Special Vowel Combinations -LL

Special Vowel Combinations -LL

• In single-syllable words, vowels followed by a double l (-ll) can change the vowel sounds
• The -LL Special Vowel Combinations are: -all, -ell, -oll, -ull, -ill
• -all has a short o sound: call, fall, mall
• -oll has a long o sound: roll, toll, troll (exceptions: doll, loll)
• -ull has two different sounds: short u and oo: gull vs pull, dull vs bull
• Identify the sound by marking the vowel with an x and arcing the vowel and -ll together

Special Vowel Combinations -NG, -NK

• In single-syllable words, vowels followed by -ng or -nk can change the vowel sounds
• The -NG Special Vowel Combinations are: -ang, -ing, -ong, -ung
• The -NK Special Vowel Combinations are: -ank, -ink, -onk, -unk
• Vowel e does not generally stand with -ng and -nk (exceptions: England, English, length, strength)
• No words are spelled with -enk
• The new sounds for -ang and -ank: a has a long sound (e.g., bang, rang, sank, tank)
• The new sound for -ing and -ink: i has the sound of long e (e.g., ring, cling, pink, sink)
• Adapt pronunciation to fit the dialect in your region, if necessary
• Identify the sound by marking the vowel with an x and arcing the vowel and -ng/-nk together

LL Digraphs

• The LL digraph is a combination of two L's that together represent a single phoneme (distinct sound) in a word.

Pronunciation

• The LL digraph is pronounced as a "dark L" sound, which is a soft, relaxed L sound, often heard in British English.

Examples of Words with LL Digraphs

• all
• bell
• dall
• fill
• full
• skill
• swell
• will

Rules for LL Digraphs

• LL is often found in words that have a Latin or Old English origin.
• The LL digraph can appear at the beginning, middle, or end of a word.
• When LL appears at the end of a word, it is usually preceded by a vowel.

Spelling Patterns with LL

• LL often follows a short vowel sound.
• LL can be found in words with the -all, -ell, -ill, or -ull patterns.

Common Words with LL Digraphs

• bell
• bill
• cell
• dell
• dwell
• sell
• shell
• spell
• swell
• tell
• will