Homophones. How to explain to the children what they mean
Our language is very rich, it has an infinity of spelling rules with numerous exceptions, and that makes it more complicated to learn, giving rise to many errors. There are words that sound the same, are written differently and have different meanings. These are the homophonic words and this is the
Our language is very rich, it has an infinity of spelling rules with numerous exceptions, and that makes it more complicated to learn, giving rise to many errors.
There are words that sound the same, are written differently and have different meanings. These are the homophonic words and this is the topic that concerns us today.
Examples of homophonic words for children
In the following sentences:
- I am talking to my sister
- Blotting the flour dough with the rolling pin.
It is clear that although the two words are pronounced the same, we can not talk to the flour dough, or soften our sister with the rolling pin, so understanding the message of the sentence is essential to see what the correct word is within the context .
This can be a headache, but we can also learn by playing and having a very entertaining time with homophones.
Who does not know this phrase ?: There is a man who says oh!
It is a great help to recognize the three words and write them correctly.
There = (adverb of place).
There is = (of the verb to have).
ay! = (interjection of pain).
Other examples of homophones are:
- Haber y a ver, haya y halla, agito y ajito, would have and opened, ala y hala, hello and wave, cow and roof. Antler and even, hair and beautiful. Tubo y had, male and baron, vacillating and bacillus.
Phrases with homophonic words together
For the children to pay more attention to these words, we can make sentences in which there are both together. For example:
- Days after having done the exam he came to see the note.
Immediately they will realize that the two words are pronounced the same, but they are not written in the same way and have different meaning. We will explain so that there is no doubt, that 'to have' is of verb and 'to see' is to go to look, therefore the message will be clear.
We can continue to put examples with the words that generally lead to more mistakes.
- I eat salt in my sister's food because she is soda.
- The child fed his puppy, after having done the homework.
- You should have gone to see the movie before.
- The child has to go outside to ride a bicycle.
- The plumber had to weld a pipe to repair the fault.
- He was a very beautiful young man who did not have hair on his arms.
I tell children about homophones words
I leave you a very short story of my invention with the words: antler, until, would have, opened, have, to see, had, tube, baso, glass. I encourage you to invent a story with the children, always according to their age, with the homophonic words that you choose among all.
A VERY SPECIAL TORITO
A bull with a pole in the center of the head grew, and for this reason its owners were worried.
- 'You would have to call the vet to come and see the bull's horn' they said, while the animal opened its eyes a lot listening nervously. We should have called the vet already, they kept talking while they fed him.
The next day, Pablo, that's the name of the veterinarian, approached the farm and went to see the bull's antler with astonishment.
When Pablo imprisoned the head of the animal to go to see closely its antler, the bull turned nervously pushing the man, who had to hold on to a metal tube that jutted from the wall to avoid falling to the ground.
- 'I rely on what I see' - said Pablo at last drinking a glass of water to cool off:
- 'This bull has no disease, it is strong as an oak' - he said stroking his back - simply is different to others. It is a very special torito.
From that day the bull proudly boasted of his antler when he went out to the country for a walk. The farmers were very calm and the bull was happy.
(After reading the story we can invite the children to write the homophones they find in the text, then we will clarify the meaning of each of them until they have no doubts).
We can also build sentences in which children have to put the correct word in its place. For example:
- The girl opened her mouth a lot when she saw the sweets.
- The kitchen is very dirty, it should be cleaned.
- He had to bend down to avoid hitting his head.
- It was a wooden tube, cylindrical and open on both sides.
- I go to the village to see my grandparents.
- Having come before, there are no tickets left.
- Go there, so you will not have to jump the fence.
- There's a ball there.
To finish I leave you a phrase of Pierre Lecomte Du Nouÿ: 'From the moment in which the word develops, the human personality appears'.
