Step-by-step English Level 2: Reading words with two or more sound units
Part of the Step-by-step English Level 2 reading longer words chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
Reading words with two or more sound units
Some longer words have more than one digraph or vowel team, such as thing with th and ng.
Read each unit as one sound. Then join the sounds: th - i - ng, thing.
Count each unit once, so thing has three sounds.
Key ideas
- Find each unit: digraph or vowel team.
- Read each unit as one sound.
- Join the units together.
Method. Read every choice, then pick the one that fits.
- Read each choice. Check which one fits.3 / 5 / 4
- Find the one that fits. thing is th - i - ng: 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 every choice, then pick the one that fits.
- Read each choice. Check which one fits.5 / 3 / 4
- Find the one that fits. nothing is n - o - th - i - ng: 5 sounds.5 is choice A
- Write the answer. A
Check. Read 5 in the sentence or list again. ✓
Watch out. Read every choice before you decide.
Method. Read every choice, then pick the one that fits.
- Read each choice. Check which one fits.5 / 4 / 3
- Find the one that fits. bath is b - a - th: 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.
Watch out
Watch out: a digraph is one sound, even though it has two letters. Do not count the letters.Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Ask the child to put a finger down for each unit and say each one. Then join them together.
Exercise 6E Practice: reading words with two or more sound units
Method. Read every choice, then pick the one that fits.
- Read each choice. Check which one fits.5 / 4 / 3
- Find the one that fits. sweet is s - w - ee - t: 4 sounds.4 is choice B
- Write the answer. B
Check. Read 4 in the sentence or list again. ✓
Watch out. Read every choice before you decide.
Method. Read every choice, then pick the one that fits.
- Read each choice. Check which one fits.ship / chain / shell
- Find the one that fits. shell is sh - e - l - l: four sounds. ship and chain have three sounds each.shell is choice C
- Write the answer. C
Check. Read shell in the sentence or list again. ✓
Watch out. Read every choice before you decide.
Method. Read every choice, then pick the one that fits.
- Read each choice. Check which one fits.train / trains / tail
- Find the one that fits. tail is t - ai - l: three sounds.tail is choice C
- Write the answer. C
Check. Read tail 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.r - i - ng
- Look at each picture. Find the picture with that name.ring = picture C
- Write the answer. C
Check. The other pictures show different names: cat, box. ✓
Watch out. Read every letter. Do not guess from the first letter only.
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.n - igh - t
- Look at each picture. Find the picture with that name.night = picture B
- Write the answer. B
Check. The other pictures show different names: cat, boat. ✓
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.l - igh - t
- Look at the picture. Say what it shows.light
- Compare them. Do they show the same name?light and light are the same
- Write the answer. Yes
Check. The picture shows a light. ✓
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.thing / sing / moth
- Find the one that fits. thing has th and ng, two units.thing is choice A
- Write the answer. A
Check. Read thing in the sentence or list again. ✓
Watch out. Read every choice before you decide.