Rules
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k when followed by n is silent as in (knee), (knife), (knock)
b when followed by t is silent, as in (debt), (doubt)
b preceded by m is silent, as in (lamb), (limb), (numb)
w when followed by r is silent, as in (wrap), (wring), (wreck)
p followed by s is silent, as in (psalm), (psychology)
g before n is silent, as in (gnaw)
t before ch is silent, as in (watch)
When gh is followed by a vowel, the h is silent as in (ghost), (ghastly),
but when the gh is preceded by a vowel, both the g and the h are silent,
as in (night), (sight). It can also have the f sound as in (trough)
When two vowels are together, the first is long and the second is silent
When e comes at the end of a one-syllable word, it is silent as in (tame),
(tie), (tow), (note)
c hard (can) or soft (face). Usually soft when followed by I or e
ch four sounds: ch (shild), j (sandwich), sh (machine), k (chorus)
ed three sounds: t (stepped), d (rubbed), ed (waited)
f two sounds: f (fall) , v (of)
g hard (gain), or soft (giant). If followed by I or e, it usually has a soft j
sound. It may also have a zh sound (mirage)
h silent in some words: (herb), (humble), (hour)
l silent in some words: (would), (should)
ph may have the sound of f (elephant), or v (Stephen)
qu sound of kw as in (quake), k as in (liquor), k when que is final
(unique)
s three sounds : s as in (bus), z as in (wisdom), sh as in (sure)
w silent when followed by r as in (wrap), (wring)
y may be a consonant as in (yet), or a vowel, long or short as in (my),
(rhythm)
z two sounds: z as in (zeal), and zh as in (azure)
oo (food), (good), (blood)
ou several sounds: oo as in (soup), aw as in bought), oo as in (could), ur
as in (journey) or as a dipthong as in (out)
ough sounds as uff as in (rough), long ō as in (dough), off as in (cough),
ow as in (bough)
oi two sounds: (oil), (choir)
ew two sounds: (crow), (cow)
ar several sounds; (arm), (care), (polar)
x no sound of it’s own . . . .sounds like ks as in (box), also sounds like
gs as in (examine . . . eg-zam-in)
Notes
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h preceded by r is silent, as in (rhyme)
t preceded by s in the middle of many words is silent, as in(fasten)
c preceded by k is silent, as in (lock)
d preceded by g or ge is silent, as (badge)
l with double consonants, only 1 consonant is heard, as in (ball, bell,
bill, doll, bull)
ti,si,ci sh sound, as in (station, possession, delicious)
x sometimes will (in technical terms) give the z sound, (very seldom) as
in (xylophone… zi-lo-fon)
gu always used together sounds like kw … consonant blend
alphabet made up of vowels and consonants … (usually 5 vowels),
(usually 21 consonants)
w/y are sometimes vowels and consonants
when w/y begin syllables or words, they are consonants, as in (watch,
yard)
when w is preceded by a vowel, it is a vowel, as in (yellow, fow)
when y has the long or short sound of I or e, it is a vowel, as in (gym,
cry, pretty, my)
every syllable or word has to have a sounded vowel
final e’s are silent in long words, but they are usually sounded in twoletter words, as in (cake, we)
vowel diagraphs two vowels side by side… (ca, ea, ay, ie, ei)
long a sound (rain, rate, play, obey, bouquet, neighbor, great, reign, aye,
finance, gauge)
short a sound (an, plaid)
long e sound (heel, mete, heal, grief, leisure, pique)
long I sound (sight, tie, height, fly, wild, buy, eye)
short I sound (bit, women, breeches, build, nymph, money, added,
mischief, coffee, here, carriage, clear)
long o sound (though, low, foe, hose, mould, coat, sew, brooch)
short o sound (doll, want)
long u sound (cupid, few, tool, through, shoe, due, do, feud, lieu, beauty)
short u sound (sunk, dove, blood, tough, poor, poise)
consonant blends 2 or 3 consonant letters pronounced rapidly one after
the other
consonant digraphs 2 consonant letters that go together to make one
special sound.