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Step-by-step practice: English · Level 1Chapter 7 · Tricky words: the, to, I, no, go, he, she, we, me, be
Level 1 · Chapter 7

Tricky words: the, to, I, no, go, he, she, we, me, be

By the end of this chapter you will be able to

  • I can read the, to, I, no, go, he, she, we, me and be by sight
  • I can find a tricky word in a list
  • I can choose the tricky word that makes a sentence make sense
  • I can use a tricky word in a short phrase

You should already know

  • Blending short words (Chapter 5)
  • Segmenting and spelling short words (Chapter 6)

Where this leads

  • Tricky words: my, you, they, all, are, was, her (Chapter 8)

Step-by-step practice: English (Level 1). Small steps, repeated until fluent. Content: Read each tricky word on sight, without sounding it out, Find a tricky word in a list of written words, Choose the tricky word that completes a sentence, Put a tricky word into a short phrase such as go to or he is.

Exercise P  Do you remember?

1
FWhich word is always written with a capital letter, even in the middle of a sentence? Choose the, we or I. A we B the C I Choose A, B or C.
2
FWhich letter comes straight after t in the alphabet? A s B r C u Choose A, B or C.
3
FWhich picture name starts with the sound /b/? Choose hat, bus or pig. A bus B hat C pig Choose A, B or C.
4
FHow many letters are in the word hut? Choose 2, 3 or 4. A 2 B 4 C 3 Choose A, B or C.
5
FWhich word has the middle letter a? Choose hen, hat or hut. A hut B hat C hen Choose A, B or C.
7.1

Tricky words: the, to and I

Level 1
Read the, to and I by sight, Choose the word that completes a sentence
Video lesson: Tricky words: the, to and IComing soon

Some words are tricky. They do not follow the usual sounds, so we learn them by sight.

the is said as /the/. to is said as /too/. I is always written with a capital letter.

Read each tricky word the same way every time you see it.

Key ideas

  • the is the most common word in English.
  • to is short and easy to spot.
  • I is always a capital letter, even in the middle of a sentence.
Worked example 7.1.1
Choose the word that completes the sentence: Sam has ______ red ball. A to B the C I Choose A, B or C.

Method. Read the sentence with each choice in the gap.

  1. Read the sentence with the gap. Think about what the sentence needs.
    Sam has ______ red ball.
  2. Read each choice in the gap. Only one choice makes sense.
    to / the / I
  3. Pick the word that fits. the is the word that makes the sentence make sense.
    the fits
  4. Write the answer.
    B

Check. Read the sentence with the in the gap. It makes sense. ✓

Watch out. Read the whole sentence with your choice in the gap.

Worked example 7.1.2
Choose the word that completes the sentence: We walk ______ school together. A I B the C to Choose A, B or C.

Method. Read the sentence with each choice in the gap.

  1. Read the sentence with the gap. Think about what the sentence needs.
    We walk ______ school together.
  2. Read each choice in the gap. Only one choice makes sense.
    I / the / to
  3. Pick the word that fits. to is the word that makes the sentence make sense.
    to fits
  4. Write the answer.
    C

Check. Read the sentence with to in the gap. It makes sense. ✓

Watch out. Read the whole sentence with your choice in the gap.

Worked example 7.1.3
Choose the word that completes the sentence: ______ like to read books. A I B to C the Choose A, B or C.

Method. Read the sentence with each choice in the gap.

  1. Read the sentence with the gap. Think about what the sentence needs.
    ______ like to read books.
  2. Read each choice in the gap. Only one choice makes sense.
    I / to / the
  3. Pick the word that fits. I is the word that makes the sentence make sense.
    I fits
  4. Write the answer.
    A

Check. Read the sentence with I in the gap. It makes sense. ✓

Watch out. Read the whole sentence with your choice in the gap.

Watch out

Watch out: to and the look a little alike. Read the whole word before you choose.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Read each tricky word aloud, then ask the child to say it back. Cover the sentence and ask the child to read the word on sight.

Exercise 7A  Practice: tricky words: the, to and i

1
FChoose the word that completes the sentence: Look at ______ bird in the tree. A to B I C the Choose A, B or C.
2
FChoose the word that completes the sentence: The dog ran ______ the park. A I B to C the Choose A, B or C.
3
FChoose the word that completes the sentence: Can ______ have a biscuit, please? A I B to C the Choose A, B or C.
4
FChoose the word that completes the sentence: I can see ______ sun in the sky. A the B I C to Choose A, B or C.
5
FChoose the word that completes the sentence: Mia went ______ the shop with Dad. A the B I C to Choose A, B or C.
6
FChoose the word that completes the sentence: Sam and ______ are best friends. A to B the C I Choose A, B or C.
7
FChoose the word that completes the sentence: Put the book on ______ table. A I B the C to Choose A, B or C.
8
FFind the word the in this list. A to B the C I Choose A, B or C.
9
FFind the word to in this list. A I B the C to Choose A, B or C.
10
FFind the word I in this list. A I B to C the Choose A, B or C.
11
FWhich line says the words in the right order? A the to park B the park to C to the park Choose A, B or C.
12
FWhich line says the words in the right order? A the I like sun B I like the sun C sun I like the Choose A, B or C.
7.2

Tricky words: no, go and he

Level 1
Read no, go and he by sight, Put a tricky word into a phrase
Video lesson: Tricky words: no, go and heComing soon

no is said as /no/. go is said as /go/. he is said as /he/.

We go to school. There is no bread left. He is my friend.

Read the whole sentence before you choose the tricky word.

Key ideas

  • no means not any, or the answer no.
  • go means to move to another place.
  • he is a boy or a man.
Worked example 7.2.1
Choose the word that completes the sentence: There is ______ milk left in the jug. A he B no C go Choose A, B or C.

Method. Read the sentence with each choice in the gap.

  1. Read the sentence with the gap. Think about what the sentence needs.
    There is ______ milk left in the jug.
  2. Read each choice in the gap. Only one choice makes sense.
    he / no / go
  3. Pick the word that fits. no is the word that makes the sentence make sense.
    no fits
  4. Write the answer.
    B

Check. Read the sentence with no in the gap. It makes sense. ✓

Watch out. Read the whole sentence with your choice in the gap.

Worked example 7.2.2
Choose the word that completes the sentence: Let us ______ to the park now. A go B he C no Choose A, B or C.

Method. Read the sentence with each choice in the gap.

  1. Read the sentence with the gap. Think about what the sentence needs.
    Let us ______ to the park now.
  2. Read each choice in the gap. Only one choice makes sense.
    go / he / no
  3. Pick the word that fits. go is the word that makes the sentence make sense.
    go fits
  4. Write the answer.
    A

Check. Read the sentence with go in the gap. It makes sense. ✓

Watch out. Read the whole sentence with your choice in the gap.

Worked example 7.2.3
Choose the word that completes the sentence: ______ can run very fast. A no B go C He Choose A, B or C.

Method. Read the sentence with each choice in the gap.

  1. Read the sentence with the gap. Think about what the sentence needs.
    ______ can run very fast.
  2. Read each choice in the gap. Only one choice makes sense.
    no / go / He
  3. Pick the word that fits. He is the word that makes the sentence make sense.
    He fits
  4. Write the answer.
    C

Check. Read the sentence with He in the gap. It makes sense. ✓

Watch out. Read the whole sentence with your choice in the gap.

Watch out

Watch out: no and go both have o in them. Read the whole word before you choose.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Make a card for each word. Read the card aloud, then find the same word in a sentence.

Exercise 7B  Practice: tricky words: no, go and he

1
FChoose the word that completes the sentence: Did ______ see the bird? A he B go C no Choose A, B or C.
2
FChoose the word that completes the sentence: We can ______ home after lunch. A no B he C go Choose A, B or C.
3
FChoose the word that completes the sentence: The answer is ______, thank you. A no B he C go Choose A, B or C.
4
FChoose the word that completes the sentence: Dad said ______ can help me. A no B go C he Choose A, B or C.
5
FChoose the word that completes the sentence: Please ______ and wash your hands. A no B he C go Choose A, B or C.
6
FChoose the word that completes the sentence: Mum says ______ is in the garden. A no B he C go Choose A, B or C.
7
FChoose the word that completes the sentence: Let us ______ outside to play. A he B no C go Choose A, B or C.
8
FFind the word no in this list. A no B go C he Choose A, B or C.
9
FFind the word go in this list. A go B he C no Choose A, B or C.
10
FFind the word he in this list. A go B no C he Choose A, B or C.
11
FWhich line says the words in the right order? A he is B is he C he his Choose A, B or C.
12
FWhich line says the words in the right order? A no go B no to C go no Choose A, B or C.
7.3

Tricky words: she, we, me and be

Level 1
Read she, we, me and be by sight, Choose the word that completes a sentence
Video lesson: Tricky words: she, we, me and beComing soon

she is a girl or a woman. we means you and I, or more people. me is what I am called when someone else speaks.

be means to exist, or to stay in a place or a way.

Sentences can use these words in many places. Read the whole sentence first.

Key ideas

  • she is one girl or woman.
  • we means more than one person, including you.
  • me and be are short words to learn by sight.
Worked example 7.3.1
Choose the word that completes the sentence: Mia said ______ likes to draw. A we B me C she Choose A, B or C.

Method. Read the sentence with each choice in the gap.

  1. Read the sentence with the gap. Think about what the sentence needs.
    Mia said ______ likes to draw.
  2. Read each choice in the gap. Only one choice makes sense.
    we / me / she
  3. Pick the word that fits. she is the word that makes the sentence make sense.
    she fits
  4. Write the answer.
    C

Check. Read the sentence with she in the gap. It makes sense. ✓

Watch out. Read the whole sentence with your choice in the gap.

Worked example 7.3.2
Choose the word that completes the sentence: ______ are going to school together. A We B She C Be Choose A, B or C.

Method. Read the sentence with each choice in the gap.

  1. Read the sentence with the gap. Think about what the sentence needs.
    ______ are going to school together.
  2. Read each choice in the gap. Only one choice makes sense.
    We / She / Be
  3. Pick the word that fits. We is the word that makes the sentence make sense.
    We fits
  4. Write the answer.
    A

Check. Read the sentence with We in the gap. It makes sense. ✓

Watch out. Read the whole sentence with your choice in the gap.

Worked example 7.3.3
Choose the word that completes the sentence: Please give the pen to ______. A me B we C be Choose A, B or C.

Method. Read the sentence with each choice in the gap.

  1. Read the sentence with the gap. Think about what the sentence needs.
    Please give the pen to ______.
  2. Read each choice in the gap. Only one choice makes sense.
    me / we / be
  3. Pick the word that fits. me is the word that makes the sentence make sense.
    me fits
  4. Write the answer.
    A

Check. Read the sentence with me in the gap. It makes sense. ✓

Watch out. Read the whole sentence with your choice in the gap.

Watch out

Watch out: me and we are easy to mix up. Read the sentence to check who is being talked about.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Ask the child to say who each sentence is about before reading the tricky word.

Exercise 7C  Practice: tricky words: she, we, me and be

1
FChoose the word that completes the sentence: I hope you will ______ my friend. A she B be C me Choose A, B or C.
2
FChoose the word that completes the sentence: ______ went to the park after lunch. A We B Me C She Choose A, B or C.
3
FChoose the word that completes the sentence: Please ______ quiet in the library. A be B she C we Choose A, B or C.
4
FChoose the word that completes the sentence: Come with ______ to the shop! A she B we C me Choose A, B or C.
5
FChoose the word that completes the sentence: ______ can play in the garden now. A Be B We C She Choose A, B or C.
6
FChoose the word that completes the sentence: Jo said ______ will bring the cake. A be B she C we Choose A, B or C.
7
FChoose the word that completes the sentence: Will you ______ at home later? A be B she C me Choose A, B or C.
8
FFind the word she in this list. A me B she C we Choose A, B or C.
9
FFind the word we in this list. A we B be C she Choose A, B or C.
10
FFind the word me in this list. A me B we C she Choose A, B or C.
11
FWhich line says the words in the right order? A quiet be B be quiet C be quite Choose A, B or C.
12
FWhich line says the words in the right order? A she went B she wet C went she Choose A, B or C.
7.4

Mixing the ten tricky words

Level 1
Read and choose any of the ten tricky words, Use a tricky word in a phrase
Video lesson: Mixing the ten tricky wordsComing soon

Now all ten tricky words are mixed together: the, to, I, no, go, he, she, we, me, be.

Read each sentence through first. Then choose the tricky word that makes it correct.

Key ideas

  • Read the whole sentence first.
  • Try each choice in the gap.
  • Check the sentence makes sense.
Worked example 7.4.1
Choose the word that completes the sentence: We can ______ to the library now. A he B go C no Choose A, B or C.

Method. Read the sentence with each choice in the gap.

  1. Read the sentence with the gap. Think about what the sentence needs.
    We can ______ to the library now.
  2. Read each choice in the gap. Only one choice makes sense.
    he / go / no
  3. Pick the word that fits. go is the word that makes the sentence make sense.
    go fits
  4. Write the answer.
    B

Check. Read the sentence with go in the gap. It makes sense. ✓

Watch out. Read the whole sentence with your choice in the gap.

Worked example 7.4.2
Choose the word that completes the sentence: ______ like the red bus best. A I B the C me Choose A, B or C.

Method. Read the sentence with each choice in the gap.

  1. Read the sentence with the gap. Think about what the sentence needs.
    ______ like the red bus best.
  2. Read each choice in the gap. Only one choice makes sense.
    I / the / me
  3. Pick the word that fits. I is the word that makes the sentence make sense.
    I fits
  4. Write the answer.
    A

Check. Read the sentence with I in the gap. It makes sense. ✓

Watch out. Read the whole sentence with your choice in the gap.

Worked example 7.4.3
Choose the word that completes the sentence: She gave the book to ______. A me B we C be Choose A, B or C.

Method. Read the sentence with each choice in the gap.

  1. Read the sentence with the gap. Think about what the sentence needs.
    She gave the book to ______.
  2. Read each choice in the gap. Only one choice makes sense.
    me / we / be
  3. Pick the word that fits. me is the word that makes the sentence make sense.
    me fits
  4. Write the answer.
    A

Check. Read the sentence with me in the gap. It makes sense. ✓

Watch out. Read the whole sentence with your choice in the gap.

Watch out

Watch out: a tricky word looks like a short word you know. Read the whole sentence before you choose.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Let the child read the sentence with the wrong word in the gap, then the right word. Hearing the difference helps.

Exercise 7D  Practice: mixing the ten tricky words

1
FChoose the word that completes the sentence: There is ______ rain today. A to B no C go Choose A, B or C.
2
FChoose the word that completes the sentence: ______ and Sam went out to play. A We B She C Me Choose A, B or C.
3
FChoose the word that completes the sentence: Can you ______ my helper, please? A she B be C go Choose A, B or C.
4
FChoose the word that completes the sentence: He went ______ the shop. A the B to C I Choose A, B or C.
5
FChoose the word that completes the sentence: ______ are going to the park. A Me B She C We Choose A, B or C.
6
FChoose the word that completes the sentence: Give ______ the red crayon. A me B no C be Choose A, B or C.
7
FFind the word the in this list. A to B the C he Choose A, B or C.
8
FFind the word no in this list. A no B go C me Choose A, B or C.
9
FFind the word we in this list. A we B be C she Choose A, B or C.
10
FWhich line says the words in the right order? A go too B go to C to go Choose A, B or C.
11
FWhich line says the words in the right order? A he is B is he C his he Choose A, B or C.

Chapter summary

SkillMethod
Read the, to and I by sightLearn the shape of the word, not its sounds
Read no, go and he by sightRead the whole sentence before you choose
Read she, we, me and be by sightCheck who the sentence is about
Use a tricky word in a phraseRead the phrase aloud and check it sounds right

Can you…?

  • I can read the, to, I, no, go, he, she, we, me and be by sight
  • I can find a tricky word in a list
  • I can choose the tricky word that completes a sentence
  • I can use a tricky word in a short phrase

Key terms

tricky word
a word that does not follow the usual sounds, so we learn it by sight
by sight
read straight away, without sounding out
phrase
a short group of words, such as go to

Exercise 7Z  Check-up

1
Choose the word that completes the sentence: Sam has ______ new bag. A the B I C to Choose A, B or C.
2
Choose the word that completes the sentence: Can ______ come to your party? A the B I C to Choose A, B or C.
3
Choose the word that completes the sentence: We will ______ to the beach. A he B go C no Choose A, B or C.
4
Choose the word that completes the sentence: There is ______ more juice. A go B he C no Choose A, B or C.
5
Choose the word that completes the sentence: ______ is my sister. A We B Me C She Choose A, B or C.
6
Choose the word that completes the sentence: Give the box to ______. A me B we C be Choose A, B or C.
7
Find the word he in this list. A we B be C he Choose A, B or C.
8
Find the word be in this list. A to B no C be Choose A, B or C.
9
Which line says the words in the right order? A go too B go to C to go Choose A, B or C.
10
Which line says the words in the right order? A she his B is she C she is Choose A, B or C.

Total 10 marks. Allow about 10 minutes.

Exercise 7X  Practice test questions

1
FChoose the word that completes the sentence: Please ______ careful with the cup. A go B she C be Choose A, B or C.[1 mark]
2
FChoose the word that completes the sentence: We went ______ the park on Saturday. A I B the C to Choose A, B or C.[1 mark]
3
FChoose the word that completes the sentence: ______ like jam on toast. A to B the C I Choose A, B or C.[1 mark]
4
FChoose the word that completes the sentence: She said ______ can go to the shop. A he B go C no Choose A, B or C.[1 mark]
5
FChoose the word that completes the sentence: Mum said ______ was happy with us. A me B we C she Choose A, B or C.[1 mark]
6
FFind the word the in this list. A to B the C no Choose A, B or C.[1 mark]
7
FFind the word we in this list. A we B me C he Choose A, B or C.[1 mark]
8
FWhich line says the words in the right order? A he is B is he C his he Choose A, B or C.[1 mark]
9
FWhich line says the words in the right order? A to the shop B shop to the C the to shop Choose A, B or C.[1 mark]
10
FChoose the word that completes the sentence: Is there ______ bread left? A go B he C no Choose A, B or C.[1 mark]
← Chapter 6: Segmenting and spelling short wordsChapter 8: Tricky words: my, you, they, all, are, was, her →

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