![](https://cdn.neighbourly.co.nz/images/cache/user_profile_page_picture/profile/57e0c213dd2308.60889688.jpeg?170410)
Useful for both parents and teachers.
SOME USEFUL SPELLING/READING RULES
A vowel-consonant-last letter e makes the long vowel sound.
blade complete alone arrive amuse
When two vowels go walking, the first one usually does the talking .
(exceptions = oi as in join, ou as in south or soup, ie can make a long e sound as in niece, oo as in cook or spoon)
ai = long a sound chain raise faint
oa = long o sound boat coast croak
ea = long e sound reach speak dear
= short e sound bread instead weather
ie = long i sound (but not always – see note) died replied cried
Some other sounds.
aw makes an or sound raw hawk claw
ou makes an ow sound as in cow or an or sound as in your.
loud around thousand
your course pour
a single vowel before double consonants always makes a short sound.
swimming planning spelling cunning stopping
y is a vowel when it sounds like an i or an e.
cycle happy style
c or g followed by an i, e or y makes the soft sound.
giant recent stage century
the or sound can have different spellings.
or as in cord oar as in boar oor as in floor our as in pour aw as in straw
Plurals of words ending in ch, sh, x or s - add es.
church becomes churches flush becomes flushes box becomes boxes bus becomes buses
Plurals of words ending in y
- vowel before the y, just add s
- consonant before the y, the y changes to an i and add es
monkey becomes monkeys city becomes cities
Plurals of words ending in f or fe - sometimes the f changes to a v and you add es
half becomes halves shelf becomes shelves life becomes lives
Plurals of words ending in o - usually add es (there are some exceptions)
potato becomes potatoes mosquito becomes mosquitoes volcano becomes volcanoes
Single syllable words ending with a single vowel followed by a single consonant - the vowel makes a short sound - double the last letter when adding ed or ing.
(if the suffix being added starts with a consonant, this rule doesn’t apply - as in gladly)
chop chopped chopping
slap slapped slapping
step stepped stepping
stun stunned stunning
tip tipped tipping
Final e goes away when ing comes to stay (there are some exceptions).
shine becomes shining shake becomes shaking
Words ending in l - double the l when adding a suffix.
travel travelled travelling
jewel jewellery
Adding ing to words ending with y - the y is retained.
carry becomes carrying
hurry becomes hurrying
Adding ed or ing to verbs ending with c - add a k beforehand.
picnic picnicked picnicking
panic panicked panicking
Verbs ending in ie - change the ie to y before adding ing.
tie becomes tying
lie becomes lying
i before e except after c (there are some exceptions though as in seize or weight)
friend field piece niece
receive ceiling receipt
When you join two words together to make a contraction, the apostrophe goes where letters are left out.
is not = isn’t
could not = couldn’t
they have = they’ve
he will = he’ll
dis or mis as a prefix (only one s)
dishonest disappear misunderstood misrepresent
ful as a suffix (only one l)
wonderful awful dreadful
![](https://cdn.neighbourly.co.nz/images/cache/user_profile_profile_picture/organisation/64a21f0f4f0f50.55185956.png?170410)
Happy Monday, neighbours, can you solve this riddle🤔
What has a neck but no head, two arms but no hands?
Do you think you know the answer to our daily riddle? Don't spoil it for your neighbours! Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm.
Want to stop seeing riddles in your newsfeed? No worries! Simply head here and click once on the Following button.
![Image](https://cdn.neighbourly.co.nz/images/cache/message_max_size/message_images/66cba7d102b271.75933897.png?170410)
![](https://cdn.neighbourly.co.nz/images/cache/user_profile_page_picture/profile/66b1935c874011.45897244.jpeg?170410)
Have you got your tickets yet?
For only $15 a ticket, you could win this brand-new, fully furnished Jennian home located in the coastal town of Cooks Beach, Coromandel.
With golden sandy beaches and lush Coromandel bush, what's not to love about the 150th Heart Foundation Lottery?
Valued at over $1.2 million, this home features three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and an open-plan kitchen, living, and dining area. It is waiting to be loved by its new owner.
Make this property your permanent residence, a classic Kiwi holiday escape, a rental, or simply sell it!
Get your tickets today at heartlottery.org.nz.
![Image](https://cdn.neighbourly.co.nz/images/cache/message_max_size/message_images/66da7f7e0b7b14.54674283.png?170410)
![](https://cdn.neighbourly.co.nz/images/cache/user_profile_profile_picture/organisation/5431e2f56f6da0.99048672.png?170410)
Q&A: Ask a question about...Online Safety
Continuing with Neighbourly's online Q&A with experts in their field, this week we are tackling online safety with Jandy Fiske from Netsafe.
Jandy Fiske has been with Netsafe for nearly 8 years. Starting on their helpline, she's now Netsafe's Community Engagement Advisor. Jandy says: 'I'm passionate about online safety because I strongly oppose bullying and want to support those affected by it.'
Jandy is passionate about protecting vulnerable communities and is promoting online safety to ensure no one falls prey to online scams. She can answer your questions about any type of online scams, and also about online harm such as online bullying.
↓ Ask your question below now and she'll be online on Wednesday, 11th September to reply to you ↓
![Image](https://cdn.neighbourly.co.nz/images/cache/message_max_size/message_images/66d649458ed1d8.20287792.png?170410)