Words and patterns with the "sh" sound

How to spell the "sh" sound.

In this lesson we're looking at the letter patterns that have the "sh" sound in them.

Letter patterns are also called spelling patterns and letter strings.

Good spellers know common letter patterns and can write them automatically. Good spellers also know the different sounds that go with these letter patterns.

How many ways can you spell the sound "sh"? Think of the endings of words as well. For example - sheep, nation, obsession.

We have the common -sh- pattern - sheep, wish, fashion
-sion mission, permission, session, passion
-sure pressure, sure, assure, reassure (but treasure, measure, leisure have a slightly different sound - "zhu" sound)
-cial social, special, official
-ient / -cient, -tient ancient, sufficient, patient
-sue tissue, issue
-tial essential, substantial, partial
-tion lotion, portion, condition
ocean
-sia / -sian Asia/Asian, Russia/Russian, Persia/Persian
-cious gracious, delicious, ambitious
su- sugar, sure, insurance
French influence: chef, machine, champagne, brochure, moustache

Do the spelling test below.

Pen and paper at the ready. Write out the sentences, listen and fill in the gaps. Don’t worry about mistakes - learn from them.

1. The _______   _______ off his _______  _______ with _______  _______ strokes. 

2. She was still _______ from the _______ of being _______ in the _______.

3. My _______ runs out soon so I better make _______ that I renew it.

4. The _______ was that the _______ was due to faulty _______.

5.My ______ _____ is ______ and I ____ I had the money to buy another.

6. They're ______ _______.

7. He's a _______ and his ______ is cooking _______.

8. On ______ ______ I always hire a ______ and have ______.

Check you spelling letter by letter and don’t worry about the mistakes — take note of them, analyse them, learn from them.

Keep coming back to this test again and again because practice makes perfect.

Answers

1. The Russian shaved off his bushy moustache with short sharp strokes.

2. She was still shaking from the shock of being crushed in the rush.

3. My insurance runs out soon so I better make sure that I renew it.

4. The decision was that the collision was due to faulty vision.

5. My washing machine is ancient and I wish I had the money to buy another.

6. They're professional musicians.

7. He's a chef and his speciality is cooking fish.

8. On special occasions I always hire a chauffeur and have champagne.