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Step-by-step practice: English · Level 2Chapter 3 · Consonant digraphs: th and ng
Step-by-step English Level 2 · Consonant digraphs: th and ng · Lesson 3.2

Step-by-step English Level 2: The sound ng

Part of the Step-by-step English Level 2 consonant digraphs: th and ng chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page

3.2

The sound ng

Level 2
Say the sound for ng, as in ring, wing and song, Choose ng at the end of a word

The letters n and g together make one sound: /ng/, as in ring, wing and song.

In ring, the sounds are r, i and ng. The ng comes at the end.

Notice that ng is always two letters together, and g is silent in ng words like ring.

Key ideas

  • ng is two letters but one sound.
  • ring has three sounds: r, i, ng.
  • ng usually comes at the end of a word in this section.
  • Keep n and g together.
Worked example 3.2.1
Which picture name ends with the letters ng? Look at the letters, not the picture.pathAringBpotC

Method. Find the name with the letters in the right place.

  1. Read the name under each picture. Look for the letters at the end.
    A: path B: ring C: pot
  2. Find the name that ends with ng. Only one name has these letters in that place.
    ring = picture B
  3. Write the answer.
    B

Check. ring has ng at the end. ✓

Watch out. Read the whole name, then check where the letters are.

Worked example 3.2.2
Which two letters end the word ring? Choose from the list. A ng B nk C th Choose A, B or C.

Method. Read every choice, then pick the one that fits.

  1. Read each choice. Check which one fits.
    ng / nk / th
  2. Find the one that fits. ring ends with ng, which makes one sound.
    ng is choice A
  3. Write the answer.
    A

Check. Read ng in the sentence or list again. ✓

Watch out. Read every choice before you decide.

Worked example 3.2.3
Which picture name ends with the letters ng? Look at the letters, not the picture.wingAsunBpathC

Method. Find the name with the letters in the right place.

  1. Read the name under each picture. Look for the letters at the end.
    A: wing B: sun C: path
  2. Find the name that ends with ng. Only one name has these letters in that place.
    wing = picture A
  3. Write the answer.
    A

Check. wing has ng at the end. ✓

Watch out. Read the whole name, then check where the letters are.

Watch out

Watch out: a word can end with ng or with nk. These are two different endings.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Say "ng" with the back of the tongue touching the roof of the mouth. Ask the child to point to ng at the end.

Exercise 3B  Practice: the sound ng

1
FWhich two letters end the word wing? Choose from the list. A th B nk C ng Choose A, B or C.
2
FWhich picture name ends with the letters ng? Look at the letters, not the picture.
songAantBhutC
3
FWhich two letters end the word song? Choose from the list. A nk B th C ng Choose A, B or C.
4
FRead the word: wing. Does the picture show wing? Answer yes or no.
5
FRead the word: song. Does the picture show song? Answer yes or no.
6
FWhich pair of letters ends the word wing? Choose ng, nk or th. A th B ng C nk Choose A, B or C.
7
FRead the word: song. Which picture matches? Choose A, B or C.
ABC

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