The case of the grapheme -ough
A letter string that has many
phoneme sounds- let’s investigate
First let’s see how many you can spot. Wipe boards and
pens at the ready?
Drought Throughout England
No rain has fallen in England for the last eighteen
weeks. There is not enough water for washing and
cleaning, although through careful controls,
drinking supplies remain. Still Asda is making a
roaring trade in bottled water. Shoppers have even
fought over bottles and bought as many as
restrictions would allow.
Farmers cannot plough land because it is too dry and
pig troughs have to be filled by hand. Life is
decidedly rough for the farmers throughout the
country.
Thoughtless people are wasting water by allowing
taps to drip. Neighbours are asked to remind each
other of the problem.
No foreign visitors may enter the country until the
drought is over.
What phoneme sound does the grapheme –ough make in
these words?
Thought
 Thoughtless
 Thoughtful
 Brought
 Fought
 Ought
 nought

What phoneme sound does the grapheme –ough make in
these words?
Although
Though
dough
And these words?
Drought
Plough
bough
And these?
Rough
Enough
Tough
Cough
trough
And finally what about these?
Through
 Throughout

Thorough
 Thoroughly
 borough

Can you remember all 6 phoneme sounds that can be
made with the grapheme ough?
Or
 O as in capital O
 Ou as in Ouch!
 Uff
 OO as in moon
U
 Can you think of examples for each
sound?
