Arranging words in alphabetical order worksheet - Free Printable

To solve the problem of arranging the words in alphabetical order, we need to compare the words letter by letter starting from the first letter. If the first letters are the same, we move to the next letter, and so on. Here's the step-by-step solution for each set of words:

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1. pond, frog, toad

- frog: Starts with "f".
- pond: Starts with "p".
- toad: Starts with "t".

In alphabetical order:
- "f" comes before "p", and "p" comes before "t".

So, the order is:
frog, pond, toad

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2. drum, hat, drink

- drum: Starts with "d".
- hat: Starts with "h".
- drink: Starts with "d".

Since both "drum" and "drink" start with "d", we compare the second letters:
- "drum": Second letter is "r".
- "drink": Second letter is "i".

In alphabetical order:
- "i" comes before "r".

So, the order is:
drink, drum, hat

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3. trip, trap, truck

- trip: Starts with "t".
- trap: Starts with "t".
- truck: Starts with "t".

Since all three words start with "t", we compare the second letters:
- trip: Second letter is "r".
- trap: Second letter is "r".
- truck: Second letter is "r".

Since the second letters are the same, we compare the third letters:
- trip: Third letter is "i".
- trap: Third letter is "a".
- truck: Third letter is "u".

In alphabetical order:
- "a" comes before "i", and "i" comes before "u".

So, the order is:
trap, trip, truck

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4. red, ship, read, shine

- red: Starts with "r".
- ship: Starts with "s".
- read: Starts with "r".
- shine: Starts with "s".

Since "red" and "read" start with "r", and "ship" and "shine" start with "s", we compare further:
- For "red" and "read":
- "red": Second letter is "e".
- "read": Second letter is "e".
- "red": Third letter is "d".
- "read": Third letter is "a".
- In alphabetical order: "a" comes before "d". So, "read" comes before "red".

- For "ship" and "shine":
- "ship": Second letter is "h".
- "shine": Second letter is "h".
- "ship": Third letter is "i".
- "shine": Third letter is "i".
- "ship": Fourth letter is "p".
- "shine": Fourth letter is "n".
- In alphabetical order: "n" comes before "p". So, "shine" comes before "ship".

Combining everything:
- "read" (starts with "r" and has "a" as the third letter).
- "red" (starts with "r" and has "d" as the third letter).
- "shine" (starts with "s" and has "n" as the fourth letter).
- "ship" (starts with "s" and has "p" as the fourth letter).

So, the order is:
read, red, shine, ship

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Final Answer:

1. frog, pond, toad
2. drink, drum, hat
3. trap, trip, truck
4. read, red, shine, ship

Boxed Answer:
\[
\boxed{
\begin{array}{l}
1. \text{frog, pond, toad} \\
2. \text{drink, drum, hat} \\
3. \text{trap, trip, truck} \\
4. \text{read, red, shine, ship}
\end{array}
}
\]