Step-by-step English Level 2: Choosing ai or ee in a gap
Part of the Step-by-step English Level 2 long vowel sounds: ai and ee chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
Choosing ai or ee in a gap
Some words need a pair of letters in a gap. Read the word with the gap, then try each pair.
For example, r__n becomes rain with ai. The gap tr__ becomes tree with ee.
Say the word aloud in your head to check it fits.
Key ideas
- Read the word with the gap.
- Try each pair of letters.
- Read the whole word again to check.
Method. Try each pair in the gap, then pick the one that makes the word.
- Read the word with the gap. Think about the word that fits the gap.r__n
- Try each pair of letters. rain has ai.ai / oa / ee
- Pick the pair that makes the word. rain needs ai.rain = choice A
- Write the answer. A
Check. Put ai back in the gap: rain. ✓
Watch out. The two letters go together in the gap. Do not split them.
Method. Try each pair in the gap, then pick the one that makes the word.
- Read the word with the gap. Think about the word that fits the gap.tr__
- Try each pair of letters. tree has ee.oa / ai / ee
- Pick the pair that makes the word. tree needs ee.tree = choice C
- Write the answer. C
Check. Put ee back in the gap: tree. ✓
Watch out. The two letters go together in the gap. Do not split them.
Method. Try each pair in the gap, then pick the one that makes the word.
- Read the word with the gap. Think about the word that fits the gap.s__l
- Try each pair of letters. sail has ai.ee / oa / ai
- Pick the pair that makes the word. sail needs ai.sail = choice C
- Write the answer. C
Check. Put ai back in the gap: sail. ✓
Watch out. The two letters go together in the gap. Do not split them.
Watch out
Watch out: some pairs look alike. Check each letter in the gap against the word.Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Ask the child to say the whole word with each pair in the gap. Only one will sound right.
Exercise 4C Practice: choosing ai or ee in a gap
Method. Try each pair in the gap, then pick the one that makes the word.
- Read the word with the gap. Think about the word that fits the gap.sh__p
- Try each pair of letters. sheep has ee.ai / ee / oa
- Pick the pair that makes the word. sheep needs ee.sheep = choice B
- Write the answer. B
Check. Put ee back in the gap: sheep. ✓
Watch out. The two letters go together in the gap. Do not split them.
Method. Try each pair in the gap, then pick the one that makes the word.
- Read the word with the gap. Think about the word that fits the gap.n__l
- Try each pair of letters. nail has ai.ee / ai / oa
- Pick the pair that makes the word. nail needs ai.nail = choice B
- Write the answer. B
Check. Put ai back in the gap: nail. ✓
Watch out. The two letters go together in the gap. Do not split them.
Method. Try each pair in the gap, then pick the one that makes the word.
- Read the word with the gap. Think about the word that fits the gap.f__t
- Try each pair of letters. feet has ee.ai / ee / oa
- Pick the pair that makes the word. feet needs ee.feet = choice B
- Write the answer. B
Check. Put ee back in the gap: feet. ✓
Watch out. The two letters go together in the gap. Do not split them.
Method. Try each pair in the gap, then pick the one that makes the word.
- Read the word with the gap. Think about the word that fits the gap.sn__l
- Try each pair of letters. snail has ai.oa / ee / ai
- Pick the pair that makes the word. snail needs ai.snail = choice C
- Write the answer. C
Check. Put ai back in the gap: snail. ✓
Watch out. The two letters go together in the gap. Do not split them.
Method. Try each pair in the gap, then pick the one that makes the word.
- Read the word with the gap. Think about the word that fits the gap.b__
- Try each pair of letters. bee has ee.ee / ai / oa
- Pick the pair that makes the word. bee needs ee.bee = choice A
- Write the answer. A
Check. Put ee back in the gap: bee. ✓
Watch out. The two letters go together in the gap. Do not split them.
Method. Try each pair in the gap, then pick the one that makes the word.
- Read the word with the gap. Think about the word that fits the gap.tr__n
- Try each pair of letters. train has ai.ai / oa / ee
- Pick the pair that makes the word. train needs ai.train = choice A
- Write the answer. A
Check. Put ai back in the gap: train. ✓
Watch out. The two letters go together in the gap. Do not split them.
Method. Try each pair in the gap, then pick the one that makes the word.
- Read the word with the gap. Think about the word that fits the gap.s__d
- Try each pair of letters. seed has ee.ee / ai / oa
- Pick the pair that makes the word. seed needs ee.seed = choice A
- Write the answer. A
Check. Put ee back in the gap: seed. ✓
Watch out. The two letters go together in the gap. Do not split them.
Method. Try each pair in the gap, then pick the one that makes the word.
- Read the word with the gap. Think about the word that fits the gap.t__l
- Try each pair of letters. tail has ai.oa / ee / ai
- Pick the pair that makes the word. tail needs ai.tail = choice C
- Write the answer. C
Check. Put ai back in the gap: tail. ✓
Watch out. The two letters go together in the gap. Do not split them.
Method. Try each pair in the gap, then pick the one that makes the word.
- Read the word with the gap. Think about the word that fits the gap.sw__t
- Try each pair of letters. sweet has ee.oa / ai / ee
- Pick the pair that makes the word. sweet needs ee.sweet = choice C
- Write the answer. C
Check. Put ee back in the gap: sweet. ✓
Watch out. The two letters go together in the gap. Do not split them.