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Four friends fought for the candy.

Alliteration

Sharpen your sound sense with alliteration. Spot repeated starting sounds, tell it from rhyme and assonance, and use it to make writing memorable.

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Fascinating Fact:

Alliteration is different from rhyme and assonance. Rhyme matches endings, assonance repeats vowel sounds inside words.

In 11 Plus English, you will meet alliteration, a sound device that repeats initial consonant sounds for effect. This quiz helps you recognise it quickly and distinguish it from rhyme and assonance.

Key Terms

Alliteration: Repeating the same starting consonant sound in nearby words, for example wild and windy weather.
Rhyme: Matching sounds at word endings, for example light and night.
Assonance: Repeating vowel sounds within nearby words, for example cold stone road.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

What is alliteration for 11 Plus English?

Alliteration is the repetition of initial consonant sounds in nearby words to create emphasis or rhythm, for example silver snakes slithered silently.

How is alliteration different from rhyme and assonance?

Alliteration repeats starting consonant sounds. Rhyme matches ending sounds. Assonance repeats vowel sounds inside words. Each creates a different sound effect.

Where is alliteration used in writing?

Alliteration appears in poetry, slogans, headlines, and stories to make language catchy and memorable, for example big brand names or punchy news titles.

Try These Related Quizzes

1 .

In the following question, select the words that are necessary to complete the alliterations.
"Betty Botter bought some ..., but, she said, the ...'s bitter; if I put it in my batter it will make my batter bitter, but a bit of better ... will make my batter better." (Betty Botter by Mother Goose)

butter

milk

sugar

lard

'butter' preserves (keeps) the alliteration's b-sounding rhythm

2 .

In the following question, select the words that are necessary to complete the alliterations.
"Three grey ... in a green field grazing, Grey were the ... and green was the grazing." (Three Grey Geese by Mother Goose)

dove

bird

duck

geese

'geese' preserves (keeps) the alliteration's g-sounding rhythm

3 .

In the following question, select the words that are necessary to complete the alliterations.
Why do you always make a ... out of a molehill?

volcano

sandcastle

mountain

cake

'mountain' preserves (keeps) the alliteration's m-sounding rhythm

4 .

In the following question, select the words that are necessary to complete the alliterations.
"You'll never put a ... ... of ... on your knife." (Advertising slogan for Country Life)

better, piece, butter

better, bit, butter

better, lump, cheese

better, bit, jam

'better, bit, butter' preserve (keep) the alliteration's b-sounding rhythm

5 .

In the following question, select the words that are necessary to complete the alliterations.
Careless cars ... ... cause chaos.

driven fast

reversing fast

cutting corners

swerving dangerously

'cutting corners' preserves (keeps) the alliteration's k-sounding rhythm

6 .

In the following question, select the words that are necessary to complete the alliterations.
"The ... ... bear attacked all the little bunnies in the forest."

large lazy

evil fat

big bad

slow silly

'big bad' preserves (keeps) the alliteration's b-sounding rhythm

7 .

In the following question, select the words that are necessary to complete the alliterations.
"While I nodded, nearly ..., suddenly there came a tapping." (The Raven by Edgar Alan Poe)

napping

sleeping

dozing

dropping off

'napping' preserves (keeps) the alliteration's n-sounding rhythm

8 .

In the following question, select the words that are necessary to complete the alliterations.
"I'll kill him though," he said. "In all his ... and his glory." (Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway)

excellence

renown

fame

greatness

'greatness' preserves (keeps) the alliteration's g-sounding rhythm. By the way, here is a useful definition: 'renown' means fame, well-known reputation

9 .

In the following question, select the words that are necessary to complete the alliterations.
"Four friends ... for the candy."

squabbled

argued

quarrelled

fought

'fought' preserves (keeps) the alliteration's f-sounding rhythm

10 .

In the following question, select the words that are necessary to complete the alliterations.
"The ... smell of success."

fragrant

sweet

pleasant

wholesome

'sweet' preserves (keeps) the alliteration's s-sounding rhythm. By the way, here is a useful definition: 'wholesome' means nutritious, good, hearty, or health-giving

Author: Frank Evans (Specialist 11 Plus Teacher and Tutor)