Sound Advice

Certain letter combinations can provide us with clues as to how to pronounce English words. Normally speaking, words with "ay" ( ex: pay ) or "ai" ( ex: train ) together will create a "long a" sound. Words in which the letter "a" is followed by a consonant and then the letter "e" ( ex: gate ) will produce the same sound. When the letter "a" is proceded by a consonant and is followed by one or more consonants and then another vowel ( ex: paste ) it will usually make the same "long a" sound as well. Below, you can try your hand at identifying words that contain the "long a" sound.

Look at the spelling of the following words and try to choose which word has the "long a" sound. You can check your answers by clicking on the arrows. Click the answer button to see the correct answer.

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If you don't understand the meaning of certain words feel free to visit our "Tools Section" to use the dictionary of your choice.

Which of these words has a "long a" sound?
Click here to hear the "long a" sound.

1.       fat      brace      zebra      argue   
   
   Click here to hear the correct answer.
   Answerbrace

2.       stay      crease      arrow      foam   
   
   Click here to hear the correct answer.
   Answerstay

3.       batter      crease      car      braid   
   
   Click here to hear the correct answer.
   Answerbraid

4.       ham      plan      basic      sat   
   
   Click here to hear the correct answer.
   Answerbasic

5.       foreman      eager      lawn      raisin   
   
   Click here to hear the correct answer.
   Answerraisin

6.       page      tap      battle      fancy   
   
   Click here to hear the correct answer.
   Answerpage

7.       sand      tan      eraser      tease   
   
   Click here to hear the correct answer.
   Answereraser

8.       essay      land      many      add   
   
   Click here to hear the correct answer.
   Answeressay

9.       flat      daydream      camera      agreeable   
   
   Click here to hear the correct answer.
   Answerdaydream

10.       umbrella      acceptable      actor      lazy   
    
    Click here to hear the correct answer.
    Answerlazy

Find the word in the sentence that has the "long a" sound.

Read the sentences and try to determine which word contains the "long a" sound. You can check your answers by clicking on the arrows.

1. The plane arrived ahead of schedule.
   Answerplane

2. The baby cried because he was left alone in the car..
   Answerbaby

3. My brother scared me when he ran across the room.
   Answerscared

4. The little boy has a pain in his arm.
   Answerpain

5. Alfred is a dynamic hockey player.
   Answerplayer

Sites worth visiting


This page is well worth the wait. You can hear and visualize vowel sounds. This is good for spelling and pronunciation.Click here.


This page lets you play a game called snap. The idea is to recognize vowel sounds in different words. You need shockwave for this game. It takes a while to load, but it could definetly be of help to someone who has difficulty spelling in english.Click here.


If you want to get away from the computer, print a page or two and then reassemble the sentences on your own time.Click here.


Great idea! This page offers you stories and poems that you can hear. You can check your comprehension and practice your pronunciation at the same time.Click here.