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Unit 11: Spelling the sound /er/

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Unit 11: Spelling choices for /er/ sound: er, ir, ear or er

Unit Startpage 1Course Testpage 3page 4Course Testpage 6page 7page 8Unit End

Page 8 of 8

Unit 11: Spelling the sound /er/: ur, ir, ear, or er ?

homophones - learn to spell similar sounding words

Homophones from this section:

If you confuse these words the computer spellchecker will not spot your mistake - so it is especially important to learn them.


herd - group of animals

heard - past tense of 'hear'

There's a herd of buffalo by the lake.

Have you heard the news?

Learning tip to help your spelling I hear with my ears...
...and I heard it with my ears 		Help spelling English words with er sound


birth - being born

berth - bed on a ship

Meg has given birth to twins.

The cabin had two berths.

English spelling Learning tip A berth is a bed Help spelling English words with er sound


earn - get paid for work

urn -
a) vase with a lid
b) large vessel with a tap

Jack earns $20 an hour.


His ashes are kept in an urn.
Make coffee for 30 in the urn.

English spelling Learning tip The more you learn the more you earn


dessert - sweet course

desert - abandon
(also desert, pronounced
dezert - large, very dry area)

I'd like ice-cream for dessert.

Why did the soldier desert his post?

English spelling Learning tip Some desserts are sickly sweet Help spelling English words with er sound

Now invent your own 'Learning tips' for the rest:

fir - tree

fur - animal hair

A fir tree is evergreen.

The bear has thick fur.

colonel - senior military officer

kernel - edible part of nut

Salute the colonel.

Crack the shell to get to the kernel.


kerb -
edge of pavement/sidewalk

curb -
a restraint


Stop at the kerb and look for traffic.


That child must learn to curb his temper.

This completes the unit on ur ir ear er

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