🔤 Detailed Explanation: Choose the Word that Matches the Picture – -ss, -ll, -ff, -zz, -ck

When you are asked to choose the word that matches a picture, it can be fun to use what you know about sounds and spelling! Today, we are learning about some special endings or patterns in words: -ss, -ll, -ff, -zz, and -ck. These are called consonant digraphs and double consonants. Let’s find out how to spot them in words and how they help us read and write!

❓ What Are -ss, -ll, -ff, -zz, and -ck?

These are groups of letters that usually come at the end of some words. They help make the word sound just right! For example:

  • -ss sounds like the sound at the end of “glass” or “kiss.”
  • -ll sounds like the end of “bell” or “hill.”
  • -ff sounds like the ending of “puff” or “staff.”
  • -zz sounds like the buzzing noise in “buzz” or “fizz.”
  • -ck is a special sound like in “duck” or “back.”

📚 Phonics Rules for These Patterns

  1. Double Letters (-ss, -ll, -ff, -zz):
    Many short words have a double letter at the end when the word has a short vowel sound before it. For example, “bell” has a short “e” sound, and we double the “l” to make the ending sound strong.
  2. -ck Sound:
    The letters “c” and “k” together usually come after a short vowel sound in a one-syllable word. For example, in “duck” or “pack,” the short vowel sound comes first, then the “ck” letters.

📝 Common Words Using These Patterns

Here are some words you might see that match pictures:

  • -ss: kiss, pass, miss, boss
  • -ll: bell, hill, ball, will
  • -ff: puff, off, cliff, sniff
  • -zz: buzz, fizz, jazz, buzz
  • -ck: duck, back, stick, clock

👀 How to Choose the Right Word for the Picture

  1. Look at the Picture Carefully: What do you see? Is it a bell or a hill? Is it a duck or a dog?
  2. Listen to the Word’s Sound: Can you hear the double ending sound, like “ss” or “ll”? Or does it end with a “ck” sound?
  3. Look at the Word Choices: Find the words that have the right letter patterns to match what you hear and see.
  4. Think About the Sound Before the Ending: Is the vowel sound short? Then the word probably ends with -ss, -ll, -ff, -zz, or -ck.

💡 Tips to Remember

  • Double letters usually come after a short vowel in the word.
  • The “ck” is used instead of just “k” after a short vowel at the end of words.
  • Practice reading lots of words with these endings to get better.
  • Say the word out loud and listen carefully to the last sound.
  • Use pictures to help you know what the word should be.

By practising these spelling patterns, you will get really good at choosing the right word that matches the picture and at reading and writing new words!

✏️ 20 Examination-Style Questions with Answers: Choose the Word that Matches the Picture: -ss, -ll, -ff, -zz, -ck

Here are 20 questions for Year 1 children to choose the correct word that matches each picture. Each question focuses on words ending with the suffixes -ss, -ll, -ff, -zz, and -ck. This helps with recognising spelling patterns and sounds, as taught in the Key Stage 1 English curriculum.


Question 1

Look at the picture of a big cat with stripes. Which word matches the picture?

  • a) tass
  • b) tass
  • c) tass
  • d) hiss

Answer: d) hiss

Question 2

Look at the picture of a small piece of undone string. Which word is right?

  • a) ball
  • b) ball
  • c) ball
  • d) call

Answer: d) call

Question 3

Look at the picture of a buzzing insect. Which word matches the picture?

  • a) buzz
  • b) fuzz
  • c) buzz
  • d) jazz

Answer: a) buzz

Question 4

Look at the picture of a yellow flower. Which word is right?

  • a) bell
  • b) bell
  • c) bell
  • d) yell

Answer: c) bell

Question 5

Look at the picture of a soft pillow. Which word matches the picture?

  • a) fill
  • b) pill
  • c) fill
  • d) hill

Answer: a) fill

Question 6

Look at the picture of a fox. Which word matches the picture?

  • a) luck
  • b) duck
  • c) suck
  • d) pack

Answer: b) duck

Question 7

Look at the picture of a red fluffy tail. Which word is right?

  • a) puff
  • b) cuff
  • c) puff
  • d) tuff

Answer: a) puff

Question 8

Look at the picture of a clock on the wall. Which word matches the picture?

  • a) block
  • b) clock
  • c) flock
  • d) rock

Answer: b) clock

Question 9

Look at the picture of a kiss. Which word is right?

  • a) miss
  • b) hiss
  • c) kiss
  • d) bliss

Answer: c) kiss

Question 10

Look at the picture of a ball. Which word matches the picture?

  • a) call
  • b) ball
  • c) hall
  • d) fall

Answer: b) ball

Question 11

Look at the picture of a buzzing bee. Which word is right?

  • a) buzz
  • b) fizz
  • c) jazz
  • d) fuzz

Answer: a) buzz

Question 12

Look at the picture of a tall building. Which word matches the picture?

  • a) tall
  • b) fall
  • c) mall
  • d) call

Answer: a) tall

Question 13

Look at the picture of a fluffy dog. Which word is right?

  • a) sniff
  • b) fluff
  • c) puff
  • d) cliff

Answer: b) fluff

Question 14

Look at the picture of a pack of cards. Which word matches the picture?

  • a) pack
  • b) back
  • c) sack
  • d) tack

Answer: a) pack

Question 15

Look at the picture of a fox’s soft tail. Which word is right?

  • a) cuff
  • b) puff
  • c) stuff
  • d) fluff

Answer: d) fluff

Question 16

Look at the picture of a bell ringing. Which word matches the picture?

  • a) bell
  • b) sell
  • c) well
  • d) tell

Answer: a) bell

Question 17

Look at the picture of a buzzing bee. Which word is right?

  • a) fizz
  • b) buzz
  • c) jazz
  • d) whizz

Answer: b) buzz

Question 18

Look at the picture of a tall tree. Which word matches the picture?

  • a) tall
  • b) ball
  • c) fall
  • d) mall

Answer: a) tall

Question 19

Look at the picture of a red fox. Which word is right?

  • a) pack
  • b) tack
  • c) sack
  • d) fox

Answer: a) pack

Question 20

Look at the picture of a dog sleeping on a pillow. Which word matches the picture?

  • a) pill
  • b) hill
  • c) fill
  • d) chill

Answer: c) fill


These questions help you practice choosing the word with the correct ending sounds -ss, -ll, -ff, -zz, and -ck. Keep practising spelling and reading the words carefully!