Step-by-step English Level 2: Reading th and ng in words
Part of the Step-by-step English Level 2 consonant digraphs: th and ng chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
Reading th and ng in words
Some words have th and ng in the same word, such as thing.
Read each digraph as one sound. Then join the sounds together: th - i - ng, thing.
Find the picture that matches the whole word, not just one part of it.
Key ideas
- Read each digraph as one sound.
- Join the sounds to read the word.
- Match the whole word to its picture.
Method. Read the word first, then find the picture that matches.
- Read the word from the left. Sound out each letter, then join the sounds.m - o - th
- Look at each picture. Find the picture with that name.moth = picture A
- Write the answer. A
Check. The other pictures show different names: song, wing. ✓
Watch out. Read every letter. Do not guess from the first letter only.
Method. Read the word first, then find the picture that matches.
- Read the word from the left. Sound out each letter, then join the sounds.w - i - ng
- Look at each picture. Find the picture with that name.wing = picture C
- Write the answer. C
Check. The other pictures show different names: mug, sun. ✓
Watch out. Read every letter. Do not guess from the first letter only.
Method. Find the name with the letters in the right place.
- Read the name under each picture. Look for the letters at the start.A: path B: pen C: ship
- Find the name that starts with th. Only one name has these letters in that place.path = picture A
- Write the answer. A
Check. path has th at the start. ✓
Watch out. Read the whole name, then check where the letters are.
Watch out
Watch out: a word can have two digraphs, such as thing. Read each one as one sound.Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Ask the child to tap once for each sound: th, i, ng. Then read the whole word with the child.
Exercise 3E Practice: reading th and ng in words
Method. Find the name with the letters in the right place.
- Read the name under each picture. Look for the letters at the end.A: song B: ant C: hut
- Find the name that ends with ng. Only one name has these letters in that place.song = picture A
- Write the answer. A
Check. song has ng at the end. ✓
Watch out. Read the whole name, then check where the letters are.
Method. Read every choice, then pick the one that fits.
- Read each choice. Check which one fits.bath / ban / bat
- Find the one that fits. bath ends with th, which makes one sound.bath is choice A
- Write the answer. A
Check. Read bath in the sentence or list again. ✓
Watch out. Read every choice before you decide.
Method. Read every choice, then pick the one that fits.
- Read each choice. Check which one fits.bad / bang / bank
- Find the one that fits. bang ends with ng. bank ends with nk.bang is choice B
- Write the answer. B
Check. Read bang in the sentence or list again. ✓
Watch out. Read every choice before you decide.
Method. Read the word, then say what the picture shows.
- Read the word. Sound out each letter.p - a - th
- Look at the picture. Say what it shows.bath
- Compare them. Do they show the same name?path and bath are different
- Write the answer. No
Check. The picture shows a bath. ✓
Watch out. Check every letter in the word, not only the first.
Method. Read the word, then say what the picture shows.
- Read the word. Sound out each letter.r - i - ng
- Look at the picture. Say what it shows.ring
- Compare them. Do they show the same name?ring and ring are the same
- Write the answer. Yes
Check. The picture shows a ring. ✓
Watch out. Check every letter in the word, not only the first.
Method. Read the card, then find the same word on the list.
- Read the card. Read the whole word.thin
- Find the same word. Thin has t and h together, then i and n.thin = choice A
- Write the answer. A
Check. Both words read thin. ✓
Watch out. Look at every letter. Tricky words do not follow the usual sounds.
Method. Read every choice, then pick the one that fits.
- Read each choice. Check which one fits.nothing / ring / song
- Find the one that fits. nothing has th in the middle, which makes one sound.nothing is choice A
- Write the answer. A
Check. Read nothing in the sentence or list again. ✓
Watch out. Read every choice before you decide.
Method. Read every choice, then pick the one that fits.
- Read each choice. Check which one fits.2 / 3 / 4
- Find the one that fits. thing is th - i - ng: 3 sounds.3 is choice B
- Write the answer. B
Check. Read 3 in the sentence or list again. ✓
Watch out. Read every choice before you decide.
Method. Read the word first, then find the picture that matches.
- Read the word from the left. Sound out each letter, then join the sounds.b - a - th
- Look at each picture. Find the picture with that name.bath = picture A
- Write the answer. A
Check. The other pictures show different names: ring, wing. ✓
Watch out. Read every letter. Do not guess from the first letter only.
Method. Find the name with the letters in the right place.
- Read the name under each picture. Look for the letters at the end.A: path B: ring C: pot
- Find the name that ends with ng. Only one name has these letters in that place.ring = picture B
- Write the answer. B
Check. ring has ng at the end. ✓
Watch out. Read the whole name, then check where the letters are.
Method. Read every choice, then pick the one that fits.
- Read each choice. Check which one fits.tan / tin / thin
- Find the one that fits. thin starts with th, which makes one sound.thin is choice C
- Write the answer. C
Check. Read thin in the sentence or list again. ✓
Watch out. Read every choice before you decide.