🧩 Detailed Explanation of Blending Sounds in Words

Blending sounds in a word means putting all the sounds together to say the whole word. When we blend, we say each sound a little bit fast until they join into one word. This helps us to read new words and understand them.

🔤 What Does It Mean to Blend Sounds?

In Year 1 English, you learn to hear each sound (phoneme) in a word. For example, the word “cat” has three sounds: /c/ /a/ /t/. When you blend, you say these sounds smoothly together – caaaat.

📝 How to Blend Sounds Step by Step

  1. Look at the word: Say each sound one by one. For “dog,” say /d/ /o/ /g/.
  2. Say the sounds slowly: Start by saying /d/ and /o/ together – doo.
  3. Add the next sound: Now add /g/ to make /d/ /o/ /g/ – dog.
  4. Say the whole word clearly: You have blended all the sounds to say “dog”!

🎯 Practice Blending with Simple Words

Try with words like:

  • sit – /s/ /i/ /t/
  • pin – /p/ /i/ /n/
  • run – /r/ /u/ /n/

Say each sound then blend them quickly into one word.

💡 Tips to Help You Blend Better

  • Use your finger to point to each letter as you say its sound.
  • Listen carefully to each sound before blending.
  • Practice every day with new words to get quicker.
  • Remember, blending sounds helps you to read more words and understand stories!

Blending sounds is like putting a puzzle together—each sound is a puzzle piece, and when you join them, you get a whole word! Keep trying, and you will get better and better at blending sounds in words.

📝 20 Examination-Style Questions with Answers on Blending Sounds for Year 1 English

Here are 20 examination-style questions that help Year 1 students practise how to blend each sound in a word together. These questions follow the National Curriculum and are perfect for Key Stage 1 learners.

❓ Questions

  1. What word do these sounds make? /c/ /a/ /t/
  2. Blend the sounds /d/ /o/ /g/. What is the word?
  3. Say the word formed by blending /s/ /u/ /n/.
  4. Blend these sounds /p/ /i/ /g/ to say the word.
  5. What word do you hear if you blend /r/ /a/ /t/?
  6. Blend the sounds /b/ /a/ /t/ to say the word.
  7. Say the word by blending /f/ /i/ /sh/.
  8. What word is made by blending /m/ /a/ /t/?
  9. Blend these sounds /c/ /o/ /p/. What is the word?
  10. Say the word that comes from blending /j/ /a/ /m/.
  11. What word do the sounds /h/ /a/ /t/ make?
  12. Blend the sounds /l/ /i/ /p/ and say the word.
  13. What word do you hear when blending /d/ /i/ /g/?
  14. Say the word made by blending /r/ /u/ /n/.
  15. Blend the sounds /s/ /i/ /t/ and say the word.
  16. What word is made by blending /p/ /a/ /n/?
  17. Blend the sounds /k/ /i/ /d/ to say the word.
  18. Say the word formed by blending /t/ /o/ /p/.
  19. What is the word when you blend /n/ /e/ /t/?
  20. Blend the sounds /f/ /a/ /n/ and say the word.

✅ Answers

  1. cat
  2. dog
  3. sun
  4. pig
  5. rat
  6. bat
  7. fish
  8. mat
  9. cop
  10. jam
  11. hat
  12. lip
  13. dig
  14. run
  15. sit
  16. pan
  17. kid
  18. top
  19. net
  20. fan

These questions help you practise the skill of blending each sound in a word together. Try saying each sound slowly and then join them to make the whole word. This will help you become a great reader!