Commonly misspelled words (Easy)

Hello! Welcome to 6 Minute Vocabulary. Im Finn.

Catherine

And Im Catherine. In this programme, were talking about misspelt .

Finn

Let's start by listening to Marcus, He's talking about his last holiday.

Catherine

And heres a question for youre listening: What was the weather like on Marcuss’

holiday?

INSERT

Marcus

Last year we decided to have a holiday. We travelled by coach to Rome and the

scenery in northern Italy was beautiful. Our hotel accommodation was , and we

had some wonderful meals in restaurants. The weather was a bit changeable until the

third day but didnt matter. We got to practise our Italian and its a lot better now. The

whole thing was a experience.

STING

Finn

We asked you: What was the weather like on Marcuss holiday?

Catherine

And the answer is the weather was a bit changeable and that brings us to our first

common spelling mistake. Changeable is spelt ---------.

Finn

Yes, there are quite a lot of words with the letters g-e in them, and the e shows the g

is pronounced softly as /ʒ/dʒ/, changeable.

Catherine

Other examples of words with g-e in the middle are , management,

knowledgeable and acknowledgement. And they all have the e after the g. But what

other words with tricky did we hear? Listen.

INSERT

Last year we decided to have a foreign holiday. We travelled by coach to and the

scenery in northern Italy was beautiful. Our hotel accommodation was great, and we

had some wonderful meals restaurants.

Finn

Now the spelling of foreign is interesting. Theres a spelling rule that says you must put i

e except after c. And thats a really good rule for lots of words.

Catherine

Like believe, spelt b-e-l-I-E-v-e receive spelt r-e-c-E-I-v-e------.

Finn

Exactly. Or field spelt f-i-e-l-d but ceiling, with a c, c-e-i-l-i-n-g------.

Catherine

Yes, so foreign the rule, doesnt it? Its spelt f-o-r-e-i-g-n------. And theres no letter c

there.

Finn

No, thats an exception. And are a few others like leisure and weird. They both

have e-i --but not after a c. Its really learning these.

Catherine

What other tricky spellings were there in that clip? We heard travelled. How many ls are

in travelled?

Finn

There are two. In British English, with verbs that end in a vowel before l or , we double

the final consonants when we make them into past or continuous forms.

Finn

Finally there were three that can cause spelling problems. What were they,

Catherine?

Catherine

They were be scenery, accommodation and restaurants.

Finn

Scenery with an s sound, but it is spelt with s-c Its easy to forget the c because

you hear it. The words science and scissors are the same.

Catherine

Now accommodation has a double c and a m and restaurant has the letters au

in the middle. No rule for these Im afraid! They just have be learnt. Next clip!

INSERT

We got to practise our Italian and its a lot better now. The whole was a great

experience.

Finn

So how do you spell the verb practise?

Catherine

So the verb practise is -------. It ends in s-e not c-e-. Thats a very common

mistake because the noun practice is spelt with i-c-e the end.

Finn

And finally we heard experience. Now is that e-n-c-e or a-n-c-e at the end?

Catherine

Experience in e-n-c-e---. Whereas performance ends in a-n-c-e---. And yet again

theres no rule for these spellings. You just have check them and learn them.

IDENT

Catherine

And its quiz time! Number one. My sisters new babys very loveable. how do you spell

loveable?

Finn

Its l-o-v-e-a-b-l-e-------. Not forgetting the e in the middle.

Catherine

Youre right! Now two: The word ancient  � meaning very old - does not follow

the usual rule. Can you spell it?

Ancient is a-n-c-i-e-n-t------.

Catherine

Exactly, and question three: How many ls are there in quarrelling, meaning arguing?

Finn

The two ls.

Catherine

Double l, thats correct, well done. And well done if you got those right at home. ’

more about this at bbclearningenglishcom.. Join us again soon for more 6 Minute Vocabulary.

Both

Bye!