The case of the grapheme --ough

1
The case of the grapheme --ough

• A letter string that has many phoneme sounds-
  lets investigate

2
First lets see how many you can spot. Wipe
boards and pens at the ready?

• Drought Throughout England
• No rain has fallen in England for the last
  eighteen weeks. There is not enough water for
  washing and cleaning, although through careful
  controls, drinking supplies remain. Still Asda is
  making a roaring trade in bottled water. Shoppers
  have even fought over bottles and bought as many
  as restrictions would allow.
• Farmers cannot plough land because it is too dry
  and pig troughs have to be filled by hand. Life
  is decidedly rough for the farmers throughout the
  country.
• Thoughtless people are wasting water by allowing
  taps to drip. Neighbours are asked to remind each
  other of the problem.
• No foreign visitors may enter the country until
  the drought is over.

3
What phoneme sound does the grapheme ough make
in these words?

• Thought
• Thoughtless
• Thoughtful
• Brought
• Fought
• Ought
• nought

4
What phoneme sound does the grapheme ough make
in these words?

• Although
• Though
• dough

5
And these words?

• Drought
• Plough
• bough

6
And these?

• Rough
• Enough
• Tough
• Cough
• trough

7
And finally what about these?

• Through
• Throughout
• Thorough
• Thoroughly
• borough

8
Can you remember all 6 phoneme sounds that can be
made with the grapheme ough?

• Or
• O as in capital O
• Ou as in Ouch!
• Uff
• OO as in moon
• U
• Can you think of examples for each sound?