Search

Text Color

Margin Size

Font Type

Enable Dyslexic Font

2.9: The Consonant Sound [j]

Last updated

Jun 15, 2022
Save as PDF
- 2.8: Soft and Hard <g>
- 2.10: The Consonant Sound [ch]

$\newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} }$

$\newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}}$

$\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}$ $\newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}$

( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) $\newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}$

$\newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}$ $\newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}$

$\newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}$ $\newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}$

$\newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}$

$\newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}$

$\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}$

$\newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}$

$\newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}$

$\newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}$

$\newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}$

$\newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}$

$\newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}$

$\newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}$

$\newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}$

$\newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}$ $\newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}$

$\newcommand{\vectorA}[1]{\vec{#1}} % arrow$

$\newcommand{\vectorAt}[1]{\vec{\text{#1}}} % arrow$

$\newcommand{\vectorB}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} }$

$\newcommand{\vectorC}[1]{\textbf{#1}}$

$\newcommand{\vectorD}[1]{\overrightarrow{#1}}$

$\newcommand{\vectorDt}[1]{\overrightarrow{\text{#1}}}$

$\newcommand{\vectE}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash{\mathbf {#1}}}}$

$\newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} }$

$\newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}}$

$\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}$

$\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}$

$\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}$

$\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}$

$\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}$

$\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}$

$\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}$

$\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}$

$\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}$

$\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}$

$\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}$

$\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}$

$\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}$

$\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}$

$\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}$

$\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}$

$\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}$

$\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}$

$\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}$

$\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}$

$\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}$

$\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}$

$\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}$

$\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}$

$\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}$

$\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}$

$\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}$

$\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}$

$\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}$

$\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}$

$\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}$

$\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}$

$\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}$

$\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}$

$\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}$

$\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}$

$\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}$

$\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}$

$\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}$

$\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}$

$\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}$

$\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}$

$\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}$

$\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}$

$\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}$

$\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}$

$\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}$

$\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}$

$\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}$

$\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}$

$\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}$

$\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}$

$\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}$

$\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}$

$\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}$

$\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}$

$\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}$

$\newcommand{\lt}{<}$

$\newcommand{\gt}{>}$

$\newcommand{\amp}{&}$

$\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}$

Overview of the Consonant Sound [j]

Three different ways of spelling [j] are <g>, <j>, and <dg>.

Examples

You can hear the sound [j] at the beginning and end of judge.

Review

Underline the letters that spell [j] in these words. Sometimes [j] is spelled <j>, sometimes <g>, sometimes <dg>. Be careful: One word has the sound [j] spelled two different ways.
$\begin{align*} &\text{pager} && \text{magic} && \text{general} && \text{gym}\\ &\text{enjoy} && \text{joined} && \text{bridge} && \text{danger}\\ &\text{orange} &&\text{language} && \text{judge} && \text{huge}\end{align*}$
Use the twelve words above to answer the following questions.
Spelling #1: [j] is spelled _______ eight times;
Spelling #2: [j] is spelled _______ three times;
Spelling #3: [j] is spelled _______ twice.

Sort the twelve words into these three groups.

Words with ...
Spelling #1	Spelling #1	Spelling #2	Spelling #3

Three ways to spell [j] are _______, _______, and _______.

Show Answer

$\begin{align*} & pa \underline{g}er && ma \underline{g}ic && general && \underline{g}ym \\ & en \underline{j}oy && \underline{j}oined && brid \underline{g}e && dan \underline{g}er \\ & oran \underline{g}e && langua \underline{g}e && \underline{j}ud \underline{g}e && hu \underline{g}e \end{align*}$
In these twelve words:
Spelling #1: [j] is spelled <g> eight times;
Spelling #2: [j] is spelled <j> three times;
Spelling #3: [j] is spelled <dg> twice.

Words with ...
Spelling #1	Spelling #1	Spelling #2	Spelling #3
large	general	enjoy	bridge
orange	gym	joined	judge
magic	danger	judge
language	huge

Three ways to spell [j] are <g>, <j>, and <dg>.

Explore More

The following is a review of other consonant sounds.

Underline the letters that spell [p, b, t, d] in the following words.

$\begin{align*} &\text{fatter} && \text{hardest} && \text{kinder} && \text{numbers}\\ &\text{opening} && \text{water} && \text{system} && \text{spotter}\\ &\text{started} &&\text{simple} && \text{country} && \text{zipper}\\ &\text{stopping} &&\text{ribbon} && \text{bubble} && \text{suddenly}\\ &\text{middle} && \text{beginner} && \text{around} && \text{children}\end{align*}$

Now sort the words into these groups. Be careful! Some words go into more than one group.

Words with ...
[p]	[b]	[t]	[d]

Two ways to spell [p] are _______ and _______, and two ways to spell [b] are _______ and _______.
Two ways to spell [t] are _______ and _______, and two ways to spell [d] are _______ and _______.

Show Answer

$\begin{align*} & fa\underline{tt}er && har\underline{d}es\underline{t} && kin\underline{d}er && num\underline{b}ers \\ & o\underline{p}ening && water && sys\underline{t}em && spo\underline{tt}er \\ & s\underline{t}ar\underline{t}e\underline{d} && sim\underline{p}le && coun\underline{t}ry && zi\underline{pp}er \\ & s\underline{t}o\underline{pp}ing && ri\underline{bb}on && \underline{b}u\underline{bb}le && su\underline{dd}enly \\ & mi\underline{dd}le && \underline{b}eginner && aroun\underline{d} && chil\underline{d}ren \end{align*}$

Words with ...
[p]	[b]	[t]	[d]
opening	ribbon	fatter	started
stopping	beginner	started	middle
simple	bubble	stopping	hardest
spotter	numbers	hardest	kinder
zipper		water	around
		system	suddenly
		country	children
		spotter

Two ways to spell [p] are and <pp>, and two ways to spell [b] are and <bb>.
Two ways to spell [t] are <t> and <tt>, and two ways to spell [d] are <d> and <dd>.

Spelling [j]

The <g> and <dg> spellings of [j] follow the normal pattern for soft <g>. They are always followed by either <e>, , or <y>.

The <dg> spelling is like a double soft <g>. It always has a short vowel in front of it, just as the VCC pattern calls for.

Examples

The sound [j] is spelled <j> in the following words: object, justify, and judge

The sound [j] is spelled <g> in the following words: package, energy, and gym

The sound [j] is spelled <dg> in the following words: acknowledgment, budget, and judge

The sound [j] is spelled <dj> in the following words: adjective and adjustment

Review

You can hear the sound [j] at the beginning and end of the word judge. Underline the letters that spell [j]. Don't include any silent final <e>s in your underlining. You should find four different spellings.

$\begin{align*} &\text{object} && \text{juicy} && \text{judgment} && \text{adjust}\\ &\text{acknowledge} && \text{majestic} && \text{pajamas} && \text{justify}\\ &\text{budget} &&\text{courageous} && \text{hygiene} && \text{energy}\\ &\text{gymnasium} &&\text{grudge} && \text{dejected} && \text{prejudice}\\ &\text{majesty} &&\text{gadget} && \text{oxygen} && \text{digestion}\\ &\text{wreckage} &&\text{adjective} && \text{journalist} && \text{messenger}\end{align*}$

Sort the above words into these four groups.

Words in which [j] is spelled ...
<j>		<g>		<dg>	<dj>

Look at the words in which [j] is spelled either <g> or <dg>. Sort them into the following three groups.

Words in which the <g> or <dg> is followed by ...
an <e>		an <i>	a <y>

When there is a long vowel right in front of the [j], how is the [j] spelled, <g> or <dg>? _______. When there is a short vowel right in front of the [j], how is the [j] spelled, <g> or <dg>? _______. When the [j] is spelled <g>, which letters always follow the <g>?_______, _______, or _______. Does the spelling <j> usually come at the front, in the middle, or at the end of an element? __________. Does <dg> ever come at the front of a word? _______.
The <dj> spelling of [j] is very rare. Find the two words from the list above in which [j] is spelled <dj>. Analyze them into prefix plus stem to show where the <dj> comes from.
Four ways of spelling [j] are _______, _______, _______, and _______.

Show Answer

$\begin{align*} & ob\underline{j}ect && \underline{j}uicy && \underline{j}u\underline{dg}ment && a\underline{dj}ust \\ & acknowle\underline{dg}e && ma\underline{j}estic && pa\underline{j}amas && \underline{j}ustify \\ & bu\underline{dg}et && coura\underline{g}eous && hy\underline{g}iene && ener\underline{g}y \\ & \underline{g}ymnasium && gru\underline{dg}e && de\underline{j}ected && pre\underline{j}udice \\ & ma\underline{j}estic && ga\underline{dg}et && oxy\underline{g}en && di\underline{g}estion \\ & wrecka\underline{g}e && a\underline{dj}ective && \underline{j}ournalist && messen\underline{g}er \end{align*}$

Words in which [j] is spelled ...
<j>		<g>		<dg>	<dj>
object	pajamas	gymnasium	energy	acknowledge	adjective
majesty	dejected	wreckage	digestion	budget	adjust
juicy	journalist	courageous	messenger	grudge
majestic	justify	hygiene		gadget
judgment	prejudice	oxygen		judgment

Words in which the <g> or <dg> is followed by ...
an <e>		an <i>	a <y>
acknowledge	judgment	hygiene	gymnasium
budget	oxygen	grudging	energy
wreckage	digestion
courageous	messenger
gadget

When there is a long vowel right in front of the [j], how is the [j] spelled, <g> or <dg>? <g>. When there is a short vowel right in front of the [j], how is the [j] spelled, <g> or <dg>? <dg>. When the [j] is spelled <g>, which letters always follow the <g>? <e>, , or <y> . Does the spelling <j> usually come at the front, in the middle, or at the end of an element? At the front. Does <dg> ever come at the front of a word? No.

Word with [j] spelled <dj>	Analysis: Prefix + stem
adjective	ad + jective
adjust	ad + just

Four ways of spelling [j] are <j>, <g>, <dg>, and <dj>.

[j] Spelled <d>

Another way of spelling [j], that is <d>, is due to the same kind of palatalization that we encounter in the various spellings of [sh]. Thus, the sound [j] can be spelled <j>, <g>, <dg>, <dj>, and <d>.

Examples

<j>	jumping
<g>	hygiene
<dg>	smudge
<dj>	adjust
<d>	gradual

Review

Underline the letters that spell [j] in the following words.

$\begin{align*} &\text{gradual} && \text{schedule} && \text{procedure} && \text{educate}\\ &\text{pendulum} && \text{graduate} && \text{individual} && \text{arduous}\\ &\text{fraudulent} &&\text{residual} && \text{modulation} && \text{assiduous}\end{align*}$

What letter always follows the <d> in these words? _____.
Underline the letters that spell [j] in the following three words.
$\begin{align*} &\text{cordial} && \text{grandeur} && \text{soldier}\end{align*}$
How does the setting in which <d> spells [j] in these three words differ from the setting in part 1 above?

Sort the following words into the two groups defined below.

$\begin{align*} &\text{graded} && \text{fraudulently} && \text{modulated} && \text{educated}\\ &\text{gradual} && \text{defrauded} && \text{proceeded} && \text{reduced}\\ &\text{pendulum} &&\text{resident} && \text{individual} && \text{arduous}\\ &\text{dependent} &&\text{residual} && \text{undivided} && \text{yardage}\end{align*}$

[j]		[d]

Write the five different ways to spell [j] in the left-hand column below, and in the right-hand column write a word that contains each of the spellings.

	Spellings of [j]	Words that Contain the Spellings
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5

Show Answer

$\begin{align*} & gra\underline{d}ual && sche\underline{d}ule && proce\underline{d}ure && e\underline{d}ucate \\ & pen\underline{d}ulum && gra\underline{d}uate && indivi\underline{d}ual && ar\underline{d}uous \\ & frau\underline{d}ulent && resi\underline{d}ual && mo\underline{d}ulation && assi\underline{d}uous \end{align*}$
What letter always follows the <d> in these words? .
Underline the letters that spell [j] in the following three words.
$\begin{align*} & cor\underline{d}ial && gran\underline{d}eur && sol\underline{d}ier \end{align*}$
How does the setting in which <d> spells [j] in these three words differ from the setting in part 1 above? These words have or <eu> following the <d> while the words in Item 1 have following the <d>.

Words in which <d> spells ...
[j]		[d]
gradual	modulate	graded	individual
pendulum	individual	dependent	undivided
fraudulently	educated	defrauded	educated
residual	arduous	resident	reduced
		proceeded	yardage

	Spellings of [j]	Words that Contain the Spellings
#1	<j>	judge
#2	<g>	hygiene
#3	<dg>	fudge
#4	<dj>	adjective
#5	<d>	gradual

Overview of the Consonant Sound [j]

Examples

Review

Explore More

Spelling [j]

Examples

Review

[j] Spelled <d>

Examples

Review

Support Center

How can we help?