Step-by-step English Level 1: The sounds of e and u
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 sounds of e and u
The letter e makes the sound /e/, as in egg and envelope.
The letter u makes the sound /u/, a short sound like the u in up. Look at umbrella too.
Use the first letter of each name to find the first sound.
Key ideas
- e makes the sound /e/, as in egg and envelope.
- u makes the short sound /u/, as in up and umbrella.
- Say the short sounds quickly, with no extra sound.
- Look at the first letter of each name.
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.cup: c igloo: i egg: e
- Find the name that starts with the sound /e/. That is the picture you need.egg starts with e
- Write the answer. egg
Check. Only egg starts with e. ✓
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.egg
- Find the first letter of the name. The first letter stands for the first sound.egg starts with e
- Write the answer. e
Check. e is the first letter of egg. ✓
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.pan: p envelope: e ox: o
- Find the name that starts with the sound /e/. That is the picture you need.envelope starts with e
- Write the answer. envelope
Check. Only envelope starts with e. ✓
Watch out. Look at the start of each name, not the end.
Watch out
Watch out: egg starts with e, but it has two g letters. Only the first letter gives the first sound.Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Say "e" as in egg, and "u" as in up, both short. Point to the first letter before you name the picture.
Exercise 3A Practice: the sounds of e and u
Method. Say the name, then pick its first letter.
- Say the name of the picture slowly. Find its first sound.envelope
- Find the first letter of the name. The first letter stands for the first sound.envelope starts with e
- Write the answer. e
Check. e is the first letter of envelope. ✓
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.mop: m umbrella: u dad: d
- Find the name that starts with the sound /u/. That is the picture you need.umbrella starts with u
- Write the answer. umbrella
Check. Only umbrella starts with u. ✓
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.umbrella
- Find the first letter of the name. The first letter stands for the first sound.umbrella starts with u
- Write the answer. u
Check. u is the first letter of umbrella. ✓
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.up: u envelope: e bat: b
- Find the name that starts with the sound /u/. That is the picture you need.up starts with u
- Write the answer. up
Check. Only up starts with u. ✓
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.up
- Find the first letter of the name. The first letter stands for the first sound.up starts with u
- Write the answer. u
Check. u is the first letter of up. ✓
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.egg: e envelope: e 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 e. ✓
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.umbrella: u up: u 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 u. ✓
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.egg
- Find the first letter. The first letter gives the first sound.first letter = e
- Compare with what Sam said. The two letters must match.s is not e
- Write the answer. No, egg starts with e.
Check. egg begins with e. ✓
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.umbrella
- Find the first letter. The first letter gives the first sound.first letter = u
- Compare with what Sam said. The two letters must match.s is not u
- Write the answer. No, umbrella starts with u.
Check. umbrella begins with u. ✓
Watch out. Look at the first letter, not a letter in the middle.