Dolch Sight Words
– By Parts of Speech
Edward William Dolch, Ph.D. created a list of 220 sight words which contains conjunctions, prepositions, pronouns, adverbs, adjectives and verbs. He referred to these words as “service” words because these words are found in all reading material. Early emergent readers should focus on instantly recognizing these words by sight.
Sight Words
Dolch’s sight words have been categorized according to parts of speech. It is important to note that some of these words can be used in more than one way, e.g., off. This word can be used as an adverb, adjevtive or preposition.
Sight Words: Conjunctions
They join words or parts of a sentence; connectors.
and | as | because | but | if | or |
Sight words: Prepositions
They show position or time and can compare or contrast; locators.
about | after | at | by | down | |
for | from | in | into | of | |
on | over | to | under | upon | with |
Sight Words: Pronouns
They take the place of nouns; substitutes.
They can indicate ownership and used to ask questions.
he | her | him | his | I | |
it | its | me | my | myself | |
our | she | that | their | them | |
these | they | this | those | us | |
we | what | which | who | you | your |
Sight Words: Adverbs
They modify verbs (adjectives and adverbs too); describers.
When? How? How much? Where? To what extent?
again | always | around | away | before |
far | fast | first | here | how |
just | much | never | no | not |
now | off | once | only | out |
so | soon | then | there | today |
together | too | up | very | well |
when | where | why | yes |
Sight Words: Adjectives
They describe or modify nouns (adjectives too); describers.
Describes a person, place, or thing.
a | all | an | any | best |
better | big | black | blue | both |
brown | clean | cold | eight | every |
five | four | full | funny | good |
green | hot | kind | light | little |
long | many | new | old | one |
own | pretty | red | right | round |
seven | six | small | some | ten |
the | three | two | warm | white |
yellow |
Sight Words: Verbs
They show action or state of being.
am | are | ask | ate | be |
been | bring | buy | call | came |
can | carry | come | could | cut |
did | do | does | done | don’t |
draw | drink | eat | fall | find |
fly | found | gave | get | give |
go | goes | going | got | grow |
had | has | have | help | hold |
hurt | is | jump | keep | know |
laugh | let | like | live | look |
made | make | may | must | open |
pick | play | please | pull | put |
ran | read | ride | run | said |
saw | say | see | shall | show |
sing | sit | sleep | start | stop |
take | tell | thank | think | try |
use | walk | want | was | wash |
went | were | will | wish | work |
would | write |
Source: Dolch, E.W., Ph.D. (1948). Problems in Reading. Champain, IL: The Garrard Press.
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