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AND SOUNDS
NB: These rules are equally relevant to other synthetic phonics programmes
In English there are 26 letters which represent 44 phonemes. These phonemes are
represented by approximately 140 different letter combinations.
Phase 2:
After a short vowel, words end in ss instead of s, ff instead of f, ll instead of l, ck
instead of k (eg hiss, whiff, hill, lick).
NB. These (and zz instroduced in Phase 3) are the only consonants which double in this
position.
Phase 3:
After a short vowel, words end in zz instead of z (eg fizz)
After a digraph, words end in f instead of ff, k instead of ck, l instead of ll (eg reef,
park, heel)
Although not technically at this phase, the following information may be useful:
o At the end of a word /v/ is usually spelled ve (eg have, live).
Phase 4:
CCVC words:
After a short vowel, words end in ss instead of s, ff instead of f, ck instead of k, ll
instead of l, zz instead of z (eg. dress, sniff, block, frill, frizz). This is the same as CVC
words in Phases 2 & 3.
After a digraph, words end in f instead of ff, k instead of ck, l instead of ll (eg scarf,
shark, growl). This is the same as CVC words in Phases 2 & 3.
CVCC words:
After a consonant, words end in f instead of ff, k instead of ck (eg shelf, sink). /l/
doesnt appear in final position. /s/ and /z/ only occur as plurals represented by s.
Phase 5:
CVC and CCVC words: after a digraph, words end in ce or se instead of s (eg horse)
Regional pronunciation: (this is relevant in areas where path is pronounced parth)
/ar/ followed by /s/ (eg grass), /th/ (eg bath) or a consonant cluster (eg plant, ask, clasp) is
written a. Where it is followed by /s/, this is written ss (eg glass).
After /w/ (represented by w, wh or qu), /o/ is often represented by a (eg was, what,
quad)
ai a-e ay
ar (a*) ar
oi oy
ou ow ow
ir ur er (ear or) ir ur er
oo u (oul) -
- ear eer
The initial/medial position is the most problematic in a monosyllabic word, as a vowel phoneme
can usually be represented in more than one way (eg ai and a-e are equally likely in this
position).
In the mini charts below, the grapheme in the column heading is the most likely representation
before the final phonemes shown in that column. Where 2 or more graphemes are in the
column heading (eg ai a-e), both representations are equally likely.
ai a-e ai a-e
/n/ /b/ /d/
nt /f/ /l/
/j/
/k/
/m/
/p/
/s/
/t/
/v/
/z/ (except present tense verbs, which take ays eg plays)
ee ea (e-e):
ee ea ee ea ee ea ie
/d/ /m/ /k/ /f/
/p/ /v/ /l/ /s/
/ch/ /n/
st /t/
o-e oa o o-e oa oa o
/b/ /f/ ld /d/ st
/k/ /t/ /m/
/p/
/v/
/z/
oo u-e:
u-e oo u-e oo
/b/ /f/ /d/
/j/ /l/ /n/
/m/
/p/
/t/
ou ow:
ou ow
/d/ /l/
/s/ /n/
/t/
/ch/
/th/
nd
nt
ir ur er (ear or):
o ir, ur, er are equally likely in initial/medial position.
o or is most likely after w eg worm, work.
aw or a (augh ough):
or a or aw or ough
/k/ /l/ /n/ /t/ (most words taking ough are past tense
/th/ verbs)
/ch/
/m/ (except where it follows w, in which case ar is used eg warm, swarm)
oo u oo u oo oul
/k/ /l/ /t/ /d/
/sh/
e ea:
e ea e ea
/b/ /f/ /d/
/g/ /th/
/j/ lth'
/k/
/l/
/m/
/n/
/p/
/s/
/t/
nt
ee e ea
o e is mostly found in pronouns eg he, she
Phase 6
Adding suffixes:
Consonant suffixes (eg ly, ful, less, ness, ment)
Where the root word has a final y representing /ee/ or /igh/: change the y to i and add
the suffix (eg noisy noisily, merry merriment).
Other types of root words: just add the suffix (eg end endless)
Vowel suffixes (eg. er, est, ing, ed, y, en)
Where the root word has a short vowel and single final consonant: double the final consonant
before adding the suffix (eg big bigger).
Where the root word has a split digraph: remove the final e before adding the suffix (eg
bone bony, wise wisest).
Where the root word has a final y representing /ee/ or /igh/: change the y to i and add
the suffix (eg lucky luckily). The exception is ing, which keeps the y (eg copying, drying).
Other types of root words: just add the suffix (eg cook cooking).
Polysyllabic words:
Each syllable in a word contains a vowel phoneme.
The stressed syllable is often the first one in a word.
Words in which the stressed syllable contains a short vowel:
Many words contain 2 consonants between the short vowel in the first syllable and the vowel
in the second syllable. Where there is only one consonant phoneme a double letter is
required. Eg funny, carrot, dentist.
Words in which the stressed syllable contains a long vowel:
Many words use a single letter to represent the long vowel phoneme in the stressed syllable
eg even, basin, lazy, silent.
Words containing a double r after a vowel:
rr represents /r/ and does not form a digraph with the vowel to make ar, er, ir, or, ur.
Eg marry, parrot, arrow, squirrel