Rule 1: If the vowel in the word is short, in most cases you write the word with ck.

(Vowels are a, o, i, e, and u.)

Examples:

duck

fu.. (sorry)

sick

pick

brick (stone)

pack

black

back

snack

chicken

Rule 2: If the vowel in the word is long [a], [o], [i], such as in cake, coke, or in like, it’s written with k and an e at the end of the word.

Examples:

poke

bloke

strike

lake

make

fake

take

snake

Here’s an exercise: Use the words from above:

It’s our summer holiday and we’re staying nearby a beautiful blue l_____. Jamie and I l_____to fish. Jamie is a nice b_______. He offers: “Let me m______ the sandwiches.” We p______ the sandwiches together with a big piece of apple c_______.  I cut some c_______ for the fish. We t_______ out the boat and jump in. Unfortunately, the weather isn’t too great. When we get to the middle of the l_______, we’re sitting on many waves. Jamie is beginning to feel s_____. I ask: “Are you okay?” He answers: “It’s as if I have a b_____ in my stomach.” I p______ in his stomach, and say: “It’s all soft there, man. Maybe you’d like a s______?” He goes: “No, that will only m_____ it worse.” We start to fish. I p____ a nice piece of c___ to put on the line as bait for the fish. “What the f_____,” says Jamie. I ask him what is wrong. He points at a little b______ d______  that is floating next to our boat. I don’t understand. “So?” “This little s_____ is very hungry,” says Jamie. “You’ll see.”

Answers underneath. (Scroll down.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Answers:

It’s our summer holiday and we’re staying nearby a beautiful blue lake. Jamie and I like to fish. Jamie is a nice bloke. He offers: “Let me make the sandwiches.” We pack the sandwiches together with a big piece of apple cake.  I cut some chicken for the fish. We take out the boat and jump in. Unfortunately, the weather isn’t too great. When we get to the middle of the lake, we’re sitting on many waves. Jamie is beginning to feel sick. I ask: “Are you okay?” He answers: “It’s as if I have a brick in my stomach.” I poke in his stomach, and say: “It’s all soft there, man. Maybe you’d like a snack?” He goes: “No, that will only make it worse.” We start to fish. I pick a nice piece of chicken to put on the line as bait for the fish. “What the fuck,” says Jamie. I ask him what is wrong. He points at a little black duck  that is floating next to our boat. I don’t understand. “So?” “This little snake is very hungry,” says Jamie. “You’ll see.”