The case of the grapheme --ough

A letter string that has many phoneme sounds- let’s investigate

First let’s see how many you can spot. Wipe boards and pens at the ready?

Drought Throughout EnglandNo 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.

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

ThoughtThoughtlessThoughtfulBroughtFoughtOughtnought

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

AlthoughThoughdough

And these words?

DroughtPloughbough

And these?

RoughEnoughToughCoughtrough

And finally what about these?

ThroughThroughout

ThoroughThoroughlyborough

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

OrO as in capital OOu as in Ouch!UffOO as in moonUCan you think of examples for each

sound?