Lesson video

Hello and welcome to today's spelling lesson.

I'm Mr. Moss, and I'm really looking forward to teaching you today.

With you today, you need to bring your looking eyes, your listening ears, and your thinking brains, as well as that something to write with and write on, and someone or something to talk to would also be excellent.

Right, let's waste no time and get straight into today's spelling lesson.

In this spelling lesson, we're going to be spelling words with the comparative suffix -er.

The outcome will be, I can apply spelling rules to spell words with the comparative suffix -er.

So here are the key words for today's learning.

The first key word that I'd like you to say back to me is suffix.

Root word.

Comparative.

Brilliant.

Let's have a chat about what these words mean then.

A suffix is a letter or group of letters that we add to the end of a word to change its meaning and create a new word.

Today we're concentrating on adding that -er suffix.

The root word is the base word from which other words are formed, often by adding prefixes or suffixes.

So we're going to be taking words today and adding that -er suffix to create comparative adjectives, and a comparative adjective compares two or more things.

We can use it to compare.

We can almost see that word compare within that word comparative.

Here's the outline for today's lesson, just two learning cycles.

It's really useful as well, 'cause today we're gonna be reviewing, I'm sure, some of the knowledge that you already have around how to add certain suffixes.

So remember, we're spelling words with the comparative suffix -er.

We're gonna begin by looking at rules for using that suffix, and then we're going to have the opportunity to practise and apply our spellings.

Let's get on with looking at that -er suffix then.

Remember that a suffix is a letter or group of letters that we add to the end of a word.

Unlike prefixes, which we add to the beginning of a word, suffixes often change the word's tense or it's word class.

Here we can see we have the root word quick, an adjective.

I've added my -ly suffix to create quickly, a new word.

But its word class has also changed, it's become an adverb.

Here we have the root word help, and I've added my -less suffix to create helpless, changing the meaning of the word.

Like has become liked.

Notice here how the spelling of my root word has changed.

I've removed an E before adding my -ed, otherwise we'd have two E's.

These are just a few examples of suffixes.

And remember today that we are concentrating on that -er suffix.

So lots of different rules as well as to how the root word changes when we add certain suffixes.

So let's read some words that contain the suffix that we are concentrating on today.

My turn.

Your turn.

Teacher.

Farmer.

Fresher.

The air is fresher outside than it is in here.

Younger.

My sister is younger than me.

Heavier.

Braver.

She is braver than he is.

Larger.

Bigger.

So I'm sure, as you said those, you could hear but you can also see that all of these words end in our suffix -er.

Adding the suffix -er also creates an extra syllable in the word.

So teach becomes teacher.

Farm becomes farmer.

Fresh becomes fresher.

So it creates an extra syllable.

Some of the words that we can see here are nouns, such as teacher or farmer.

But most of these words are adjectives.

They're comparative adjectives, such as fresher, younger, heavier, braver, larger and bigger.

We can use them in sentences to compare two or more things.

Adjectives, remember, describe nouns, they tell you what they're like.

His suitcase was heavy.

Here, the word heavy is an adjective.

It is describing the suitcase, which is our noun.

Adding our suffix -er to the adjective heavy here creates a comparative adjective that we can use to compare two or more things.

Let's look at how this works.

"Sam's suitcase," so the suitcase that belongs to Sam, that noun, that suitcase, "was heavier than his." So it's not just heavy now, it's heavier.

We're comparing it with another suitcase.

Notice how we've added -er here.

Also, look carefully, you'll see our root word "heavy" has also changed here.

Bear this in mind, so we're gonna be coming on to look at some of these rules in a moment.

This comparative adjective then indicates that something is heavier than something else.

The word "compare" is almost visible in that word comparative, isn't it? So we know that we can use these adjectives that we create by adding our -er suffix to make comparisons between two or more things.

So with that in mind, adding the suffix -er does what? Select the things that adding the suffix -er does.

Pause the video and have a think.

Off you go.

Brilliant job, team.

Does it change the word's tense? No, I'm not so sure it does.

It's not like our -ed suffix, is it? Does it add another syllable? Well, let's think about that.

Teach, teacher.

Oh yeah, two syllables.

Fresh, fresher, two syllables.

So yes it does, it adds an extra syllable.

Does it help us compare things? Hmm.

Yes, we had the root word "heavy," didn't we? And then we added our -er suffix to create "heavier," and that means we can compare two or more things.

So yes, it does.

And it definitely does not create plurals, does it? So adding our -er suffix adds another syllable, remember, and helps us to compare things.

So there are four key rules that we need to bear in mind when adding this -er suffix, and you may be aware of some of these rules, 'cause they're similar to adding other suffixes.

So to some words, we can just add -er.

To other words, we (whooshes) remove that Y and add -ier.

To some words, we need to remove the E from the root word before adding -er, otherwise we'd have two E then an R, which would look strange.

And finally, to some words, we have to double that final single consonant and then add -er, like sadder, hotter and thinner.

Let's revise each of these rules now and see what you can remember.

So most often we can just add that suffix -er to the root word without changing it.

Let's have a look at this in action.

Quiet becomes quieter, that comparative adjective.

Tall becomes taller.

Young becomes younger.

Be careful with young, it's that strange ou for that uh sound, young.

Weak becomes weaker, and this is weak as in not strong.

What will the spelling of these words be when we add our -er suffix to create comparative adjectives then? We have the root word tall, fresh, quick.

Look carefully at the spelling of the root words, how we spell the comparative adjectives taller, fresher, and quicker.

Pause the video and have a think.

Brilliant.

So all of these words end in consonants, don't they? Two consonant letters as well, so we can just add our suffix -er.

Remember, the spelling of our root word can help us to spell those new comparative adjectives.

So our rule here is just add -er.

When the root word ends in a Y, the Y is replaced by an I before then adding our -er.

This can be when that Y spelling is making vowel sounds like E or I.

Let's have a look at some words where this is the case.

Heavy, for instance, like we looked at earlier, the Y there is making that E sound at the end of the word.

We remove the Y, replace it with an I and then add -er.

Busy, again, our Y making an E sound.

Remove the Y, add -er to create the comparative adjective busier.

Dry, where that Y is making an I vowel sound there, we remove the Y and add -ier to create the comparative adjective drier.

Smokey, again, our Y making an E.

Smokier.

Remove the Y, add -ier.

How will these words change when we add the suffix -er? Look carefully.

Consider the rule that we've just looked at.

Remember, the spelling of the root word is going to help us to spell the comparative adjective here.

We have the word sneaky, smokey, and busy.

How will I spell the comparative adjectives by adding my -er suffix? Off you go.

Have a think.

Great job, team.

So of course, they're ending in a Y, with that Y making an I or an E sound.

So we remove the Y and add -ier to create sneakier, smokier and busier.

So our rule here is remove the Y, add -ier.

I'd like you to read the word pairs below, the root word and the comparative adjective, and I'd like you to join them or match them to the correct rule that's been used.

Have we just added -er? Or have we removed the Y and added -er? And why is that the case? Off you go.

Excellent job, team.

So happy has become happier.

That Y, happy.

That Y is making that E sound.

Remove the Y, add -ier to create our comparative adjective.

Fast or fast becomes faster or faster, ends in two consonant letters.

We can just add -er.

And quick is the same.

Quick and quicker ends in that -ck two consonant letters.

There you go.

Just add -er.

Brilliant.

When the root word ends in an E, we just have to remove the E before adding our -er.

So when the root word ends in an E, the E is removed before our suffix -er is added.

So large ending, in that E, becomes larger.

Nice becomes nicer.

Safe becomes safer.

Brave becomes braver.

Notice all of these root words ended in E, so we remove the E before adding our -er suffix.

We don't want to have a double -er.

So our rule here is remove the E and then add -er.

How will these words that end in an E change when the suffix -er is added? Remember to look closely at the root word.

Off you go.

Great.

So safe will become safer, large, larger, pale, paler, wise, wiser.

All comparative adjectives.

Because our root words all ended in E, we just removed the E and then added -er.

Remember the spelling of the root word here can help us to spell the new comparative adjective that we're creating by adding our -er suffix.

So, rule, remove the E and then add -er.

We have one final rule to look at then.

When the root word has a short vowel sound, so ah, eh, ih, oh, uh, and it's followed by a single consonant letter at the end of the word, that final consonant letter is doubled when we add the suffix -er.

So sad, ah, ah, short vow sound and a single consonant, D.

Double the D, add -er to create the comparative adjective sadder.

Hot.

Oh, oh.

Short vowel sound followed by single T.

Double the T, add -er to create hotter.

Thin, ih, ih.

Double the N, add -er.

Red, eh, eh.

Double the D, add -er.

So our rule here is double the consonant, then add -er.

This pattern helps us also to pronounce the words correctly.

So how will these words change when the suffix -er is added? It's really important that you read the words out carefully.

Remember, the spelling of the root word can help us to spell the new comparative adjectives.

Pause the video now.

Have a go at spelling our new comparative adjectives.

Off you go.

Brilliant job.

There's a reason I didn't say those words there, the root words, is 'cause I wanted you to say them and I wanted you to listen out for those short vowel sounds.

So you have wet, eh, eh, followed by a single consonant letter, so it's wetter.

Thin, ih, ih, short vowel sound.

And hot, oh, oh, short vowel sound.

So all of those instances, we have to double that final consonant letter and then add our -er.

Remember, our rule is double the consonant, then add -er.

So I want you to read the word pairs below, and then pick which rule has been used.

Have you had to double the consonant then add -er? Or remove an E and then add -er? Off you go.

Brilliant.

So we've got late and later.

Our root word is late ending in that E.

Remove the E, then add -er.

Red and redder.

Short vowel, eh, eh, followed by single consonant letter.

Double that consonant letter, add -er.

And wide and wider, haven't doubled a consonant there.

Our root word is wide.

Ends in an E.

Remove the E and then add -er, wider.

So for our practise task now what I'd like you to do for me is to put the root words below into the correct column, and show what will happen to them when we add our -er suffix.

Are you just going to add -er? Do you need to remove a Y than add -ier? Do you need to remove an E and add -er? Or do you need to double that final consonant letter and then add -er? Off you go, team.

Brilliant job.

Excellent.

So I'm hoping you've got a table that's sorted like this.

Quiet and fast or fast became quieter and faster.

Sneakier and heavier.

Sneaky and heavy both ended in that Y.

They had to remove that Y and then add -ier.

Large and brave are root words that ended in E, so we removed the E and then add -er.

And big and hot, ih and oh, short vowel sounds followed by single consonant letters.

Double that final consonant and add -er.

Great.

Check, make sure you've got your table all alright.

Excellent.

Onto our final learning cycle then, which is practise and apply spellings.

So let's read some curriculum words first.

My turn.

Your turn.

Necessary.

It is necessary for you to listen.

It's something you have to do.

Average.

I calculated the average score of the class.

What do you notice about these spellings? Is there anything maybe tricky about them? Read the words again, compare how they sound to how they're spelt, and think if there's anything difficult about them.

Off you go.

Brilliant.

So I've noticed a couple of things here.

Necessary can be quite difficult to remember the consonants that are doubled and which aren't doubled here.

So it's a single C and a double S.

There's a really cool mnemonic device that you can use.

"Never eat cakes, eat salmon sandwiches and remain young." That's N-E-C-E-S-S-A-R-Y, necessary.

Also, remember, it's that E spelled with that Y at the end.

And average has that -er, which can be hard to see, because it's an unstressed vowel.

I don't say average or average.

It's average.

So it can sometimes be really difficult to hear that -er there, the E before the R.

I also remember it as having -age at the end.

Saying as it's spelled can really help here.

Av-er-age spells average.

So with that in mind, how do I spell necessary? Point to it now.

Off you go.

Brilliant.

Do you remember that mnemonic device that we had to help us? So it's N-E one C E-S-S-A-R-Y.

This is our correct spelling here.

And the next one, point to the correct spelling of average.

Remember what's tricky about this one? Great job.

Remember saying it as it's spelled can really help here.

Av-er-age.

A-V-E-R-A-G-E, average.

So some words are irregular and we cannot add -er to the root word to make the comparative adjective.

For example, the word good.

I don't say gooder, it becomes better.

Bad, for instance, we don't use the comparative adjective badder.

It's not a word.

It becomes worse, so they're irregular.

We are now going to have a practise using some of the words that cover the four patterns that we've looked at so far in this lesson.

Remember, to some words, you can just add -er.

Root words ending in a Y, we remove the Y and add -ier.

Root words ending in E, remove the E and add -er.

And root words with a short vowel sound, we double that final consonant letter and then add -er.

I'd like you to read the root words on the left here, and I'd like you to add -er to them, and then select the correct rule, which you've used when adding that -er suffix to create our comparative adjectives.

Off you go.

Great.

Well, wide end in an E, so I've removed the E and add an -er to create the comparative adjective wider.

Early.

Oh, it's that E sound that's spelt with a Y.

I want to create earlier, that comparative adjective.

I arrived earlier than he did.

Oh, my rule is remove the Y and add -ier.

Calm ends in those two consonant letters.

Calm there, L and M.

So I can just add -er to create calmer.

And flat, ah, ah, short vowel sound, followed by a single consonant letter, so you double that final consonant and add -er.

Great.

I'd like you now to have a read of these sentences and choose the correct spelling in each sentence.

Remember, think about the root word.

Think about how the root word is spelt, and that will help you to select the correct spelling of the comparative adjective.

Remember our rules.

Off you go, team.

Amazing job.

Really, really careful consideration there of the root words and the rules that we've been looking at.

I'm very impressed.

So nothing makes me happier than chocolate.

Well, our root word is happy, isn't it? And we want happier.

Hmm.

Now, the root word happy ends in a Y, doesn't it? I need to remove the Y and then add -ier to create my comparative adjective happier.

My cheeks are redder than yours.

Ooh, my root red is red, R-E-D, and it's an eh, eh, isn't it? Short vowel sound, so I double that final consonant letter D and add -er.

The alarm grew louder and longer, the longer it went on.

So loud here, ending in that single consonant letter, we can just add -er there.

It's not proceeded by a short vowel sound.

He felt safer when he wore his helmet.

Our root word is safe, S-A-F-E, ending in an E.

(whooshes) Remove that E and then add -er.

Great job.

So for our final practise task now, you are going to have a go at spelling some comparative adjectives that use that -er suffix.

Remember to sound out the word, think of the root word.

Remember the spelling rules that we've looked at today, and then read the words and check.

So the first word is younger.

My sister is younger than me.

Number two, paler.

That is a paler shade of blue.

Number three, healthier.

She is healthier than me.

Number four, hotter.

Yesterday was hotter than today.

And number five, busier.

That classroom is busier than ours.

So we have younger, paler, healthier, hotter, busier.

Off you go, team.

Excellent job.

I'm so impressed with the way that you listened to these rules for adding this suffix today.

Really great consideration of the root words, and really great sounding out of the words and checking as well.

So the first word was younger.

Now, tricky bit of younger, remember, is that Y-O-U-N-G, young.

It's a very strange uh, uh spelling, isn't it? So O-U-N-G.

Ends in two consonant letters.

We just have to add -er.

Paler is our next one.

Our root word is pale here.

P-A-L-E, as in a pale colour or a pale shade.

It ends in an E.

(whooshes) Remove the E and then add -er, paler.

Here we have healthier.

Now, our root word here is healthy.

Healthy.

That ends with that ee sound that's spelt with a Y.

Be careful the ea as well making that hel, eh, eh sound there as well.

Healthy.

So we remove the Y and add -ier.

Healthier.

Hotter is our next one.

Oh, oh, hot in our root word, which is oh, oh, short vowel sound.

So you double that T at the end, then add -er.

And busier.

Okay, busy.

Be careful with this word.

The first part of it's quite tricky as well.

The root word is busy, B-U-S-Y.

It's that Y, so we remove the Y and add -ier.

Brilliant.

How did you do there? Share your learning.

Share any magical mistakes and make any corrections now.

Off you go.

Really great job in spelling today, team.

We've been adding the suffix -er today to create comparative adjectives.

When using the -er suffix, there are four key rules to remember.

To some words, you can just add -er.

To those root words ending in E, we remove the E and add -er.

To those root words ending in Y, we remove the Y and add -ier.

And we can double the consonant after a short vowel and add -er.

Remember also that there are some irregular adjectives that you cannot add -er to, such as good and bad.

We don't use the words goodder and badder.

We use better and worse.

Great job.

Keep up your great spelling practise and see if you can spot any of these comparative adjectives in your reading.

I'll see you again soon.