Step-by-step English Level 2: The long sound of igh
Part of the Step-by-step English Level 2 long vowel sounds: oa and igh chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
The long sound of igh
The three letters i, g, h make one long sound: /igh/, as in night and light.
In night there are three sounds: n, igh and t. The three letters make one sound.
Look for the letters igh together. Do not split them.
Key ideas
- igh is three letters but one sound.
- night has three sounds: n, igh, t.
- Look for igh together.
- The g in igh is silent.
Method. Find the name that has the two letters together.
- Read the name under each picture. Look for the two letters together.A: leg B: sock C: night
- Find the name with igh inside. Only one name has these two letters together.night = picture C
- Write the answer. C
Check. night has igh, and the others do not. ✓
Watch out. The two letters make one long vowel sound, so keep them together.
Method. Read every choice, then pick the one that fits.
- Read each choice. Check which one fits.4 / 3 / 2
- Find the one that fits. night is n - igh - t: 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. Find the name that has the two letters together.
- Read the name under each picture. Look for the two letters together.A: sun B: light C: rain
- Find the name with igh inside. Only one name has these two letters together.light = picture B
- Write the answer. B
Check. light has igh, and the others do not. ✓
Watch out. The two letters make one long vowel sound, so keep them together.
Watch out
Watch out: igh has three letters, but it is one sound. Do not say /i/, /g/ and /h/ separately.Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Say "eye" for igh as one long sound, as in night. Ask the child to point to igh in each word.
Exercise 5B Practice: the long sound of igh
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.l__t
- Try each pair of letters. light has igh.oa / igh / ai
- Pick the pair that makes the word. light needs igh.light = choice B
- Write the answer. B
Check. Put igh back in the gap: light. ✓
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__t
- Try each pair of letters. night has igh.igh / ee / oa
- Pick the pair that makes the word. night needs igh.night = choice A
- Write the answer. A
Check. Put igh back in the gap: night. ✓
Watch out. The two letters go together in the gap. Do not split them.
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.l - igh - t
- Look at each picture. Find the picture with that name.light = picture B
- Write the answer. B
Check. The other pictures show different names: fish, ship. ✓
Watch out. Read every letter. Do not guess from the first letter only.
Method. Read the word, then say what the picture shows.
- Read the word. Sound out each letter.n - igh - t
- Look at the picture. Say what it shows.night
- Compare them. Do they show the same name?night and night are the same
- Write the answer. Yes
Check. The picture shows a night. ✓
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.l - igh - t
- Look at the picture. Say what it shows.night
- Compare them. Do they show the same name?light and night are different
- Write the answer. No
Check. The picture shows a night. ✓
Watch out. Check every letter in the word, not only the first.
Method. Read every choice, then pick the one that fits.
- Read each choice. Check which one fits.3 / 4 / 2
- Find the one that fits. light is l - igh - t: 3 sounds.3 is choice A
- Write the answer. A
Check. Read 3 in the sentence or list again. ✓
Watch out. Read every choice before you decide.
Method. Find the name that has the two letters together.
- Read the name under each picture. Look for the two letters together.A: leg B: sock C: night
- Find the name with igh inside. Only one name has these two letters together.night = picture C
- Write the answer. C
Check. night has igh, and the others do not. ✓
Watch out. The two letters make one long vowel sound, so keep them together.