What does ivy mean?
Word: Ivy
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Ivy means a climbing plant with dark green, shiny leaves that grows up walls and trees.
How do you spell ivy?
Syllables: i - vy
Tricky part: The end says 'ee', yet it is written with a y, just as in baby and happy. Children often write ivey or ivee.
Watch out for: ivey, ivee
Memory tip: Draw the y at the end of ivy as a little climbing stem, with its tail curling down the page like a hanging leaf.
Ivy in a sentence
Example 1: Thick ivy covered the old stone wall at the end of our lane.
Example 2: Green ivy climbed all the way up the tall tree in the hill-station garden.
Example 3: The gardener trimmed the ivy so that it would not cover the window.
Fun Fact
Ivy can climb a wall with no help at all, because its stems grow tiny root-like hairs that cling to the bricks.
Practise the CREST Way
Spellacadabra
Choose the correct option to make a meaningful word:
__vy
a) e
b) i
c) ai
d) ei
Show answer
b) i. One i at the start is enough; it says its own name, the way it does at the start of ice.
Sound Check
Which of the following words has the 'v' sound as in ivy?
a) best
b) west
c) vest
d) rest
Show answer
c) vest. Vest begins with the buzzing v, made with the top teeth on the lip; west, best and rest begin with other sounds.
Word Champ
In which option are the given words arranged in alphabetical order?
1. itch 2. ivy 3. island
a) 321
b) 213
c) 132
d) 312
Show answer
d) 312. All three start with i, so look at the second letters: s comes first, then t, then v.
Spell Spies
Choose the pair which has a spelling error:
a) lily : lilies
b) ivy : ivys
c) pony : ponies
d) berry : berries
Show answer
b) ivy : ivys. A consonant comes before the y, so the y changes to ies and the plural is ivies.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which tool would you use to cut back ivy that has grown too long?
a) a large watering can
b) a heavy rolling pin
c) a long tape measure
d) a pair of garden shears
Show answer
d) a pair of garden shears
2. Ivy grows in much the same way as which plant?
a) a mango tree
b) a rose bush
c) a cactus
d) a money plant
Show answer
d) a money plant
