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Phonics 2: fl/pl/bl, cl/gl/sl, sm/sn/st/sk and silent e

Play, class, smile and skate begin with consonant blends. Cape and kite end with a silent e that changes the earlier vowel sound. Practise the semester 2 spelling patterns through word sorting and spoken comparison.

English 1AC · Original supplementary practice · Follow your teacher’s sequence · Updated

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Le support, la méthode et les exercices corrigés à imprimer.

By the end of this lesson, you can

  • Keep consonant blends together
  • Compare short vowels with silent-e pairs
  • Use the pattern without treating it as universal

Before you startRead simple English sentences; use the starter lesson if you need help with names or numbers.

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How does silent e change cap into cape and kit into kite?

In these common patterns, adding a silent final e changes the earlier vowel to its long sound: cap/cape and kit/kite. The final e is not pronounced separately. Learn these pairs alongside consonant blends such as fl, pl, bl, cl and sk.

A blue flag, a green kite and a model wooden tree on a classroom desk,
A blend keeps its consonant sounds together.
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Keep consonant blends together

Keep both consonants in a blend: fl in flag, pl in play, bl in blue, cl in class, gl in glass, sl in slow, sm in smile, sn in snow, st in stop and sk in skate. Do not add a vowel between the first two consonants.

In the common a-consonant-e pattern, cap becomes cape and tap becomes tape. The final e is silent and a has its long sound. In the i-consonant-e pattern, kit becomes kite and pin becomes pine. These are useful patterns, but English has exceptions; have is not pronounced like a regular long-a example.

Compare short vowels with silent-e pairs

PatternExamplesReading clue
fl / pl / blflag / play / blueKeep f+l, p+l, b+l.
cl / gl / slclass / glass / slowKeep the first two sounds.
sm / sn / st / sksmile / snow / stop / skateStart with s plus the next sound.
a…e / i…ecap–cape / kit–kiteFinal e is silent in these pairs.

Practise words in a connected sentence

Four separate accurately drawn objects and words: cap / cape / kit / kite. Show a simple cap, a cape hanging on a hook without a person, a first-aid kit and a kite
Compare short cap with long-vowel cape.
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Read and explain this example

A club makes a blue flag. The class plays a game. Read cap, then cape. Read kit, then kite. Notice the changed vowel and the silent final e. Read the sentence again at a natural pace.

Use the pattern without treating it as universal

Cap and cape differ by one written letter, but the change affects how you say the vowel earlier in the word. The same happens in kit and kite. Read each pair next to its picture so that you connect a sound with the correct meaning. The pattern is useful, but not every final e behaves this way: have is an exception. A written rule supports practice; it does not replace hearing the word.

A phonics chart pairs fl with flag, pl with play, bl with blue, cl with class, gl with glass, sl with slow, sm with smile, sn with snow, st with stop and sk with skate.
Compare short kit with long-vowel kite.
View full-size image

Remember

This page offers written practice, not audio. Ask a teacher to model each pair. Silent e is a common pattern, not a rule that works for every English word.

Step by step

Put the idea into practice

  1. Read the shorter word and identify its middle vowel.
  2. Notice the added e and compare the new word with a spoken model.
  3. Read the pair again without giving the final e a separate syllable.

Frequently asked questions

How does silent e change cap into cape and kit into kite?

In these common patterns, adding a silent final e changes the earlier vowel to its long sound: cap/cape and kit/kite. The final e is not pronounced separately. Learn these pairs alongside consonant blends such as fl, pl, bl, cl and sk.

Is have a regular magic-e example?

No. Have is an exception to this beginner pattern. Learn familiar pairs such as cap/cape and kit/kite, then check unfamiliar words with a spoken model.

Does every final e make a long vowel?

No. It is a useful beginner pattern with exceptions such as have. Check unfamiliar words with a spoken model.

Quiz: 1 questions

1 questions are randomly selected from this lesson’s 1-question bank. Choose one answer for each question and get an immediate explanation.

Q1Which word illustrates the i…e pattern?

Correct answer: kite

Kite has a long i sound and a silent final e.

Exercises with answers

4 exercises, from easy practice to challenges. Try each one yourself, then reveal the answer and explanation.

Exercise 1

Easy

Sort blue, class, snow and flag by initial blend.

Answer and explanation

Blue: bl; class: cl; snow: sn; flag: fl.

Exercise 2

Intermediate

Add e to cap, tap, kit and pin. Write the new words.

Answer and explanation

Cape, tape, kite and pine. In these pairs, final e changes the earlier vowel sound.

Exercise 3

Challenge

Read cap/cape and kit/kite to a partner; explain what changes.

Answer and explanation

The earlier vowel changes from its short sound to its long sound; the final e is silent. Have a teacher check the spoken contrast.

Exercise 4

Intermediate

Add e to pin and tap. Name the new words and explain what changes in these examples.

Answer and explanation

Pin becomes pine; tap becomes tape. The final e is silent, while the earlier vowel changes to its long sound in these pairs.