The ending in bridge and stage

1 · Learn

Say bridge and stage with an adult. Their last sound is the sound at the start of jam, but neither word ends in j. Bridge ends in dge; stage ends in ge.

In bridge, dge comes just after the short vowel sound. In stage, the vowel sounds like the letter name a, and the ending is ge. Learn the whole word as well as noticing the ending. The g in giant can also make the jam sound; the g in gift does not.

2 · Worked example

I read badge. I hear its short vowel and look at the ending: dge. I cover the word, write badge, then check all five letters.

3 · Your turn

Sort these words by their ending, ge or dge: cage, hedge, huge, fudge.

4 · Apply your learning

Make two spelling cards headed ge and dge. Read each of the four words, place it under its heading, then write one sentence using a word from each group.