Mastering “G” and “H” in English Spelling

Transcript

In today’s lesson, we’re going to meet two of my favorite letters in the English alphabet, Mr. G.
Howdy Jay.

Hi Mr. G. And Mrs. H.

Hello.

Hello.

Now you two are often together in English words, but let’s take a look at who you are at a basic level. Tell us about yourself, Mr. G.

Well, most people know me by the two sounds I can make all by myself. The ‘g’ sound in words like good and great, ghost, grim, and thousands more, but also I make the same sound as the letter j sometimes, like gymnasium or gerund, you know a verb that’s turned into a noun.

Okay, Mr. G, I think we get it now. By yourself you are a ‘g’ or ‘j’, but you are often accompanied by your friend there, Mrs. H. What happens then?

Well, now that’s the hard part. There are some words where nothing happens at all. I mean, you can’t hear me. I’m silent, and so is Mrs. H.
Well, give us some examples.

Sure, words like thought, fought, wrought.

Wrought?

It’s very formal. almost a biblical way of saying made to happen. Samuel Morse, the inventor of the Morse code, used it in a demonstration of his telegraph invention. He tapped out What Hath God Wrought, back in 1844.

I know Morse code. I can do that. What Hath God Wrought?

Oh, sorry, Mr. G. I got carried away there. So there are words with GH where both of you are actually silent, like thought, fought, wrought. But sometimes you and Mrs.
H together sound like the letter F.
Yeah, that’s hard on us… really rough. It’s a tough way to make a living as a letter.
Oh, okay. Tough and rough. Now, can you think of other English words that and with g h and have the f sound? I’ll give you five seconds or so to think about it.

Okay. Mr. G and Mrs. H., here are some more: Cough, laugh, draught… like beer on draught at your favorite pub or restaurant. Find some others if you can, and write them in the comments below so everyone can see them.
Hello.

Yes Mrs. H.

Don’t forget me in the letter P.

Good point, Mrs. H. But first let’s talk about you all by yourself. Where you show up at the beginning of words, in most cases you have the H sound. Words like hello,
hotel, horizon and many, many more. But then there are some words and in American and British English,
you are absolutely silent. Now, I know you’re very shy. Can those of you watching this lesson think of words that start with H where the H is silent? Take another five
seconds to think about it.

Okay, here are a few. Hour. I’ll see you guys in an hour. In American English, the word for these flavor enhancing plants on the screen is herb. But in British English, it’s pronounced Herb. Honestly, Mrs H, honestly, that’s another word where the H is silent. Right? Honestly, Mrs. H, you are very, very shy. The very name we give you, Mrs. H, is pronounced ‘aitch’ in American English, where the h is silent. But I have friends in Dublin, Ireland who call you ‘Haitch.’
Now there are two more letters you work with, Mrs. H, the letter P, as you said, and the letter T. in our next video on odd English spelling we’ll talk about those combinations.
So stay tuned to Simple English videos to learn more about Strange English spelling and pronunciation. And if you haven’t already done so, please subscribe to our channel. If you click on the notification bell, you’ll know when our next video is published. Take care everyone! Oh, and you too, Mr. G and Mrs. H. See you guys soon.
Bye now.
Bye now.

Bye now.