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Step-by-step practice: English · Level 1Chapter 3 · Letter sounds: e, u, r, h, b, f, l
Level 1 · Chapter 3

Letter sounds: e, u, r, h, b, f, l

By the end of this chapter you will be able to

  • I can say the sound for e, u, r, h, b, f and l
  • I can find the picture that starts with the sound I need
  • I can find the first letter of a written word
  • I can match a picture name to its first letter

You should already know

  • Letter sounds: s, a, t, p, i, n (Chapter 1)
  • Letter sounds: m, d, g, o, c, k (Chapter 2)

Where this leads

  • Simple CVC words (Chapter 4)

Step-by-step practice: English (Level 1). Small steps, repeated until fluent. Content: Say the sound for each letter e, u, r, h, b, f and l, Find the picture whose name starts with a given sound, Choose the letter that begins a written word on screen (bus, fish, lamp), Find the letter that a picture name starts with.

Exercise P  Do you remember?

1
FWhich letter makes the sound /m/? Choose m, d or g. A g B m C d Choose A, B or C.
2
FWhich letter comes straight after k in the alphabet? A l B m C j Choose A, B or C.
3
FWhich picture name starts with d? Choose cup, dog or pig. A pig B dog C cup Choose A, B or C.
4
FWhich letter does the word goat start with? Choose from: c, g, o
5
FWhich letter makes the short sound /o/ as in ox? Choose a, o or i. A o B a C i Choose A, B or C.
3.1

The sounds of e and u

Level 1
Say the sound for e and u, Find the picture whose name starts with the sound
Video lesson: The sounds of e and uComing soon

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.
Worked example 3.1.1
Which picture starts with the sound /e/? Look at the first letter of each name.cupiglooegg

Method. Find the picture whose name starts with the right letter.

  1. Look at the first letter of each name. The first letter gives the first sound.
    cup: c igloo: i egg: e
  2. Find the name that starts with the sound /e/. That is the picture you need.
    egg starts with e
  3. Write the answer.
    egg

Check. Only egg starts with e. ✓

Watch out. Look at the start of each name, not the end.

Worked example 3.1.2
Look at the picture. Which letter does its name start with? Choose from: e, s, a

Method. Say the name, then pick its first letter.

  1. Say the name of the picture slowly. Find its first sound.
    egg
  2. Find the first letter of the name. The first letter stands for the first sound.
    egg starts with e
  3. Write the answer.
    e

Check. e is the first letter of egg. ✓

Watch out. Use the first letter only.

Worked example 3.1.3
Which picture starts with the sound /e/? Look at the first letter of each name.panenvelopeox

Method. Find the picture whose name starts with the right letter.

  1. Look at the first letter of each name. The first letter gives the first sound.
    pan: p envelope: e ox: o
  2. Find the name that starts with the sound /e/. That is the picture you need.
    envelope starts with e
  3. 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

1
FLook at the picture. Which letter does its name start with? Choose from: e, a, s
2
FWhich picture starts with the sound /u/? Look at the first letter of each name.
mopumbrelladad
3
FLook at the picture. Which letter does its name start with? Choose from: s, u, a
4
FWhich picture starts with the sound /u/? Look at the first letter of each name.
upenvelopebat
5
FLook at the picture. Which letter does its name start with? Choose from: u, s, a
6
PSWhich picture does not start with the same letter as the others?
eggenvelopesun
7
PSWhich picture does not start with the same letter as the others?
umbrellaupsun
8
RSam says that egg starts with s. Is Sam right? Explain how you know.
egg
9
RSam says that umbrella starts with s. Is Sam right? Explain how you know.
umbrella
3.2

The sounds of r and h

Level 1
Say the sound for r and h, Find the letter for a picture name
Video lesson: The sounds of r and hComing soon

The letter r makes the sound /r/, as in rat and rug.

The letter h makes the sound /h/, as in hat, hen and hut.

Say /h/ as a breath. Say /r/ as a soft growl, with no "uh" after it.

Key ideas

  • r makes the sound /r/, as in rat and rug.
  • h makes the sound /h/, as in hat, hen and hut.
  • Say /h/ as a breath, not "huh".
  • The first letter of a name tells you its first sound.
Worked example 3.2.1
Which picture starts with the sound /r/? Look at the first letter of each name.ratlegsock

Method. Find the picture whose name starts with the right letter.

  1. Look at the first letter of each name. The first letter gives the first sound.
    rat: r leg: l sock: s
  2. Find the name that starts with the sound /r/. That is the picture you need.
    rat starts with r
  3. Write the answer.
    rat

Check. Only rat starts with r. ✓

Watch out. Look at the start of each name, not the end.

Worked example 3.2.2
Look at the picture. Which letter does its name start with? Choose from: s, r, a

Method. Say the name, then pick its first letter.

  1. Say the name of the picture slowly. Find its first sound.
    rat
  2. Find the first letter of the name. The first letter stands for the first sound.
    rat starts with r
  3. Write the answer.
    r

Check. r is the first letter of rat. ✓

Watch out. Use the first letter only.

Worked example 3.2.3
Which picture starts with the sound /r/? Look at the first letter of each name.rugduckmap

Method. Find the picture whose name starts with the right letter.

  1. Look at the first letter of each name. The first letter gives the first sound.
    rug: r duck: d map: m
  2. Find the name that starts with the sound /r/. That is the picture you need.
    rug starts with r
  3. Write the answer.
    rug

Check. Only rug starts with r. ✓

Watch out. Look at the start of each name, not the end.

Watch out

Watch out: rug starts with r, but it also has a u. For the first sound, look only at the r.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Say "h" as a breath, and "r" as a soft growl. Ask the child to point to the first letter of each name.

Exercise 3B  Practice: the sounds of r and h

1
FLook at the picture. Which letter does its name start with? Choose from: r, a, s
2
FWhich picture starts with the sound /h/? Look at the first letter of each name.
hattapdog
3
FLook at the picture. Which letter does its name start with? Choose from: a, h, s
4
FWhich picture starts with the sound /h/? Look at the first letter of each name.
hengiftleg
5
FLook at the picture. Which letter does its name start with? Choose from: s, a, h
6
FWhich picture starts with the sound /h/? Look at the first letter of each name.
lamphutcow
7
FLook at the picture. Which letter does its name start with? Choose from: s, h, a
8
PSWhich picture does not start with the same letter as the others?
ratrugsun
9
PSWhich picture does not start with the same letter as the others?
hathensun
10
RSam says that rat starts with s. Is Sam right? Explain how you know.
rat
11
RSam says that hat starts with s. Is Sam right? Explain how you know.
hat
3.3

The sounds of b and f

Level 1
Say the sound for b and f, Find the picture for a first sound
Video lesson: The sounds of b and fComing soon

The letter b makes the sound /b/, as in bat, bed, bus and bug.

The letter f makes the sound /f/, as in fish, fan and fox.

Both sounds are short and clear. Do not add an "uh" after them.

Key ideas

  • b makes the sound /b/, as in bat, bed, bus and bug.
  • f makes the sound /f/, as in fish, fan and fox.
  • Say /b/ and /f/ short and clear.
  • Look at the first letter of each name.
Worked example 3.3.1
Which picture starts with the sound /b/? Look at the first letter of each name.bateggup

Method. Find the picture whose name starts with the right letter.

  1. Look at the first letter of each name. The first letter gives the first sound.
    bat: b egg: e up: u
  2. Find the name that starts with the sound /b/. That is the picture you need.
    bat starts with b
  3. Write the answer.
    bat

Check. Only bat starts with b. ✓

Watch out. Look at the start of each name, not the end.

Worked example 3.3.2
Look at the picture. Which letter does its name start with? Choose from: a, s, b

Method. Say the name, then pick its first letter.

  1. Say the name of the picture slowly. Find its first sound.
    bat
  2. Find the first letter of the name. The first letter stands for the first sound.
    bat starts with b
  3. Write the answer.
    b

Check. b is the first letter of bat. ✓

Watch out. Use the first letter only.

Worked example 3.3.3
Which picture starts with the sound /b/? Look at the first letter of each name.sockbedgoat

Method. Find the picture whose name starts with the right letter.

  1. Look at the first letter of each name. The first letter gives the first sound.
    sock: s bed: b goat: g
  2. Find the name that starts with the sound /b/. That is the picture you need.
    bed starts with b
  3. Write the answer.
    bed

Check. Only bed starts with b. ✓

Watch out. Look at the start of each name, not the end.

Watch out

Watch out: bus and bat both start with b. Do not mix up b and d: the first letter tells you which.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Say "b" with the lips together, then open. Say "f" with the top teeth on the lower lip. Point to each first letter.

Exercise 3C  Practice: the sounds of b and f

1
FLook at the picture. Which letter does its name start with? Choose from: b, s, a
2
FWhich picture starts with the sound /b/? Look at the first letter of each name.
mapbushen
3
FLook at the picture. Which letter does its name start with? Choose from: b, s, a
4
FWhich picture starts with the sound /b/? Look at the first letter of each name.
bugmapsun
5
FLook at the picture. Which letter does its name start with? Choose from: b, s, a
6
FWhich picture starts with the sound /f/? Look at the first letter of each name.
fishumbrellatap
7
FLook at the picture. Which letter does its name start with? Choose from: s, f, a
8
FWhich picture starts with the sound /f/? Look at the first letter of each name.
fantoppot
9
FLook at the picture. Which letter does its name start with? Choose from: a, s, f
10
FWhich picture starts with the sound /f/? Look at the first letter of each name.
foxumbrellamat
11
FLook at the picture. Which letter does its name start with? Choose from: s, f, a
12
PSWhich picture does not start with the same letter as the others?
batbedsun
13
PSWhich picture does not start with the same letter as the others?
fishfansun
14
RSam says that bat starts with s. Is Sam right? Explain how you know.
bat
15
RSam says that fish starts with s. Is Sam right? Explain how you know.
fish
3.4

The sound of l and first letters of written words

Level 1
Say the sound for l, Find the first letter of a written word
Video lesson: The sound of l and first letters of written wordsComing soon

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.
Worked example 3.4.1
Which picture starts with the sound /l/? Look at the first letter of each name.lamptinfan

Method. Find the picture whose name starts with the right letter.

  1. Look at the first letter of each name. The first letter gives the first sound.
    lamp: l tin: t fan: f
  2. Find the name that starts with the sound /l/. That is the picture you need.
    lamp starts with l
  3. Write the answer.
    lamp

Check. Only lamp starts with l. ✓

Watch out. Look at the start of each name, not the end.

Worked example 3.4.2
Look at the picture. Which letter does its name start with? Choose from: l, s, a

Method. Say the name, then pick its first letter.

  1. Say the name of the picture slowly. Find its first sound.
    lamp
  2. Find the first letter of the name. The first letter stands for the first sound.
    lamp starts with l
  3. Write the answer.
    l

Check. l is the first letter of lamp. ✓

Watch out. Use the first letter only.

Worked example 3.4.3
Which picture starts with the sound /l/? Look at the first letter of each name.maptinleg

Method. Find the picture whose name starts with the right letter.

  1. Look at the first letter of each name. The first letter gives the first sound.
    map: m tin: t leg: l
  2. Find the name that starts with the sound /l/. That is the picture you need.
    leg starts with l
  3. 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

1
FLook at the picture. Which letter does its name start with? Choose from: a, s, l
2
FWhich picture starts with the sound /l/? Look at the first letter of each name.
loghatumbrella
3
FLook at the picture. Which letter does its name start with? Choose from: l, s, a
4
FWhich letter does the word bus start with? Choose from: f, b, l
5
FWhich letter does the word fish start with? Choose from: f, b, l
6
FWhich letter does the word lamp start with? Choose from: l, f, b
7
FWhich letter does the word hat start with? Choose from: f, b, l, h
8
FWhich letter does the word egg start with? Choose from: e, l, f, b
9
FWhich letter does the word up start with? Choose from: f, l, b, u
10
PSWhich picture does not start with the same letter as the others?
lamplegsun
11
RSam says that lamp starts with s. Is Sam right? Explain how you know.
lamp

Chapter summary

SkillMethod
Say the sound of e, u, r, h, b, f and lUse the example word for each letter
Find the picture whose name starts with a soundCompare only the first letters
Find the first letter of a written wordRead from the left and stop at the first letter
Tell b and f apartLips together for b; top teeth on lower lip for f

Can you…?

  • I can say the sounds for e, u, r, h, b, f and l
  • I can find the picture whose name starts with a sound
  • I can find the first letter of a written word
  • I can match a picture name to its first letter

Key terms

short vowel
a short sound such as /e/ in egg or /u/ in up
first letter
the letter at the start of a word, which gives the first sound
written word
a word on the page that we read

Exercise 3Z  Check-up

1
Which picture starts with the sound /e/? Look at the first letter of each name.
cupiglooegg
2
Look at the picture. Which letter does its name start with? Choose from: e, s, a
3
Sam says that egg starts with s. Is Sam right? Explain how you know.
egg
4
Which picture starts with the sound /r/? Look at the first letter of each name.
rugduckmap
5
Look at the picture. Which letter does its name start with? Choose from: r, a, s
6
Sam says that rug starts with s. Is Sam right? Explain how you know.
rug
7
Which picture starts with the sound /b/? Look at the first letter of each name.
bugmapsun
8
Which letter does the word hut start with? Choose from: h, u, t
9
Which letter does the word fish start with? Choose f, h or l. A h B f C l Choose A, B or C.
10
Which letter makes the sound /h/? Choose b, h or u. A u B h C b Choose A, B or C.

Exercise 3X  Practice test questions

1
FWhich picture starts with the sound /u/? Look at the first letter of each name.
upenvelopebat
2
FLook at the picture. Which letter does its name start with? Choose from: u, s, a
3
FWhich picture starts with the sound /l/? Look at the first letter of each name.
loghatumbrella
4
FLook at the picture. Which letter does its name start with? Choose from: l, s, a
5
FWhich picture name starts with the sound /f/? Choose fan, bed or rug. A bed B fan C rug Choose A, B or C.
6
FWhich letter does the word rat start with? Choose from: t, r, h
7
FWhich letter does the word egg start with? Choose e, g or a. A a B e C g Choose A, B or C.
8
FWhich letter makes the sound /b/? Choose b, d or p. A p B d C b Choose A, B or C.
9
FWhich letter does the word lamp start with? Choose from: p, h, l
10
FWhich picture name starts with h? Choose hen, cup or log. A hen B cup C log Choose A, B or C.
← Chapter 2: Letter sounds: m, d, g, o, c, kChapter 4: Simple CVC words →

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