Not

Example Sentences with Not

• Not now.
• Why not?
• The cot and the not both end with the same sound.
• Say "not" slowly, then say it as one word.

How to Spell “not”

Children most often write this word as ont, nott, noot. Those errors are useful — each one points to a specific sound the child has not yet connected to a letter.

1. Start with the picture: <strong>not</strong> begins with the /n/ sound, so begin with "n".
2. Say the word slowly three times, then write one sound per letter: <strong>n - o - t</strong>.
3. The "o" in <strong>not</strong> is a short o — the mouth stays wide open, like /ɒ/ in <em>hot</em>.
4. Blend the last two sounds smoothly: <strong>no</strong> + <strong>t</strong> = <strong>not</strong>.

Phonics Tip for Not

"not" and "cot" and "dot" share the ending /ɒt/. Say them back to back so the child hears that only the first sound changes. That is the core of the -ot family.

Fun Facts About Not

Every letter in <strong>not</strong> carries one sound: n says /n/, o says /ɒ/, t says /t/. That is what makes it fully decodable — a child who knows the three sounds can read <strong>not</strong> on the first try, with no guessing from the picture. It belongs to the -ot family, which has 7 other words in it: cot, dot, got, hot, lot, pot.

Where to Practise Not

• All short o CVC words — 41 words
• The -ot word family
• CVC flash cards — picture cards with audio
• CVC multiple choice quiz
• CVC sentences — read the word in context
• CVC worksheets