Sounds : Long and Short Vowels for Class 1 English

A proper understanding of vowels plays a very important role in kids’ learning. In this learning concept, students will get to learn vowel phonic sounds for long and short vowels that will help to improve their pronunciation.

In this learning concept, the students will learn about:

• Identify the long vowel sounds and short vowel sounds.
• The difference between long and short vowel sound
• The words with two vowels together.

Each concept is elaborated to class 1 English students using definitions, examples, illustrations, common mistakes, and concept maps. Once you go through the concept, check your learning by solving the two printable worksheets given at the end of the page.
Download the long and short vowel worksheets and check your answers with the worksheet solutions provided in PDF format.

What are the Vowels in English?

• A vowel is a letter of the alphabet that illustrates an open sound. A letter that produces sound by allowing the breath to come out of the mouth without any interference.
• Vowels are five vowels in the English Alphabet. They are a, e, i, o, and u.

A vowel has more than one sound. Vowels can be divided into two parts based on their sounds – a) Long vowel sound and b) Short vowel sound.

 

a)What is a Long Vowel Sound?

When a vowel is said, sometimes the sound it makes is that of a long vowel sound.

There are two ways when long vowel sounds are used.

i. A long vowel sound is made when two vowels sit next to each other in a word.

   Examples:

1. When ‘e’ and ‘a’ sit together, it makes a long /e/ sound.

 

 

2. When ‘i’ and ‘e’ appear next to each other it makes a long /i/ sound.

 

3. If we put together ‘a’ and ‘i’, the word makes a long /a/ sound.

 

4. If two ‘o’s sit together, it makes a long /u/ sound.

 

5. When two ‘e’s sit together in a word, it makes a long /e/ sound..