Silent letters · Grade 4
Some words have a letter that you write but don't say: a silent letter. They often come in pairs that you can learn: kn (knee), wr (write), mb (lamb), gn (gnome), stle (castle).
Key facts
- Silent k before n: knee, knife, knock, knowledge. Silent w before r: write, wrong, wrist (and in answer, sword).
- Silent b after m and before t: lamb, comb, thumb, climb, doubt, debt.
- Silent t in stle and sten: castle, listen, fasten. Silent g before n: gnome, sign, design.
- Silent h: honest, ghost, rhino, school. Silent l: half, walk, could, calm. Silent n after m: autumn, column.
- Silent c after s: science, scissors. Silent u after g and b: guitar, guess, build, biscuit. Silent s: island.