Classzone: The Language of Literature, Grade 6

Name _______________________________________

Lesson 7 Soft and hard g

energ y eag le

reg ister reg ulation

leg end leg al

ag ent arg ument

orig in org anize

oblig e oblig ation

alleg iance allig ator

g enius g uitar

reg ion recog nize

1.	Look at the words in the first column. What vowels come after the letter g in these words? _________________ Does the letter g have a soft sound (ginger) or a hard sound (gum)? __________

2.	Look at the words in the second column. Does the letter g have a hard or a soft sound in these words? __________ What vowels come after the letter g when it has a hard sound? __________ Can consonants follow the letter g when it has a hard sound? __________

Lesson Generalization When the letter g has a soft sound (ginger, gym), it is usually followed by the letter i, e, or y.

Mnemonic device: energ y

energ ize

energ etic

When the letter g has a hard sound (game, magnet), it is often followed by a consonant or by the vowel a, o, or u.