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Step-by-step practice: English · Level 2Chapter 3 · Consonant digraphs: th and ng
Level 2 · Chapter 3

Consonant digraphs: th and ng

By the end of this chapter you will be able to

  • I can say the sound for th and the sound for ng
  • I can find the picture whose name has th or ng in it
  • I can choose ng at the end of a word
  • I can tell apart a word that ends with ng from one that ends with nk

You should already know

  • Digraphs sh and ch (Chapter 2)

Where this leads

  • Long vowel sounds ai and ee (Chapter 4)

Step-by-step practice: English (Level 2). Small steps, repeated until fluent. Content: Say the sound for th (as in thin, bath, moth) and ng (as in ring, song, king), Find the picture whose name has a given digraph, Choose ng at the end of a written word, Tell apart ng and nk words by reading.

Exercise P  Do you remember?

1
FWhich two letters make one sound at the start of ship? Choose sh, ch or s. A sh B s C ch Choose A, B or C.
2
FWhich letter does the word chin start with? Choose c, h or i. A i B h C c Choose A, B or C.
3
FWhich word has the short /a/ sound in the middle? Choose bat, bed or bug. A bat B bug C bed Choose A, B or C.
4
FWhich tricky word completes this? I like ___ milk. Choose the, to or no. A the B to C no Choose A, B or C.
5
FWhich word has the same middle letter as hut? Choose bus, big or bed. A bus B bed C big Choose A, B or C.
3.1

The sound th

Level 2
Say the sound for th, as in thin, bath and moth, Find the picture whose name has th
Video lesson: The sound thComing soon

The letters t and h together make one sound: /th/. Put your tongue between your teeth, and blow softly.

In moth, the sounds are m, o and th. That is three sounds, not four.

In bath and path, the same sound comes at the end of the word.

Key ideas

  • th is two letters but one sound.
  • moth has three sounds: m, o, th.
  • Use the sound th in thin, bath and moth.
  • Do not split th into t and h.
Worked example 3.1.1
Which picture name starts with the letters th? Look at the letters, not the picture.mothAinkBtentC

Method. Find the name with the letters in the right place.

  1. Read the name under each picture. Look for the letters at the start.
    A: moth B: ink C: tent
  2. Find the name that starts with th. Only one name has these letters in that place.
    moth = picture A
  3. Write the answer.
    A

Check. moth has th at the start. ✓

Watch out. Read the whole name, then check where the letters are.

Worked example 3.1.2
How many sounds are in moth? A pair like th counts as one sound. A 2 B 3 C 4 Choose A, B or C.

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

  1. Read each choice. Check which one fits.
    2 / 3 / 4
  2. Find the one that fits. moth is m - o - th: 3 sounds. th is one sound.
    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 3.1.3
Which picture name starts with the letters th? Look at the letters, not the picture.ratAbathBcupC

Method. Find the name with the letters in the right place.

  1. Read the name under each picture. Look for the letters at the start.
    A: rat B: bath C: cup
  2. Find the name that starts with th. Only one name has these letters in that place.
    bath = picture B
  3. Write the answer.
    B

Check. bath has th at the start. ✓

Watch out. Read the whole name, then check where the letters are.

Watch out

Watch out: bat and bath look alike. The word bath ends with th, but bat ends with t.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Ask the child to put the tongue between the teeth and blow for th. Keep it soft and quiet. Point to th in each name.

Exercise 3A  Practice: the sound th

1
FHow many sounds are in bath? A pair like th counts as one sound. A 4 B 3 C 2 Choose A, B or C.
2
FWhich picture name starts with the letters th? Look at the letters, not the picture.
pathApenBshipC
3
FHow many sounds are in path? A pair like th counts as one sound. A 3 B 2 C 4 Choose A, B or C.
4
FWhich pair of letters ends the word bath? Choose th, ng or nk. A nk B ng C th Choose A, B or C.
5
FWhich pair of letters begins the word thin? Choose sh, th or ch. A th B ch C sh Choose A, B or C.
6
FRead the word: moth. Does the picture show moth? Answer yes or no.
7
FRead the word: bath. Does the picture show bath? Answer yes or no.
8
FRead the word: path. Which picture matches? Choose A, B or C.
ABC
3.2

The sound ng

Level 2
Say the sound for ng, as in ring, wing and song, Choose ng at the end of a word
Video lesson: The sound ngComing soon

The letters n and g together make one sound: /ng/, as in ring, wing and song.

In ring, the sounds are r, i and ng. The ng comes at the end.

Notice that ng is always two letters together, and g is silent in ng words like ring.

Key ideas

  • ng is two letters but one sound.
  • ring has three sounds: r, i, ng.
  • ng usually comes at the end of a word in this section.
  • Keep n and g together.
Worked example 3.2.1
Which picture name ends with the letters ng? Look at the letters, not the picture.pathAringBpotC

Method. Find the name with the letters in the right place.

  1. Read the name under each picture. Look for the letters at the end.
    A: path B: ring C: pot
  2. Find the name that ends with ng. Only one name has these letters in that place.
    ring = picture B
  3. Write the answer.
    B

Check. ring has ng at the end. ✓

Watch out. Read the whole name, then check where the letters are.

Worked example 3.2.2
Which two letters end the word ring? Choose from the list. A ng B nk C th Choose A, B or C.

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

  1. Read each choice. Check which one fits.
    ng / nk / th
  2. Find the one that fits. ring ends with ng, which makes one sound.
    ng is choice A
  3. Write the answer.
    A

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

Watch out. Read every choice before you decide.

Worked example 3.2.3
Which picture name ends with the letters ng? Look at the letters, not the picture.wingAsunBpathC

Method. Find the name with the letters in the right place.

  1. Read the name under each picture. Look for the letters at the end.
    A: wing B: sun C: path
  2. Find the name that ends with ng. Only one name has these letters in that place.
    wing = picture A
  3. Write the answer.
    A

Check. wing has ng at the end. ✓

Watch out. Read the whole name, then check where the letters are.

Watch out

Watch out: a word can end with ng or with nk. These are two different endings.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Say "ng" with the back of the tongue touching the roof of the mouth. Ask the child to point to ng at the end.

Exercise 3B  Practice: the sound ng

1
FWhich two letters end the word wing? Choose from the list. A th B nk C ng Choose A, B or C.
2
FWhich picture name ends with the letters ng? Look at the letters, not the picture.
songAantBhutC
3
FWhich two letters end the word song? Choose from the list. A nk B th C ng Choose A, B or C.
4
FRead the word: wing. Does the picture show wing? Answer yes or no.
5
FRead the word: song. Does the picture show song? Answer yes or no.
6
FWhich pair of letters ends the word wing? Choose ng, nk or th. A th B ng C nk Choose A, B or C.
7
FRead the word: song. Which picture matches? Choose A, B or C.
ABC
3.3

ng or nk at the end

Level 2
Tell apart ng and nk words by reading, Read a word and choose its picture
Video lesson: ng or nk at the endComing soon

Some words end with ng, such as sing. Others end with nk, such as sink.

Read the last two letters. Is it ng or nk? Then read the whole word.

Both endings make one sound each, so count them as one sound.

Key ideas

  • ng and nk are different endings.
  • Read the last two letters.
  • Read the whole word before you choose.
Worked example 3.3.1
Which word ends with ng? Choose sink, sing or sin. A sin B sink C sing Choose A, B or C.

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

  1. Read each choice. Check which one fits.
    sin / sink / sing
  2. Find the one that fits. sing ends with n and g together, so it ends with ng.
    sing is choice C
  3. Write the answer.
    C

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

Watch out. Read every choice before you decide.

Worked example 3.3.2
Which word ends with nk? Choose ring, sink or wing. A ring B sink C wing Choose A, B or C.

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

  1. Read each choice. Check which one fits.
    ring / sink / wing
  2. Find the one that fits. sink ends with n and k together, so it ends with nk.
    sink is choice B
  3. Write the answer.
    B

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

Watch out. Read every choice before you decide.

Worked example 3.3.3
Read the word: sink. Which picture matches? Choose A, B or C.ABC

Method. Read the word first, then find the picture that matches.

  1. Read the word from the left. Sound out each letter, then join the sounds.
    s - i - nk
  2. Look at each picture. Find the picture with that name.
    sink = picture B
  3. Write the answer.
    B

Check. The other pictures show different names: fish, path. ✓

Watch out. Read every letter. Do not guess from the first letter only.

Watch out

Watch out: ring ends in ng, but rink ends in nk. Check the last two letters.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Ask the child to read the last two letters first, then the whole word. Praise careful reading.

Exercise 3C  Practice: ng or nk at the end

1
FWhich picture name ends with the letters nk? Look at the letters, not the picture.
netAsinkBmopC
2
FWhich word ends with ng? Choose wing, win or wink. A wink B win C wing Choose A, B or C.
3
FWhich word ends with nk? Choose song, sank or sing. A song B sing C sank Choose A, B or C.
4
FWhich word ends with ng? Choose ring, rink or rank. A rank B ring C rink Choose A, B or C.
5
FRead the word: song. Does the picture show song? Answer yes or no.
6
FRead the word: wing. Does the picture show wing? Answer yes or no.
7
FRead the word on the card: song. Which word is the same? A song B sang C long Choose A, B or C.
8
FWhich picture name ends with ng? Choose ring, sink or moth. A ring B moth C sink Choose A, B or C.
9
FWhich pair of letters ends the word ink? Choose nk, ng or th. A th B nk C ng Choose A, B or C.
10
FWhich picture name ends with the letters nk? Look at the letters, not the picture.
tentAinkBjamC
3.4

Spelling th and ng

Level 2
Spot the correct spelling for a picture, Fix a word that is almost right
Video lesson: Spelling th and ngComing soon

When you write a word with th or ng, keep the two letters together.

To spell moth, write m, o, th. To spell ring, write r, i, ng.

Check that each digraph is complete before you write the next letter.

Key ideas

  • Keep th together.
  • Keep ng together.
  • Check the picture name first.
Worked example 3.4.1
Look at the picture. Which spelling is right? A moht B moth Choose A or B.

Method. Say the name, then check which spelling has the right letters.

  1. Say the name of the picture slowly. Say each sound, first to last.
    m - o - th
  2. Check each spelling. Only one spelling uses the right letters.
    moth is right; moht is not
  3. Write the answer.
    B

Check. moth matches the picture. ✓

Watch out. moht is not a word we use for this picture.

Worked example 3.4.2
Look at the picture. Which spelling is right? A ring B rinh Choose A or B.

Method. Say the name, then check which spelling has the right letters.

  1. Say the name of the picture slowly. Say each sound, first to last.
    r - i - ng
  2. Check each spelling. Only one spelling uses the right letters.
    ring is right; rinh is not
  3. Write the answer.
    A

Check. ring matches the picture. ✓

Watch out. rinh is not a word we use for this picture.

Worked example 3.4.3
Put these letters in the right order to spell the picture name: t, b, h, a

Method. Say the name slowly, then write its letters in order.

  1. Say the name of the picture slowly. Say each sound, first to last.
    bath
  2. Put the letters in order. Start with the first sound.
    b - a - th
  3. Read the letters from left to right. Check the word matches the picture.
    bath
  4. Write the answer.
    bath

Check. Read the letters back: b - a - th. They make bath. ✓

Watch out. Each letter goes in the order of the sounds, not in alphabetical order.

Watch out

Watch out: ng is two letters that make one sound. Do not write n and g in the wrong order.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Ask the child to say the picture name, then point to the digraph at the end. Write it together.

Exercise 3D  Practice: spelling th and ng

1
FLook at the picture. Which spelling is right? A song B sogn Choose A or B.
2
FPut these letters in the right order to spell the picture name: n, r, i, g
3
FLook at the picture. Which spelling is right? A bahth B bath Choose A or B.
4
FPut these letters in the right order to spell the picture name: n, g, o, s
5
FWhich spelling ends the word for a picture of a song? Choose ng, nk or gn. A nk B gn C ng Choose A, B or C.
6
FLook at the picture. Which spelling is right? A wing B wign Choose A or B.
7
FPut these letters in the right order to spell the picture name: t, o, h, m
8
PSSomeone wrote wig for this picture. Write the correct spelling.
9
PSSomeone wrote pahth for this picture. Write the correct spelling.
3.5

Reading th and ng in words

Level 2
Read a word with th or ng, Find the word with a given ending
Video lesson: Reading th and ng in wordsComing soon

Some words have th and ng in the same word, such as thing.

Read each digraph as one sound. Then join the sounds together: th - i - ng, thing.

Find the picture that matches the whole word, not just one part of it.

Key ideas

  • Read each digraph as one sound.
  • Join the sounds to read the word.
  • Match the whole word to its picture.
Worked example 3.5.1
Read the word: moth. Which picture matches? Choose A, B or C.ABC

Method. Read the word first, then find the picture that matches.

  1. Read the word from the left. Sound out each letter, then join the sounds.
    m - o - th
  2. Look at each picture. Find the picture with that name.
    moth = picture A
  3. Write the answer.
    A

Check. The other pictures show different names: song, wing. ✓

Watch out. Read every letter. Do not guess from the first letter only.

Worked example 3.5.2
Read the word: wing. Which picture matches? Choose A, B or C.ABC

Method. Read the word first, then find the picture that matches.

  1. Read the word from the left. Sound out each letter, then join the sounds.
    w - i - ng
  2. Look at each picture. Find the picture with that name.
    wing = picture C
  3. Write the answer.
    C

Check. The other pictures show different names: mug, sun. ✓

Watch out. Read every letter. Do not guess from the first letter only.

Worked example 3.5.3
Which picture name starts with the letters th? Look at the letters, not the picture.pathApenBshipC

Method. Find the name with the letters in the right place.

  1. Read the name under each picture. Look for the letters at the start.
    A: path B: pen C: ship
  2. Find the name that starts with th. Only one name has these letters in that place.
    path = picture A
  3. Write the answer.
    A

Check. path has th at the start. ✓

Watch out. Read the whole name, then check where the letters are.

Watch out

Watch out: a word can have two digraphs, such as thing. Read each one as one sound.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Ask the child to tap once for each sound: th, i, ng. Then read the whole word with the child.

Exercise 3E  Practice: reading th and ng in words

1
FWhich picture name ends with the letters ng? Look at the letters, not the picture.
songAantBhutC
2
FWhich word has th at the end? Choose bath, bat or ban. A bath B ban C bat Choose A, B or C.
3
FWhich word has ng at the end? Choose bang, bank or bad. A bad B bang C bank Choose A, B or C.
4
FRead the word: path. Does the picture show path? Answer yes or no.
5
FRead the word: ring. Does the picture show ring? Answer yes or no.
6
FRead the word on the card: thin. Which word is the same? A thin B this C then Choose A, B or C.
7
FWhich word has the sound th in the middle? Choose ring, nothing or song. A nothing B ring C song Choose A, B or C.
8
FHow many sounds are in thing? Count th and ng as one sound each. A 2 B 3 C 4 Choose A, B or C.
9
FRead the word: bath. Which picture matches? Choose A, B or C.
ABC
10
FWhich picture name ends with the letters ng? Look at the letters, not the picture.
pathAringBpotC
11
FWhich word has th at the start? Choose thin, tin or tan. A tan B tin C thin Choose A, B or C.

Chapter summary

SkillMethod
thTwo letters, one sound: thin, bath, moth
ngTwo letters, one sound, usually at the end: ring, wing, song
ng or nkRead the last two letters to tell them apart
Spell a digraphKeep th and ng together when you write

Can you…?

  • I can say the sound for th, as in thin, bath and moth
  • I can say the sound for ng, as in ring, wing and song
  • I can choose ng at the end of a word
  • I can tell apart ng and nk words by reading the last two letters

Key terms

th
a digraph that makes one unvoiced sound, as in thin
ng
a digraph that makes one sound at the end of words, as in ring
ending
the letters at the end of a word

Exercise 3Z  Check-up

1
Which picture name starts with the letters th? Look at the letters, not the picture.
ratAbathBcupC
2
Which picture name ends with the letters ng? Look at the letters, not the picture.
pathAringBpotC
3
Which word ends with nk? Choose sing, sink or sin. A sink B sin C sing Choose A, B or C.
4
Look at the picture. Which spelling is right? A moht B moth Choose A or B.
5
Put these letters in the right order to spell the picture name: n, g, w, i
6
Read the word: path. Which picture matches? Choose A, B or C.
ABC
7
Which two letters end the word song? Choose ng, nk or th. A ng B th C nk Choose A, B or C.
8
Read the word: song. Does the picture show song? Answer yes or no.
9
How many sounds are in moth? Count th and ng as one sound each. A 2 B 3 C 4 Choose A, B or C.
10
Which two letters begin the word thin? Choose sh, th or ch. A ch B sh C th Choose A, B or C.

Total 10 marks. Allow about 10 minutes.

Exercise 3X  Practice test questions

1
FWhich picture name starts with the letters th? Look at the letters, not the picture.[1 mark]
mothAinkBtentC
2
FWhich picture name ends with the letters ng? Look at the letters, not the picture.[1 mark]
wingAsunBpathC
3
FWhich word ends with ng? Choose sank, sing or sin. A sin B sank C sing Choose A, B or C.[1 mark]
4
FPut these letters in the right order to spell the picture name: n, g, o, s[1 mark]
5
FRead the word: moth. Which picture matches? Choose A, B or C.[1 mark]
ABC
6
FRead the word: bath. Does the picture show bath? Answer yes or no.[1 mark]
7
FWhich word has the th sound at the start? Choose thin, tin or ring. A thin B ring C tin Choose A, B or C.[1 mark]
8
PSSomeone wrote rig for this picture. Write the correct spelling.[1 mark]
9
FHow many sounds are in bath? Count th and ng as one sound each. A 3 B 4 C 2 Choose A, B or C.[1 mark]
10
FWhich two letters end the word sink? Choose nk, ng or th. A ng B nk C th Choose A, B or C.[1 mark]
← Chapter 2: Consonant digraphs: sh and chChapter 4: Long vowel sounds: ai and ee →

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