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2.11: The Consonant Sound [sh]

  • Page ID
    7060
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    Overview of the Consonant Sound [sh]

    Sometimes [sh] is spelled <sh>, sometimes <t>, sometimes <c>, sometimes <s>.

    Examples

    You can hear the sound [sh] at the beginning and end of shush.

    Review

    1. Underline the letters that spell [sh].
      \begin{align*} &\text{nation} && \text{publisher} && \text{sheep} && \text{fresh}\\ &\text{ocean} && \text{prevention} && \text{sure} && \text{action}\\ &\text{should} &&\text{opposition} && \text{shipment} && \text{fishing}\end{align*}
    2. In these twelve words
      Spelling #1: the sound [sh] is spelled _______ in six words;
      Spelling #2: the sound [sh] is spelled _______ in four words;
      Spelling #3: the sound [sh] is spelled _______ in one word;
      Spelling #4: the sound [sh] is spelled _______ in one word.
    3. Now sort the twelve words into these four groups:
      Words with ...
      Spelling #1 Spelling #2 Spelling #3 Spelling #4
             
             
             
             
             
             
    4. Four ways of spelling [sh] are _______, _______, _______, and _______. Three ways of spelling [ch] are _______, _______, and _______.
    Show Answer
    1. \begin{align*} & na\underline{t}ion  &&  publi\underline{sh}er  &&  \underline{sh}eep  &&  fre\underline{sh} \\ & ocean  &&  preven\underline{t}ion  &&  \underline{s}ure  &&  ac\underline{t}ion \\ & \underline{sh}ould  && opposi\underline{t}ion  &&  \underline{sh}ipmen\underline{t}  &&  fi\underline{sh}ing \end{align*}
    2. In these twelve words
      Spelling #1: the sound [sh] is spelled <sh> in six words;
      Spelling #2: the sound [sh] is spelled <t> in four words;
      Spelling #3: the sound [sh] is spelled <c> in one word;
      Spelling #4: the sound [sh] is spelled <s> in one word.

    3. Words with ...
      Spelling #1 Spelling #2 Spelling #3 Spelling #4
      should nation ocean sure
      publisher prevention    
      brush opposition    
      shipment action    
      fresh      
      fishing      
    4. Four ways of spelling [sh] are <sh><t><c>, and <s>. Three ways of spelling [ch] are <ch><t>, and <tch> .

    Spelling [sh]

    The three ways of spelling [sh] are <sh>, <ch>, and <sch>. The best known spelling of [sh] is, not too surprisingly, <sh>.

    Examples

    You can hear the sound [sh] at the beginning and end of the word shush.

    An example of [sh] spelled <ch> is parachute.

    An example of [sh] spelled <sch> is schwa.

    Review

    1. Underline the letters that spell [sh] in the following words.
    2. \begin{align*} &\text{shepherdess} && \text{horseshoe} && \text{accomplished} && \text{sheriff}\\ &\text{nourish} && \text{kinship} && \text{shocking} && \text{friendship}\\ &\text{selfish} &&\text{shrieked} && \text{aftershock} && \text{publisher}\\ &\text{shoulder} &&\text{distinguish} && \text{shudder} && \text{vanish}\end{align*}
    3. Sort the words into these two groups.
      Words with [sh] spelled <sh> at the...
      front of an element end of an element
      shepherdess nourish
      shoulder selfish
      horseshoe distinguish
      kinship accomplished
      shrieked publisher
      shocking vanish
      aftershock  
      shudder  
      sheriff  
      friendship  
    4. One common spelling of [sh] is _______, which usually comes at the _______ or at the _______ of an element.
    5. The following words contain two other spellings of [sh] that are not so common as <sh>. Eleven of the words contain [sh] spelled Way #1, and four words contain [sh] spelled Way #2. Underline the letters that spell [sh] in each word.
    6. \begin{align*} &\text{chivalry} && \text{chaperon} && \text{schlemiel}\\ &\text{crochet} && \text{schwa} && \text{machine}\\ &\text{schnook} && \text{champagne} && \text{chauffeur}\\ &\text{parachute} && \text{mustache} && \text{pistachio}\\ &\text{chagrin} && \text{schlock} && \text{nonchalant}\end{align*}
      chivalry chaperon schlemiel
      crochet schwa machine
      schnook champagne chauffeur
      parachute mustache pistachio
      chagrin schlock nonchalant
    7. Sort the words above into the two different groups described below.
       
    8. Three ways to spell [sh] are _______, _______, and ________.
    Show Answer
    1. \begin{align*}  &  \underline{sh}epherdess  &&  horse \underline{sh}oe  &&  accompli \underline{sh}ed  &&   \underline{sh}eriff \\ & nouri \underline{sh}  &&  kin \underline{sh}ip  &&   \underline{sh}ocking  &&  friend \underline{sh}ip \\ & selfi \underline{sh}  &&  \underline{sh}rieked  &&  after \underline{sh}ock  &&  publi \underline{sh}er \\ &  \underline{sh}oulder  && distingui \underline{sh}  &&   \underline{sh}udder  &&  vani \underline{sh} \end{align*}
    2. Words with [sh] spelled <sh> at the...
      front of an element end of an element
      shepherdess nourish
      shoulder selfish
      horseshoe distinguish
      kinship accomplished
      shrieked publisher
      shocking vanish
      aftershock  
      shudder  
      sheriff  
      friendship  
    3. One common spelling of [sh] is <sh>, which usually comes at the front or at the end of an element.
    4. \begin{align*} &  \underline{ch}ivalry  &&   \underline{ch}aperon  &&   \underline{sch}lemiel \\ & cro \underline{ch}et  &&   \underline{sch}wa  &&  ma \underline{ch}ine \\ &  \underline{sch}nook  &&   \underline{ch}ampagne  &&   \underline{ch}auffeur \\ & para \underline{ch}ute  &&  musta \underline{ch}e  &&  pista \underline{ch}io \\ &  \underline{ch}agrin  &&   \underline{sch}lock  &&  non \underline{ch}alant \end{align*}
    5. Words with [sh] spelled...
      Way#1 Way #2
      chivalry mustache schnook
      crochet machine schwa
      parachute chauffeur schlock
      chagrin pistachio schlemiel
      chaperon nonchalant  
      champagne    
    6. Three ways to spell [sh] are <sh><ch>, and <sch>.

    [sh] Spelled <t>

    Although we usually think of <sh> as the way [sh] is spelled, actually it is most often spelled <t>.

    The letter <t> never spells [sh] at the beginning or end of a word. It only spells [sh] somewhere in the middle. In fact, <t> only spells [sh] right at the boundary between the stem and a suffix, always.

    Example

    You can see and hear [sh] spelled <t> in the middle of the word nation

    Review

    1. In some of the following words [sh] is spelled <t>; in some it is spelled differently. Underline the letters that are spelling [sh] in each word.
      \begin{align*} &\text{educational} && \text{presidential} && \text{prescription} && \text{accommodation}\\ &\text{impatience} && \text{initial} && \text{repetition} && \text{fraction}\\ &\text{indication} &&\text{possession} && \text{inventions} && \text{dimension}\\ &\text{expression} &&\text{quotation} && \text{exclamation} && \text{affectionately}\\ &\text{missionaries} && \text{extension} && \text{subtraction} && \text{deletion}\end{align*}
    2. Sort the words into these two groups.
      is spelled <t> is not spelled <t>
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
    3. The <t> spelling of [sh] is very common, but it only occurs in a certain place in a word. Here are a number of words that contain <t>. Sometimes the <t> spells [sh]; sometimes it does not. In the column labeled ‘<t> spells’ write out the sound that <t> spells in each word, as we have done with judgement and partial.
      Words <t> spells Words <t> spells Words <t> spells
      judgement [t] mustache   association  
      partial [sh] conventional   technical  
      affection   initial   proportion  
      traffic   nonchalant   examination  
      nation   extension   reception  
      impatience   incorrect   deletion  
      educated   education   appreciation  
    4. Sort the words from question #3 into this matrix.
        spells [sh] does not spell [sh]
      Words with the <t> at the front or the end    
      Words with the <t> in the middle    
    5. In the words in this matrix, does the letter <t> ever spell the sound [sh] at the front or at the end of a word? _______.
    6. Whenever <t> spells [sh], where is it in the word? _______.
    Show Answer
    1. \begin{align*} & educa\underline{t}ional  &&  presiden\underline{t}ial  &&  prescrip\underline{t}ion  &&  accommoda\underline{t}ion \\ & impa\underline{t}ience  &&  ini\underline{t}ial  &&  repeti\underline{t}ion  &&  frac\underline{t}ion \\ & indica\underline{t}ion  && posse\underline{ss}ion  &&  inven\underline{t}ions  &&  dimen\underline{s}ion \\ & expre\underline{ss}ion  && quo\underline{t}a\underline{t}ion  &&  exclama\underline{t}ion  &&  affec\underline{t}iona\underline{t}ely \\ & mi\underline{ss}ionaries  &&  ex\underline{t}ension  &&  subtrac\underline{t}ion  &&  dele\underline{t}ion \end{align*}
    2. Words in which [sh]...
      is spelled <t> is not spelled <t>
      educational inventions expression
      impatience exclamation missionaries
      indication subtraction possession
      presidential accommodation extension
      initial fraction dimension
      quotation affectionately  
      prescription deletion  
      repetition    
    3. Words <t> spells Words <t> spells Words <t> spells
      judgement [t] mustache [t] association [sh]
      partial [sh] conventional [sh] technical [t]
      affection [sh] initial [sh] proportion [sh]
      traffic [t] onchalant [t] examination [sh]
      nation [sh] extension [t] reception [sh]
      impatience [sh] incorrect [t] deletion [sh]
      educated [t] education [sh] appreciation [sh]
    4. Words in which <t> ...
        spells [sh] does not spell [sh]
      Words with the <t> at the front or the end  

      judgement

      traffic

      nonchalant

      incorrect

      technical

      Words with the <t> in the middle

      partial

      affection

      nation

      impatience

      conventional

      initial

      education

      association

      proportion

      examination

      reception

      deletion

      appreciation

      educated

      mustache

    5. In the words in this matrix does the letter <t> ever spell the sound [sh] at the front or at the end of a word? No.
    6. Whenever <t> spells [sh], where is it in the word? In the middle.

    [sh] Spelled <c>, <sc>, <ss>, and <s>

    The eight ways of spelling [sh] are <sh>, <ch>, <sch>, <t>, <c>, <s>, <sc> and <ss>.

    Those spellings of [sh] that are always followed by an unstressed <i> and another unstressed vowel are <t>, <c>, <s>, <sc>, and <ss>.

    Examples

    <c> <s> <ss> <sc>
    official       dimension  succession conscience

    Review

    1. Underline the letters that spell [sh] in the following words.
      \begin{align*} &\text{expression} && \text{official} && \text{dimension} && \text{conscience}\\ &\text{social} && \text{suspicious} && \text{succession} && \text{missionary}\\ &\text{consciously} &&\text{financial} && \text{electrician} && \text{possession}\\ &\text{racial} &&\text{intermission} && \text{apprehension} && \text{specifically}\\ &\text{extension} &&\text{suspension} && \text{sufficiently} && \text{mansion}\end{align*}
    2. Sort the words into these four groups.
      Words with [sh] spelled...
      <c> <s> <ss> <sc>
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
      Look carefully at your four groups of words and answer the following questions.
    3. When [sh] is spelled <s>, <c>, <sc>, or <ss>, are the next two letters always vowels or consonants or what? _______.
    4. What letter always comes right after the <s>, <c>, <sc>, or <ss>? _______.
    5. Do the vowels after the <s>, <c>, <sc>, or <ss> have weak stress or heavy stress? _______.
    6. There is one more spelling of [sh]. Underline the letters that spell [sh] in these words.
      \begin{align*} &\text{sugar} && \text{assured} && \text{insurance}\\ &\text{fissure} && \text{pressure} && \text{issue}\\ &\text{tissue} && \text{censure} && \text{sure}\end{align*}In these words (and pretty much these words only), [sh] is spelled <s> or <ss> with no <i> or second vowel following.
    7. In these words what letter always comes after the <s> or <ss>? _______.
    8. What letter almost always comes after that one? _______.
    Show Answer
    1. \begin{align*} & expre\underline{ss}ion  &&  offi\underline{c}ial  &&  dimen\underline{s}ion  &&  con\underline{sc}ience \\ & so\underline{c}ial  &&  suspi\underline{c}ious  &&  succe\underline{ss}ion  &&  mi\underline{ss}ionary \\ & con\underline{sc}iously  && finan\underline{c}ial  &&  electri\underline{ci}an  &&  posse\underline{ss}ion \\ & ra\underline{ci}al  && intermi\underline{ss}ion  &&  apprehen\underline{s}ion  &&  spe\underline{ci}fically \\ & exten\underline{s}ion  && suspen\underline{s}ion  &&  suffi\underline{ci}ently  &&  man\underline{s}ion \end{align*}
    2. Words with [sh] spelled...
      <c> <s> <ss> <sc>
      social extension expression consciously
      racial suspension intermission conscience
      official dimension succession  
      suspicious apprehension missionary  
      financial mansion possession  
      electrician      
      sufficiently      
      specially      
    3. When [sh] is spelled <s> <c>, <sc>, or <ss>, are the next two letters always vowels or consonants or what? Always vowels.
    4. What letter always comes right after the <s> ,<c>, <sc>, or <ss>? <i>.
    5. Do the vowels after the <s>, <c>, <sc>, or <ss> have weak stress or heavy stress? Weak.
    6. There is one more spelling of [sh]. Underline the letters that spell [sh] in these words.
      \begin{align*} & \underline{s}ugar  &&  a\underline{ss}ured  &&  in\underline{s}urance \\ & fi\underline{ss}ure  &&  pre\underline{ss}ure  &&  i\underline{ss}ue \\ & ti\underline{ss}ue  &&  cen\underline{s}ure  &&  \underline{s}ure \end{align*}In these words (and pretty much these words only), [sh] is spelled <s> or <ss> with no <i> or second vowel following.
    7. In these words what letter almost always comes after the <s> or <ss>? <u>.
    8. What letter almost always comes after that one? <r>.

    Explore More

    In each of the following pairs of words the <t>, <c>, <s>, <ss>, and <sc> sometimes spell [sh] and sometimes do not. Be ready to discuss why they do not spell [sh] in those words in which they do not.

    \begin{align*} &\text{social} && \text{society}\\ &\text{prediction} && \text{predicting}\\ &\text{finances} && \text{financial}\\ &\text{official} && \text{office}\\ &\text{completion} && \text{complete}\\ &\text{conscience} && \text{science}\\ &\text{physician} && \text{physical}\\ &\text{recess} && \text{recession}\\ &\text{description} && \text{descriptive}\\ &\text{patent} && \text{patient}\\ &\text{partial} && \text{part}\end{align*}


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