the silent alphabet (不發音的字母)

• kn的k不發音〔kn:「麻辣字母拼讀卡」（小卡及大卡）第2張第6個字母組合發音；「麻辣拼盛 Spelling」編號#8第4個拼字字群〕
knee, kneel, knead, know, knew, known, knowledge, knit, knot, knob, knock, knuckle, knife, knight, knack

• wr的w不發音〔wr:「麻辣字母拼讀卡」（小卡及大卡）第3張第3個字母組合發音；「麻辣拼盛 Spelling」編號#7第6個拼字字群〕
write, wrap, wrack, wrath, wrist, wring, wrinkle, wreck, wrench, wrestle, wreak, wreath, wriggle, wry, awry, wrote, wrong

• mb的b不發音〔mb:「麻辣字母拼讀卡」（小卡及大卡）第2張第4個字母組合發音〕
lamb, limb, climb, numb, dumb, thumb, crumb, succumb, plumb, plumber, plumbing, bomb, comb, tomb

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小朋友找找看哪個字母不發音。（答案在括號內）
know (k), wrong (w), hour (h), honest (h), heir (h), psalm (p), psyche (p), pneumonia (p), gnaw (g), gnu (g), muscle (c), castle (t), aisle (s), island (s), Wednesday (d), handkerchief (d), receipt (p), debt (b), plumber (b), answer (w), guess (u), guard (u), people (o), leopard (o), give (e), friend (i), two (w), sword (w), indictment (c)

可以用「麻辣拼盤 ABC」來玩這遊戲。把單字拼出，讓小朋友選出不發音的字母。

相關連結：字母有時不發音

flamingo 紅鶴

Why do flamingos stand on one leg? 為什麼紅鶴單腳站立?

• 紅鶴經常單腳站立，捲縮一隻腳在身體裡，保持腳的溫暖及保存身體的熱。

• flamingo 複數可以是 flamingos 或 flamingoes (加s或es都可以)

相關連結：英文複數

mushroom 香菇/蘑菇

oo:「麻辣拼盛 Spelling」編號#15第6個拼字字群
oo:「麻辣字母拼讀卡」（小卡及大卡）第12張第5個字母組合發音

sh:「麻辣拼盛 Spelling」編號#9第2個拼字字群
sh:「麻辣字母拼讀卡」（小卡及大卡）第14張第1個字母組合發音

比較級 & 最高級

用 「麻辣拼盛 Spelling」編號#16第2個拼字字群（er）及編號#20第2個拼字字群（est）練習〈er 比較級〉和〈est 最高級〉。

1. 通常直接在字尾加 er (比較級) / est (最高級)
fast faster fastest, narrow narrower narrowest, straight straighter straightest, tall taller tallest, small smaller smallest, smart smarter smartest, dark darker darkest, warm warmer warmest, fair fairer fairest, fresh fresher freshest, great greater greatest, quick quicker quickest, sick sicker sickest, thick thicker thickest, rich richer richest, deep deeper deepest, mean meaner meanest, clean cleaner cleanest, near nearer nearest, kind kinder kindest, high higher highest, light lighter lightest, bright brighter brightest, strong stronger strongest, old older oldest, cold colder coldest, low lower lowest, slow slower slowest, long longer longest, soft softer softest, short shorter shortest, loud louder loudest, round rounder roundest, soon sooner soonest, smooth smoother smoothest, poor poorer poorest, full fuller fullest, few fewer fewest, new newer newest

2. 形容詞字尾是e：只要加 r (*er 比較級) / st (*est 最高級)
large larger largest, nice nicer nicest, wide wider widest, wise wiser wisest

3. 一音節的形容詞，單一母音字母+一個子音字尾：重複子音字尾，再加 er (比較級) / est (最高級)
mad madder maddest, sad sadder saddest, big bigger biggest, hot hotter hottest

4. 形容詞字尾為y：把y改為i，再加 er (比較級) / est (最高級)
happy happier happiest, busy busier busiest, pretty prettier prettiest, healthy healthier healthiest, funny funnier funniest, lucky luckier luckiest, early earlier easiest

* 也請看「麻辣字母拼讀卡」（小卡及大卡）第19張第2個字母組合發音（er）及第26張第1個字母組合發音（est）

* 字尾加 er 也可以是: 做這個動作的人（或東西），見https://elephantcube.com/phonics-spelling-patterns-English-words/16-2-er.htm

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三個音節或三個音節以上，在形容詞前加 more (比較級) / most (最高級)
important -> more important -> most important
expensive -> more expensive -> most expensive

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不規則變化
good -> better -> best
bad -> worse -> worst
little -> less -> least
much -> more -> most
far -> further/farther -> furthest/farthest

* less 和 lesser 都是比較級，用法可查字典。

hot dog 熱狗

什麼狗不是狗？

什麼狗不是狗？熱狗。

What ship is not a ship?

friendship, hardship, censorship, membership, ownership, chairmanship, sponsorship, sportsmanship, scholarship, fellowship, companionship, ... 都不是 ship

sh:「麻辣拼盛 Spelling」編號#9第2個拼字字群
sh:「麻辣字母拼讀卡」（小卡及大卡）第14張第1個字母組合發音

㋡ ship (船) & spaceship (太空船) 是 ship

"you and I" vs. "you and me"

"you and I" 主詞/述語名詞
"you and me" 受詞

• The two persons chosen are you and I.
• They have chosen you and me.

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"you and I" 主詞/述語名詞

• You and I will meet again.
• You and I must thank them.
• You and I should spend more time together.
• Among the finalists were you and I.
• They are not so tall as you and I are.
• John is much taller than you and I are.
• John received a better score than you and I received.

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"you and me" 受詞
介系詞 for, to, by, between, like, from 後面的代名詞要用受詞。

• They need more people like you and me.
• The reward is for you and me.
• That is good for you and me.
• Did they save a seat for you and me?
• She wants to talk to you and me.
• The new student will sit next to you and me.
• The correct answers were given by you and me.
• Between you and me, I think he's wrong.
• Keep this secret between you and me.
• Start from you and me — take action to protect our planet.

* 莎士比亞 (Shakespeare) 用 "between you and I"，但是文法老師會要你用 “between you and me”。

seahorse 海馬

什麼馬不是馬？海馬是魚，不是馬。

or:「麻辣拼盛 Spelling」編號#16第4個拼字字群
or:「麻辣字母拼讀卡」（小卡及大卡）第19張第4個字母組合發音

美式英文 vs. 英式英文

英國人和美國人有些用字不同

	美式英文 American English	英式英文 British English
電梯	elevator	lift
卡車/貨車	truck	lorry
兩星期	two weeks	fortnight
藥房	drugstore	chemist
毛線衣	sweater	jumper
炸薯條	French fries	chips
炸馬鈴薯片	potato chips	crisps
胡說	nonsense	tosh

相關連結：

• 英文單字 (美式英文 VS. 英式英文)

• minimize (美) vs. minimise (英)