Words with WHPronunciation of Wh- at the start of words
In most English dictionaries, in words with the letter combination WH,
the W is rendered as silent. For example: The Oxford Dictionary gives
exactly the same pronunciation guide (wot) to watt (a unit of electricity)
and what, as in
What do you pay for a watt of electricity?
However, in practice the Irish, Scots, Welsh and Northern English
regard the W as silent in only a limited number of words (such as whole,
who - pronounced hole, hoo). Otherwise, we use a sound like whuh (the
sound you might make in blowing out a candle) in words like wheat,
whether, which.
Strangely enough, this is because we keep the earlier
sound, originally spelled HW- as in the old English hwaer for where.
What has this got to do with spelling? If you are Irish, it may actually
help to emphasise that whuh sound at the start of words to help you
remember words easily confused:
whether
weather
where
were
Sometimes it helps to make up a sentence that you practise to reinforce
the spelling :
Whether the weather is rainy or dry, I go for a walk every day.
Where were you when I needed you?
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Exercise 1 - Words starting with WHChoose the correct word from the box below to fill the gaps:
wheel
while
whip
whirl
wheat
whisper
whistle
wheeze
whiskey (Irish or U.S.)
whisky (Scotch)
1.
In the raffle I won a bottle of Scotch wh - - - - and a bottle of
Irish wh - - - - -.
2.
She is a coeliac and cannot have any foods which include the
gluten of wh - - - .
3.
I have been working hard wh - - - you were sitting around
reading the paper.
4.
The referee blew his wh - - - - - and the match was over.
5.
The week before the wedding went by in a wh --- of
preparations.
6.
Halfway there I got a puncture in the front wh - - - of my bike.
7.
The jockey was punished for overuse of the wh - -.
8.
The baby still had a bad cold and a frightening wh ---- in her
chest.
9.
All the time I was talking, I could hear them carrying on a
conversation is a loud wh - - - - - .
Answers to exercises on Last Page
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Exercise 2 WH- Words
what
when
whatsoever
where
why
whenever
which
whether
whereabouts
whereas
Rewrite the sentences, putting in the appropriate word from the box
above:
1. _________ do you think you are going?
2. _______ are you making such a fuss?
3. People turned to stare _______ she came into a room.
4. She was blonde __________ her twin was dark.
5. I have no intention _________ of changing my mind about it.
6. He didn’t know ____ to do for the best.
7. She didn’t know _________of the dresses to choose for the party.
8. You are going to have to go, ________ you like it or not.
9. Give her my regards _____ you see her next.
10. The police were looking for any information about the
___________ of the suspects.
Answers to exercises on last page
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Exercise 3 - WH- Words having a silent W
who
whose
whom
whole
wholesome
wholesale
wholemeal
wharf*
* wharf = a platform built along a shore. You will often find it now in
the address of fashionable waterside apartments - Fisherman’s Wharf.
Fill the gaps with one of the words above:
1.
There is somebody here to - - - - we owe our success.
2.
He is the man - - - - - hard work and persistence has made all this
possible.
3.
I suppose you know - - - I am talking about.
4.
I am trying to eat more - - - - - - - - - food so I eat - - - - -- - - bread.
5.
Did you mean he was listening the - - - - - time we were talking
about him?
6.
If you want to save some money, I can get it for you - - - - - - - -.
7.
The new apartment building by the river is called Fisherman’s - - - -.
Answers to exercises on last page
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Answers
Exercise 1:
1.
Scotch whisky, Irish whiskey 2. Wheat 3. While 4. Whistle
5. Whirl 6. Wheel 7. Whip 8. Wheeze 9 whisper
Exercise 2:
1. where 2. why 3. when or whenever 4. whereas 5 . whatsoever
6. what 7. which 8. whether 9. when 10. whereabouts *
* Some other similar words are:
wherever, whereupon,
whereby
wherewithal
Exercise 3:
1. whom 2. whose 3. who 4. wholesome, wholemeal
5. whole 6. wholesale. 7. Wharf
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