RAPIDEX ENGLISH SPEAKING COURSE – 08 – COMPOUND LETTERS.
RAPIDEX ENGLISH SPEAKING COURSE – 08 – COMPOUND LETTERS.
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Rapidex English Speaking Course – Lesson 08: Compound Letters
Compound letters are letter combinations in English that produce a unique sound when pronounced together. These combinations are essential for improving pronunciation and fluency in spoken English.
1. What are Compound Letters?
Compound letters are pairs or groups of letters that create a single distinct sound. These are commonly found in digraphs (two-letter sounds) and blends (two or more consonants combined).
2. Types of Compound Letters
A. Vowel Digraphs (Two Vowels Together, One Sound)
| Compound Letter | Example Words | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| ai | rain, train, mail | sounds like “ay” |
| ea | read, seat, meat | sounds like “ee” |
| oa | boat, coat, road | sounds like “oh” |
| ie | pie, tie, die | sounds like “eye” |
| ee | see, tree, feet | sounds like “ee” |
Practice Sentences:
- The rain falls on the train.
- She likes to read books.
- We sail the boat on the lake.
B. Consonant Digraphs (Two Consonants, One Sound)
| Compound Letter | Example Words | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| ch | chair, cheese, chain | “ch” as in church |
| sh | shoe, shop, shine | “sh” as in sheep |
| th | think, three, thank | “th” as in thin |
| ph | phone, photo, phase | “f” sound |
| wh | what, white, where | “wh” as in wheel |
Practice Sentences:
- The chair is near the table.
- Please shop for some shoes.
- I can think about a solution.
C. Consonant Blends (Two or More Consonants Together, Retaining Their Sounds)
| Compound Letter | Example Words | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| bl | blue, black, blanket | b + l sound |
| br | bread, brick, bright | b + r sound |
| cr | cry, crop, crown | c + r sound |
| st | stop, star, store | s + t sound |
| pl | play, plane, please | p + l sound |
Practice Sentences:
- The blue sky looks beautiful.
- He baked bread for breakfast.
- The plane is ready to take off.
3. Importance of Compound Letters
Improves Pronunciation – Helps in speaking fluently.
Enhances Spelling Skills – Helps recognize common letter patterns.
Builds Confidence in English – Makes reading and speaking easier.
4. Practice Exercise
Fill in the blanks with the correct compound letter:
- The __air is fresh in the morning. (ch/sh/th)
- I love to eat __eese. (ch/ph/wh)
- We saw a big __rain outside. (bl/br/st)
- He found a __one on the road. (ph/th/sh)
- The sun is __ight in the sky. (br/bl/cr)
By practicing compound letters, you will improve your English pronunciation and speaking skills. Keep practicing daily!
Would you like more exercises or audio practice tips?
