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Step-by-step practice: English · Level 2Chapter 6 · Reading longer words
Step-by-step English Level 2 · Reading longer words · Lesson 6.1

Step-by-step English Level 2: Splitting a longer word into sounds

Part of the Step-by-step English Level 2 reading longer words chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page

6.1

Splitting a longer word into sounds

Level 2
Split a longer word into its sounds, Count the sounds in a word

A longer word has more sounds. Split it into sounds before you read it.

Keep the digraphs and vowel teams together. chain is ch - ai - n. It is not c - h - a - i - n.

Count the sounds: chain has three sounds.

Key ideas

  • Find the digraphs and vowel teams first.
  • Keep two or three letters together when they make one sound.
  • Count the sounds as you go.
Worked example 6.1.1
Which is the right way to split chain into sounds? A ch - ai - n B ch - a - in C c - h - ai - n Choose A, B or C.

Method. Find each sound first, then pick the split that matches the word.

  1. Find the digraphs and vowel teams first. Keep two or three letters together when they make one sound.
    chain
  2. Split the word after each sound. Each part is one sound.
    ch - ai - n
  3. Find the choice that matches. Choice A is the same split.
    chain = choice A
  4. Write the answer.
    A

Check. Join the parts again: chain. ✓

Watch out. Keep ch, sh, ai, ee and igh together. Do not split them.

Worked example 6.1.2
How many sounds are in chain? Count each digraph or vowel team as one sound. A 3 B 4 C 5 Choose A, B or C.

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

  1. Read each choice. Check which one fits.
    3 / 4 / 5
  2. Find the one that fits. chain is ch - ai - n: 3 sounds.
    3 is choice A
  3. Write the answer.
    A

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

Watch out. Read every choice before you decide.

Worked example 6.1.3
Which is the right way to split sheep into sounds? A sh - e - ep B s - h - ee - p C sh - ee - p Choose A, B or C.

Method. Find each sound first, then pick the split that matches the word.

  1. Find the digraphs and vowel teams first. Keep two or three letters together when they make one sound.
    sheep
  2. Split the word after each sound. Each part is one sound.
    sh - ee - p
  3. Find the choice that matches. Choice C is the same split.
    sheep = choice C
  4. Write the answer.
    C

Check. Join the parts again: sheep. ✓

Watch out. Keep ch, sh, ai, ee and igh together. Do not split them.

Watch out

Watch out: ai, ee and igh each make one sound. Do not split the pair into two sounds.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Ask the child to tap once for each sound and say the sound as they tap. Count the taps together.

Exercise 6A  Practice: splitting a longer word into sounds

1
FHow many sounds are in sheep? Count each digraph or vowel team as one sound. A 3 B 5 C 4 Choose A, B or C.
2
FWhich is the right way to split snail into sounds? A sn - ai - l B s - n - ai - l C s - n - a - il Choose A, B or C.
3
FHow many sounds are in snail? Count each digraph or vowel team as one sound. A 4 B 3 C 5 Choose A, B or C.
4
FWhich is the right way to split light into sounds? A l - i - gh - t B l - igh - t C li - gh - t Choose A, B or C.
5
FHow many sounds are in light? Count each digraph or vowel team as one sound. A 5 B 4 C 3 Choose A, B or C.
6
FWhich is the right way to split shell into sounds? A s - h - e - l - l B she - ll C sh - e - l - l Choose A, B or C.
7
FHow many sounds are in goat? Count each digraph or vowel team as one sound. A 4 B 3 C 5 Choose A, B or C.
8
FWhich is the right way to split train into sounds? A tr - ai - n B t - r - a - in C t - r - ai - n Choose A, B or C.
9
FHow many sounds are in train? Count each digraph or vowel team as one sound. A 5 B 4 C 3 Choose A, B or C.
10
FWhich is the right way to split thing into sounds? A t - h - i - ng B th - i - ng C th - ing Choose A, B or C.
11
FHow many sounds are in thing? Count each digraph or vowel team as one sound. A 3 B 5 C 4 Choose A, B or C.

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