sound.sock starts with s
- Write the answer. s
Check. s is the first letter of sock. ✓
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.ant: a pen: p sock: s
- Find the name that starts with the sound /a/. That is the picture you need.ant starts with a
- Write the answer. ant
Check. Only ant starts with a. ✓
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.ant
- Find the first letter of the name. The first letter stands for the first sound.ant starts with a
- Write the answer. a
Check. a is the first letter of ant. ✓
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.igloo: i apple: a tent: t
- Find the name that starts with the sound /a/. That is the picture you need.apple starts with a
- Write the answer. apple
Check. Only apple starts with a. ✓
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.apple
- Find the first letter of the name. The first letter stands for the first sound.apple starts with a
- Write the answer. a
Check. a is the first letter of apple. ✓
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.sun: s sock: s ant: a
- Find the one that is different. The others all start with the same letter.ant is different
- Write the answer. ant
Check. The others start with s. ✓
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.ant: a apple: a 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 a. ✓
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.sun
- Find the first letter. The first letter gives the first sound.first letter = s
- Compare with what Sam said. The two letters must match.a is not s
- Write the answer. No, sun starts with s.
Check. sun begins with s. ✓
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.ant
- Find the first letter. The first letter gives the first sound.first letter = a
- Compare with what Sam said. The two letters must match.s is not a
- Write the answer. No, ant starts with a.
Check. ant begins with a. ✓
Watch out. Look at the first letter, not a letter in the middle.