Letters are the basic building blocks of English. They form words, which form sentences, and help us read, write, and speak.
What is a Letter?
A letter is a symbol used in writing.
- Letters join together to make words.
- Each letter represents a sound.
Example:
- Letters:
c, a, t→ Word: cat → a small animal
Think of letters as building blocks of English.
The English Alphabet
The English alphabet has 26 letters:
- Uppercase (Capital letters): A, B, C … Z
- Lowercase (Small letters): a, b, c … z
Tip: Uppercase letters are used at the start of sentences and for names, titles, and acronyms.
Vowels and Consonants
Letters are divided into vowels and consonants.
- Vowels: a, e, i, o, u (sometimes y) – they make open sounds.
Examples: apple, elephant, ice - Consonants: All other letters – they block or restrict air.
Examples: bat, dog, fish - Semi-vowels: y, w – can be vowel or consonant.
Examples: yes (consonant), fly (vowel)
Uppercase vs Lowercase Letters
- Uppercase: Start of sentences, names, titles → Emma, London
- Lowercase: All other words → I like chocolate
Tip: Always capitalize the pronoun “I”.
Letter Sounds
- Each letter has a name and one or more sounds.
- Some letters sound different in different words.
Examples:
- c → cat /k/, city /s/
- g → go /g/, giant /j/
- a → cat /æ/, cake /eɪ/
Alphabetical Order
- Letters go from A → Z.
- Used in dictionaries, lists, and files.
Example: apple, ball, cat, dog
Forming Words
- Letters join in order to make words.
- Every word needs at least one vowel.
Examples:
- h + a + t → hat
- s + u + n → sun
Tip: Practice making words from scrambled letters to improve spelling.
Importance of Letters
- Make words
- Help with spelling and pronunciation
- Form the foundation of grammar
Common Mistakes
- Mixing letters: b/d, p/q
- Forgetting capitalization: ❌ london is big → ✅ London is big
- Misspelling words: ❌ recieve → ✅ receive
Fun Facts
- Letter E is most used; Q, X, Z are least used.
- Some words have no standard vowels: rhythm, crypt
- Letters are used in texting shortcuts: u = you, r = are
Conclusion
Letters are the first step to learning English. Mastering them helps teens read, write, spell, and speak better.