2.1: The Consonant Sound [p]

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Overview

Two ways of spelling the sound [p] are and <pp>.

Examples

In perfect and pop the sound [p] is spelled .

In stopped and tripped [p] is spelled <pp>.

Review

Underline the letter that spells [p] in the word perfect.
Underline the letters that spell [p] in the following words.
\begin{align*}
& \text{open} && \text{appear} && \text{spaghetti} && \text{purple}\\
& \text{puppies} && \text{picture} && \text{perfect} && \text{apple}\\
& \text{helicopter} && \text{people} && \text{stopped} && \text{important}\\
& \text{prevent} && \text{places} && \text{upon} && \text{zipper}
\end{align*}

Now sort the words into these two groups. Be careful! One word goes into both groups.

Words with [p] spelled ...
		<pp>
">
">
">
">
">
">

Two ways of spelling [p] are _______ and _______.

Show Answer

Underline the letter that spells [p] in the word perfect.
Underline the letters that spell [p] in the following words.
\begin{align*}
& o\underline{p}en && a\underline{p}\underline{p}ear && s\underline{p}aghetti && \underline{p}ur\underline{p}le \\
& \underline{p}u\underline{p}\underline{p}ies && \underline{p}icture && \underline{p}erfect && a\underline{p}\underline{p}le \\
& helico\underline{p}ter && \underline{p}eo\underline{p}le && sto\underline{p}\underline{p}ed && im\underline{p}ortant \\
& \underline{p}revent && \underline{p}laces && u\underline{p}on && zi\underline{p}\underline{p}er
\end{align*}

Now sort the words into these two groups. Be careful! One word goes into both groups.

Words with [p] spelled ...
		<pp>
">open	places	puppies
">puppies	spaghetti	appear
">helicopter	perfect	stopped
">prevent	upon	apple
">picture	purple	zipper
">people	important

Two ways of spelling [p] are and <pp>.

Explore More

See if you can find the letters that spell these other consonant sounds.

Underline the letter that spells [b] in the word behind.
Underline the letter that spells [t] in itself.
Underline the letter that spells [d] in wonderful.
Underline the letter that spells [k] in quiet.
Underline the letter that spells [g] in government.

Show Answer

See if you can find the letters that spell these other consonant sounds.

Underline the letter that spells [b] in the word behind.
Underline the letter that spells [t] in itself.
Underline the letter that spells [d] in wonderful.
Underline the letter that spells [k] in quiet.
Underline the letter that spells [g] in government.

Spelling [p]

More than nine times out of ten [p] is spelled . Very nearly all of the other times it is spelled <pp>. So, the sound [p] is spelled or <pp> nearly 100% of the time.

Examples

You can hear the sound [p] at the beginning and end of the word pop.

Review

Underline the letters that spell [p] in the following words:
\begin{align*}
& \text{accompany} && \text{poison} && \text{equipment} && \text{syrup}\\
& \text{supply} && \text{approved} && \text{support} && \text{preferred}\\
& \text{purple} && \text{sleep} && \text{independent} && \text{wrapper}\\
& \text{improve} && \text{attempted} && \text{worship} && \text{stepparent}\\
& \text{pattern} && \text{occupy} && \text{accomplish} && \text{opposite}
\end{align*}

Sort the twenty words above into these three groups:

Words with [p] ...
at the front:	in the middle:		at the end:

You should have found two ways to spell [p]: _____ and _____.
Does the spelling <pp> come at the front of any of these words? _____
How is [p] spelled at the front of words? _____
Does the <pp> spelling come at the end of any of these words? _____
How is [p] spelled at the end of words? _____

Show Answer

Underline the letters that spell [p] in the following words:\begin{align*}
& accom\underline{p}any && \underline{p}oison && equi\underline{p}ment && syru\underline{p} \\
& su\underline{p}\underline{p}ly && a\underline{p}\underline{p}roved && su\underline{p}\underline{p}ort && \underline{p}referred \\
& \underline{p}ur\underline{p}le && slee\underline{p} && inde\underline{p}endent && wra\underline{p}\underline{p}er \\
& im\underline{p}rove && attem\underline{p}ted && worshi\underline{p} && ste\underline{p}\underline{p}arent \\
& \underline{p}attern && occu\underline{p}y && accom\underline{p}lish && o\underline{p}\underline{p}osite
\end{align*}

Sort the twenty words above into these three groups:

Words with [p] ...
at the front:	in the middle:		at the end:
purple	accompany	equipment	sleep
pattern	supply	support	worship
poison	purple	independent	syrup
preferred	improve	accomplish
	approved	wrapper
	attempted	stepparent
	occupy	opposite

You should have found two ways to spell [p]:

and <pp>.
Does the spelling <pp> come at the front of any of these words? No
How is [p] spelled at the front of words?
Does the <pp> spelling come at the end of any of these words? No
How is [p] spelled at the end of words?

Explore More

Word Find. This Word Find contains fifteen words with the spelling <pp>:

\begin{align*}
& \text{supply} && \text{support} && \text{lamppost} && \text{snapped} && \text{kidnapper}\\
& \text{wrapper} && \text{approach} && \text{tipping} && \text{approach} && \text{stepparent}\\
& \text{opposite} && \text{appeal} && \text{oppose} && \text{opportunity} && \text{oppress}
\end{align*}

Show Answer

When [p] Is Spelled <pp>

A double consonant, like <pp>, can be caused by one of these reasons: simple addition, twinning, or assimilation.

A <pp> is caused by simple addition when an element that ends with a joins another element that starts with : lamp + post = lamppost

Sometimes <pp> is caused by twinning: tip + p + ing = tipping

Some cases of <pp> are caused by the assimilation of the prefixes ad-, sub, or ob- in front of stems that start with a : ad + p + peal = appeal

Examples

Each of the following words contains a <pp> because of one of the three reasons just given.

Word	= Analysis	Reason for <pp>
lamppost	= lamp + post	simple addition
appears	= ad + p + pears	assimilation
tipping	= tip + p + ing	twinning

Review

Analyze each word enough to show whether the <pp> was caused by simple addition, twinning, or assimilation. Write the cause in the right column.

Word	= Analysis	Reason for <pp>
1. wrapper	=
2. suppose	=
3. oppose	=
4. snapped	=
5. approaches	=
6. opportunity	=
7. supply	=
8. apply	=
9. slipper	=
10. oppress	=
11. suppress	=
12. stepparent	=
13. unwrapped	=
14. opposite	=
15. support	=
16. kidnapping	=

Think of another word that contains the spelling <pp> for each of the following reasons. Then analyze each word.

Reason	Word	Analysis
17. Simple Addition
18. Twinning
19. Assimilation

20. Three reasons for spelling [p] <pp> are . . .

Show Answer

Word	= Analysis	Reason for <pp>
1. wrapper	= wrap + p + er	twinning
2. suppose	= sub + p + pose	assimilation
3. oppose	= ob + p + pose	assimilation
4. snapped	= snap + p + ed	twinning
5. approaches	= ad + p + proaches	assimilation
6. opportunity	= ob + p + portunity	assimilation
7. supply	= sub + p + ply	assimilation
8. apply	= ad + p + ply	assimilation
9. slipper	= slip + p + er	twinning
10. oppress	= ob + p + press	assimilation
11. suppress	= sub + p + press	assimilation
12. stepparent	= step + parent	simple addition
13. unwrapped	= unwrap + p + ed	twinning
14. opposite	= ob + p + posite	assimilation
15. support	= sub + p + port	assimilation
16. kidnapping	= kidnap + p + ing	twinning

Reason	Word	Analysis
17. Simple Addition	Answers will vary.	Answers will vary.
18. Twinning	Answers will vary.	Answers will vary.
19. Assimilation	Answers will vary.	Answers will vary.

20. Three reasons for spelling [p] <pp> are assimilation, twinning, and simple addition.

Spelling [p] after Short and Long Vowels

The sound [p] shows up in multiple patterns and vowels.

In the VCC pattern, the vowel will usually be short if it is stressed.

In the VCV pattern, the vowel will usually be long if it is stressed.

In the VC# pattern (where the # indicates the end of the word), the vowel will usually be short if it is stressed.

Examples

Determine the pattern where [p] is found and whether the vowel before it makes a short or long sound.

cape - the <a> makes a long <a> sound
VCV
strap - the <a> makes a short <a> sound
VC#
suppose - the makes a short sound
VCC

Review

Underline the letters that spell [p] in each of the following words. Next, find the closest vowel letter before the [p] in each word. Starting with that vowel, mark the pattern--either VCC, VCV, or VC#. In some of the words, there is a consonant between the and the vowel.
\begin{align*}
& \text{accept} && \text{escape} && \text{worship} && \text{occupy}\\
& \text{asprin} && \text{whisper} && \text{type} && \text{unwrap}\\
& \text{pepper} && \text{chapter} && \text{glimpse} && \text{baptize}\\
& \text{symptom} && \text{vapor} && \text{friendship} && \text{happiness}
\end{align*}
There are __________ words with the pattern VCV.
There are __________ words with the pattern VC#.
There are __________ words with the pattern VCC.

Sort the sixteen words into the following matrix.

Words with the pattern ...
	VCC	VCV	VC#
Words with a short vowel before the
Words with a long vowel before the

After a long vowel in the VCV pattern, [p] is always spelled ______. After a short vowel in the VC# pattern, [p] is always spelled ______. After a short vowel in the VCC pattern, [p] is sometimes spelled ______ and sometimes it is spelled ______.

Sort the words with the VCC pattern into the following two groups.

Words with [p] spelled ...
<pp>

Show Answer

Underline the letters that spell [p] in each of the following words. Next, find the closest vowel letter before the [p] in each word. Starting with that vowel, mark the pattern--either VCC, VCV, or VC#. In some of the words, there is a consonant between the and the vowel.
There are __________ words with the pattern VCV.
There are __________ words with the pattern VC#.
There are __________ words with the pattern VCC.

Sort the sixteen words into the following matrix.

Words with the pattern ...
	VCC	VCV	VC#
Words with a short vowel before the	accept aspirin pepper symptom whisper chaper glimpse baptize happiness		worship friendship unwrap
Words with a long vowel before the		escape vapor type occupy

After a long vowel in the VCV pattern, [p] is always spelled ______. After a short vowel in the VC# pattern, [p] is always spelled ______. After a short vowel in the VCC pattern, [p] is sometimes spelled ______ and sometimes it is spelled ______.

Sort the words with the VCC pattern into the following two groups.

Words with [p] spelled ...
<pp>
pepper	accept	whisper	baptize
happiness	aspirin	chapter
	symptom	glimpse

Words with <ple> and <pple>

In words that have a [p] sound with <le> right after it, the [p] is spelled

if it comes right after a consonant or long vowel. But if the [p] comes right after a short vowel sound, it is spelled <pp>.

If there is a consonant between the short vowel and the [p], we only need a single

because the other consonant will fill out the VCCle pattern. But if there is no other consonant, we need both

Examples

In the word people, the second [p] is spelled

because it comes right after a consonant.

In the word ripple, [p] is spelled <pp> to fill the VCCle pattern.

Review

Underline the letter(s) that spell [p] in each word.
\begin{align*}
& \text{pineapple} && \text{cripple} && \text{sample} && \text{staple} && \text{ample}\\
& \text{simple} && \text{ripple} && \text{temple} && \text{quadruple} && \text{maple}\\
& \text{discipline} && \text{steeple} && \text{example} && \text{supple} && \text{people}
\end{align*}

Sort the fifteen words above into this matrix.

Words in which the [p] comes right after a ...
	consonant sound	long vowel sound	short vowel sound
Words with [p] spelled
Words with [p] spelled <pp>

Sort the words with short vowels before the [p] into these two groups. (Note that a consonant sound before the [p] will also give you a short vowel.)

Words with [p] spelled ...
	<pp>
">
">
">
">
">

In the VCle pattern the vowel is __________, but in the VCCle pattern the vowel is _____.
Two ways of spelling [p] are _____ and _____.

Show Answer

Underline the letter(s) that spell [p] in each word.
\begin{align*}
& \underline{p}inea\underline{p}\underline{p}le && cri\underline{p}\underline{p}le && sam\underline{p}le && sta\underline{p}le && am\underline{p}le \\
& sim\underline{p}le && ri\underline{p}\underline{p}le && tem\underline{p}le && quadru\underline{p}le && ma\underline{p}le \\
& disci\underline{p}line && stee\underline{p}le && exam\underline{p}le && su\underline{p}\underline{p}le && \underline{p}eo\underline{p}le
\end{align*}

Sort the fifteen words above into this matrix.

Words in which the [p] comes right after a ...
	consonant sound	long vowel sound	short vowel sound
Words with [p] spelled	simple sample temple example ample	disciple steeple staple quadruple maple people
Words with [p] spelled <pp>			pineapple cripple ripple supple

Sort the words with short vowels before the [p] into these two groups. (Note that a consonant sound before the [p] will also give you a short vowel.)

Words with [p] spelled ...
	<pp>
">simple	pineapple
">sample	cripple
">temple	ripple
">example	supple
">ample

In the VCle pattern the vowel is long, but in the VCCle pattern the vowel is short.
Two ways of spelling [p] are  and <pp>.

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