Step-by-step English Level 2: The long sound of oa
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 oa
When o and a sit together, they make one long sound: /oh/, as in boat and goat.
In boat there are three sounds: b, oa and t.
Look for the pair oa in the middle of the word.
Key ideas
- oa makes one long sound, as in boat.
- boat has three sounds: b, oa, t.
- Look for o and a together.
- Keep o and a together, not apart.
Method. Find the name that has the two letters together.
- Read the name under each picture. Look for the two letters together.A: boat B: gift C: chin
- Find the name with oa inside. Only one name has these two letters together.boat = picture A
- Write the answer. A
Check. boat has oa, 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.3 / 4 / 2
- Find the one that fits. boat is b - oa - 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: road B: cat C: mug
- Find the name with oa inside. Only one name has these two letters together.road = picture A
- Write the answer. A
Check. road has oa, and the others do not. ✓
Watch out. The two letters make one long vowel sound, so keep them together.
Watch out
Watch out: oa is not the same as o on its own. In dog, o makes a short sound; in boat, oa makes one long sound.Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Say the long "oh" sound in boat. Ask the child to find oa in each name.
Exercise 5A Practice: the long sound of oa
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__t
- Try each pair of letters. boat has oa.oa / ai / igh
- Pick the pair that makes the word. boat needs oa.boat = choice A
- Write the answer. A
Check. Put oa back in the gap: boat. ✓
Watch out. The two letters go together in the gap. Do not split them.
Method. Find the name that has the two letters together.
- Read the name under each picture. Look for the two letters together.A: coat B: tin C: cat
- Find the name with oa inside. Only one name has these two letters together.coat = picture A
- Write the answer. A
Check. coat has oa, 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 / 2 / 3
- Find the one that fits. goat is g - oa - t: 3 sounds.3 is choice C
- Write the answer. C
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.s - oa - p
- Look at each picture. Find the picture with that name.soap = picture C
- Write the answer. C
Check. The other pictures show different names: box, night. ✓
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.t - oa - d
- Look at the picture. Say what it shows.toad
- Compare them. Do they show the same name?toad and toad are the same
- Write the answer. Yes
Check. The picture shows a toad. ✓
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 - oa - f
- Look at the picture. Say what it shows.coat
- Compare them. Do they show the same name?loaf and coat are different
- Write the answer. No
Check. The picture shows a coat. ✓
Watch out. Check every letter in the word, not only the first.
Method. Find the name that has the two letters together.
- Read the name under each picture. Look for the two letters together.A: bus B: lamp C: loaf
- Find the name with oa inside. Only one name has these two letters together.loaf = picture C
- Write the answer. C
Check. loaf has oa, 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.3 / 4 / 2
- Find the one that fits. road is r - oa - d: 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. Read the word, then say what the picture shows.
- Read the word. Sound out each letter.g - oa - t
- Look at the picture. Say what it shows.goat
- Compare them. Do they show the same name?goat and goat are the same
- Write the answer. Yes
Check. The picture shows a goat. ✓
Watch out. Check every letter in the word, not only the first.
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__d
- Try each pair of letters. road has oa.igh / ee / oa
- Pick the pair that makes the word. road needs oa.road = choice C
- Write the answer. C
Check. Put oa back in the gap: road. ✓
Watch out. The two letters go together in the gap. Do not split them.