The letter F in English can make different sounds depending on the word. When F is followed by certain vowel sounds (like “a,” “o,” or “u”), it makes a “f” sound, as in “fat,” “fog,” and “fun.” However, when F is followed by the vowel sound “i” or “e,” it makes a “v” sound, as in “five” and “leaf.” This can be confusing for beginning readers and writers, so it is important to teach them the rules for spelling F correctly.
One way to help students remember when to use “f” and when to use “v” is to teach them the following phonics rule: “F says ‘f’ when it’s followed by ‘a,’ ‘o,’ or ‘u.’ F says ‘v’ when it’s followed by ‘i’ or ‘e.'” This rule can be easily remembered by using the mnemonic device “F for fat, v for five.”
