Step-by-step English Level 1: The sound of l and first letters of written words
Part of the Step-by-step English Level 1 letter sounds: e, u, r, h, b, f, l chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
The sound of l and first letters of written words
The letter l makes the sound /l/, as in lamp, leg and log.
You can find the first letter of a word on the page too. Bus starts with b, fish starts with f, and lamp starts with l.
Read the word from the left. The first letter is the first sound.
Key ideas
- l makes the sound /l/, as in lamp, leg and log.
- Read a written word from the left.
- The first letter of a written word gives the first sound.
- Check 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.lamp: l tin: t fan: f
- Find the name that starts with the sound /l/. That is the picture you need.lamp starts with l
- Write the answer. lamp
Check. Only lamp starts with l. ✓
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.lamp
- Find the first letter of the name. The first letter stands for the first sound.lamp starts with l
- Write the answer. l
Check. l is the first letter of lamp. ✓
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.map: m tin: t leg: l
- Find the name that starts with the sound /l/. That is the picture you need.leg starts with l
- Write the answer. leg
Check. Only leg starts with l. ✓
Watch out. Look at the start of each name, not the end.
Watch out
Watch out: leg starts with l and ends with g. Only the first letter gives the first sound.Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Say "l" with the tongue touching the top of the mouth. Ask the child to cover the rest of the word with a finger.
Exercise 3D Practice: the sound of l and first letters of written words
Method. Say the name, then pick its first letter.
- Say the name of the picture slowly. Find its first sound.leg
- Find the first letter of the name. The first letter stands for the first sound.leg starts with l
- Write the answer. l
Check. l is the first letter of leg. ✓
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.log: l hat: h umbrella: u
- Find the name that starts with the sound /l/. That is the picture you need.log starts with l
- Write the answer. log
Check. Only log starts with l. ✓
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.log
- Find the first letter of the name. The first letter stands for the first sound.log starts with l
- Write the answer. l
Check. l is the first letter of log. ✓
Watch out. Use the first letter only.
Method. Read the word from the left, and find the first letter.
- Read the word from the left. The first letter is on the left.bus: first letter = b
- Check the other letters. Only the first letter is needed here.b is the first letter of bus
- Write the answer. b
Check. Cover the rest of the word. b is left.
Watch out. The first letter is not always the first one you see in a list.
Method. Read the word from the left, and find the first letter.
- Read the word from the left. The first letter is on the left.fish: first letter = f
- Check the other letters. Only the first letter is needed here.f is the first letter of fish
- Write the answer. f
Check. Cover the rest of the word. f is left.
Watch out. The first letter is not always the first one you see in a list.
Method. Read the word from the left, and find the first letter.
- Read the word from the left. The first letter is on the left.lamp: first letter = l
- Check the other letters. Only the first letter is needed here.l is the first letter of lamp
- Write the answer. l
Check. Cover the rest of the word. l is left.
Watch out. The first letter is not always the first one you see in a list.
Method. Read the word from the left, and find the first letter.
- Read the word from the left. The first letter is on the left.hat: first letter = h
- Check the other letters. Only the first letter is needed here.h is the first letter of hat
- Write the answer. h
Check. Cover the rest of the word. h is left.
Watch out. The first letter is not always the first one you see in a list.
Method. Read the word from the left, and find the first letter.
- Read the word from the left. The first letter is on the left.egg: first letter = e
- Check the other letters. Only the first letter is needed here.e is the first letter of egg
- Write the answer. e
Check. Cover the rest of the word. e is left.
Watch out. The first letter is not always the first one you see in a list.
Method. Read the word from the left, and find the first letter.
- Read the word from the left. The first letter is on the left.up: first letter = u
- Check the other letters. Only the first letter is needed here.u is the first letter of up
- Write the answer. u
Check. Cover the rest of the word. u is left.
Watch out. The first letter is not always the first one you see in a list.
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.lamp: l leg: l 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 l. ✓
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.lamp
- Find the first letter. The first letter gives the first sound.first letter = l
- Compare with what Sam said. The two letters must match.s is not l
- Write the answer. No, lamp starts with l.
Check. lamp begins with l. ✓
Watch out. Look at the first letter, not a letter in the middle.