Name _______________________________________

Lesson 23 The letters j, ge, and dge


justice challenge
juice language
jumbo damage
juvenile mileage
jacket marriage
journal judge
pajamas pledge
conjunction bridge
rejoice badge
injury dodge


1. Look at the words in the first column. Does the letter j ever appear at the end of a word? __________
The letter j is followed by one of three vowels in these words. Write the vowels. _____ _____ _____
2. Look at the first five words in the second column. What silent vowel follows the letter g? _____
How many syllables are in each of these words? __________
Where in each word do the letters ge appear? __________________________________________________
3. In the last five words, what consonant comes before the ge in each word? _____
How many syllables are in each word? _____
Is the vowel in each word long or short? __________

Lesson Generalization

The letters j and g often sound alike.
The letter j is used at the beginning and in the middle of words, not at the end.
Unlike the letter g, it has a soft sound before the vowels a, o, u.
The letters ge spell the soft sound of /j/ at the ends of words.
The letters dge are used only in a one-syllable word with a short vowel.


© McDougal Littell Inc. Grade 7 Spelling SkillBuilders