Alphabetical Order worksheets | Grade 4 - Free Printable

Let's solve the problem step by step.

We are given a list of words in each numbered item, and we need to arrange them in alphabetical order. Alphabetical order means listing the words from A to Z based on their first letter, then second letter if the first letters are the same, and so on.

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1. abide, band, absent

- First letters: a, b, a
- Compare "abide" and "absent": both start with 'a', so look at the second letter:
- 'b' vs 'b' → same
- Third letter: 'i' (abide) vs 's' (absent) → 'i' comes before 's'
- So: abide, absent, then band
- ✔ Order: abide, absent, band

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2. dandy, fable, fabric

- First letters: d, f, f
- 'd' comes before 'f', so dandy first
- Then compare fable and fabric: both start with 'f'
- Second letter: 'a' vs 'a' → same
- Third letter: 'b' vs 'b' → same
- Fourth letter: 'l' vs 'r' → 'l' comes before 'r'
- So: fable, then fabric
- ✔ Order: dandy, fable, fabric

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3. dead, faculty, feast

- First letters: d, f, f
- 'd' comes before 'f', so dead first
- Then faculty and feast: both start with 'f'
- Second letter: 'a' vs 'e' → 'a' comes before 'e'
- So: faculty, then feast
- ✔ Order: dead, faculty, feast

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4. death, cheat, debt

- First letters: d, c, d
- 'c' comes before 'd', so cheat first
- Then death and debt: both start with 'd'
- Second letter: 'e' vs 'e' → same
- Third letter: 'a' vs 'b' → 'a' comes before 'b'
- So: death, then debt
- ✔ Order: cheat, death, debt

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5. absolute, baffle, cheek

- First letters: a, b, c
- 'a' < 'b' < 'c'
- So: absolute, baffle, cheek
- ✔ Order: absolute, baffle, cheek

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6. basis, emit, debtor

- First letters: b, e, d
- 'b' < 'd' < 'e'
- So: basis, debtor, emit
- ✔ Order: basis, debtor, emit

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7. empty, alive, band

- First letters: e, a, b
- 'a' < 'b' < 'e'
- So: alive, band, empty
- ✔ Order: alive, band, empty

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8. altitude, emulate, bath

- First letters: a, e, b
- 'a' < 'b' < 'e'
- So: altitude, bath, emulate
- ✔ Order: altitude, bath, emulate

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9. accuse, bank, addict

- First letters: a, b, a
- Two words start with 'a': accuse, addict
- Second letter: 'c' vs 'd' → 'c' comes before 'd'
- So: accuse, then addict
- Then bank (starts with 'b')
- ✔ Order: accuse, addict, bank

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10. cater, battle, cattle

- First letters: c, b, c
- 'b' < 'c'
- So battle first
- Then cater and cattle: both start with 'c'
- Second letter: 'a' vs 'a' → same
- Third letter: 't' vs 't' → same
- Fourth letter: 'e' vs 'l' → 'e' comes before 'l'
- So: cater, then cattle
- ✔ Order: battle, cater, cattle

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11. beast, cavity, gable

- First letters: b, c, g
- 'b' < 'c' < 'g'
- So: beast, cavity, gable
- ✔ Order: beast, cavity, gable

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12. balcony, glass, ballast

- First letters: b, g, b
- Two words start with 'b': balcony, ballast
- Second letter: 'a' vs 'a' → same
- Third letter: 'l' vs 'l' → same
- Fourth letter: 'c' vs 'a' → 'a' comes before 'c'
- So: ballast, then balcony
- Then glass (starts with 'g')
- ✔ Order: ballast, balcony, glass

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✔ Final Answers:

1. abide, absent, band
2. dandy, fable, fabric
3. dead, faculty, feast
4. cheat, death, debt
5. absolute, baffle, cheek
6. basis, debtor, emit
7. alive, band, empty
8. altitude, bath, emulate
9. accuse, addict, bank
10. battle, cater, cattle
11. beast, cavity, gable
12. ballast, balcony, glass

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🔍 Explanation Summary:

To arrange words alphabetically:
1. Look at the first letter of each word.
2. If first letters are the same, compare the second letter, then third, etc.
3. Use the standard English alphabet order: A, B, C, ..., Z.

This skill is useful for organizing lists, using dictionaries, and improving vocabulary.