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Step-by-step practice: English · Level 2Chapter 4 · Long vowel sounds: ai and ee
Step-by-step English Level 2 · Long vowel sounds: ai and ee · Lesson 4.2

Step-by-step English Level 2: The long sound of ee

Part of the Step-by-step English Level 2 long vowel sounds: ai and ee chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page

4.2

The long sound of ee

Level 2
Say the long sound of ee, as in tree and bee, Find the picture that has ee inside it

When two e letters sit together, they make one long sound: /ee/, as in tree and bee.

In tree there are three sounds: t, r and ee. The two e letters make one sound.

Look for the pair ee in the word, not for a single e.

Key ideas

  • ee makes one long sound, as in tree.
  • tree has three sounds: t, r, ee.
  • Look for two e letters together.
  • Do not read ee as two short e sounds.
Worked example 4.2.1
Which picture name has the letters ee in it? Look at the letters, not the picture.cupAtreeBbathC

Method. Find the name that has the two letters together.

  1. Read the name under each picture. Look for the two letters together.
    A: cup B: tree C: bath
  2. Find the name with ee inside. Only one name has these two letters together.
    tree = picture B
  3. Write the answer.
    B

Check. tree has ee, and the others do not. ✓

Watch out. The two letters make one long vowel sound, so keep them together.

Worked example 4.2.2
How many sounds are in tree? A vowel pair such as ai or ee counts as one sound. A 4 B 3 C 2 Choose A, B or C.

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

  1. Read each choice. Check which one fits.
    4 / 3 / 2
  2. Find the one that fits. tree is t - r - ee: 3 sounds.
    3 is choice B
  3. Write the answer.
    B

Check. Read 3 in the sentence or list again. ✓

Watch out. Read every choice before you decide.

Worked example 4.2.3
Which picture name has the letters ee in it? Look at the letters, not the picture.beeAjamBpotC

Method. Find the name that has the two letters together.

  1. Read the name under each picture. Look for the two letters together.
    A: bee B: jam C: pot
  2. Find the name with ee inside. Only one name has these two letters together.
    bee = picture A
  3. Write the answer.
    A

Check. bee has ee, and the others do not. ✓

Watch out. The two letters make one long vowel sound, so keep them together.

Watch out

Watch out: ee and a short e look alike. Bed has e on its own; bee has two e letters together.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Say the long "ee" sound, as in tree. Ask the child to find the two e letters together in each word.

Exercise 4B  Practice: the long sound of ee

1
FWhich pair of letters goes in the gap to make a word? tr__ A oa B ai C ee Choose A, B or C.
2
FWhich picture name has the letters ee in it? Look at the letters, not the picture.
sheepAsinkBgoatC
3
FHow many sounds are in sheep? A vowel pair such as ai or ee counts as one sound. A 3 B 2 C 4 Choose A, B or C.
4
FRead the word: bee. Which picture matches? Choose A, B or C.
ABC
5
FRead the word: feet. Does the picture show feet? Answer yes or no.
6
FRead the word: seed. Does the picture show seed? Answer yes or no.
7
FHow many sounds are in feet? A vowel pair such as ai or ee counts as one sound. A 2 B 4 C 3 Choose A, B or C.
8
FRead the word: tree. Does the picture show tree? Answer yes or no.

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