Lesson video

Hello, and welcome to today's spelling lesson.

I'm Mr. Martin, 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 superlative suffix -est.

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

Here are the keywords for today's learning.

My turn, your turn.

Suffix.

Root word.

Superlative.

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

The suffix, and the suffix we're adding today is -est, is a letter or group of letters added to the end of a word to change its meaning.

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

So we're going to be taking words today and adding then the suffix -est to create superlative adjectives.

These indicate the highest degree or quality when comparing three or more things.

So it's a comparative adjective.

The outline is here.

We're going to be spelling words with the superlative suffix -est.

We're going to look at rules for using that suffix, and they may be really similar to some of those other suffix rules that you've looked at in the past.

So I'm sure you're going to know loads.

And then we're going to practise and apply some spellings.

Let's get on with looking at rules for using the suffix -est then.

A suffix, remember, is a letter or group of letters that we add to the end of a word that creates another word.

Unlike prefixes, which we add before the root word, suffixes, which come at the end of the root word, can often change the word's tense or its word class.

Play, for instance here, becomes played, changing its tense.

Cold.

We add the -er suffix.

It becomes colder.

It's become a comparative adjective.

Here we have hope and we add -ful, hopeful.

Sometimes as well, adding suffixes can change the spelling of the root word.

There are loads of different types of suffix.

And remember, today, we're concentrating on the -est suffix, although it might not always sound like that in certain words.

And there are different rules for how the spelling of that root word will change when the suffix is added.

And we're going to review those today.

Let's read some words then that contain our suffix.

The key piece of learning that we're doing today, that -est suffix.

Youngest.

Now be careful here.

Say that word for me.

Youngest.

Listen now carefully.

It's an -est spelling, but sometimes it can sound like -ist.

But it's -est.

So be careful.

Strongest.

Brightest.

Shiniest.

As we're going through these as well, see if you can spot the root words.

If you do spot the root word and its spelling's changed, how has it changed? Because we're going to be coming onto looking at this.

Messiest.

Simplest.

Safest.

Hottest.

Brilliant.

So all of these words end in our -est suffix, and we use this to create comparative adjectives.

These are all examples of the superlative.

They are the most of that quality.

So someone who's the youngest is the most young.

Someone who's strongest is the most strong.

If you're saying something's the brightest, it's the most bright as to the things you're comparing it against.

So adding the suffix -est creates an extra syllable in the words as well.

So we have the root word young.

We add our -est suffix.

It becomes youngest.

Now two syllables.

Bright.

Brightest, two syllables.

Messy is our root word.

Messiest.

Oh, three syllables.

These words are also all adjectives.

So remember that adjectives describe nouns.

They're describing words.

Let's look at some different adjectives and also the suffixes that have been used to create them.

So here we have, his suitcase was heavy.

So I've got my y here at the end, making that ee sound, heavy.

Heavy is my adjective here.

It's being used to describe the suitcase.

Adding our suffix -er to an adjective often creates a comparative adjective.

So if I take my root word heavy here, and I remove the y and add -ier to create heavier, I can say Sam's suitcase was heavier than his.

I'm comparing those two things.

We can use that -er suffix to compare two or more things.

Adding the suffix -est to an adjective creates a superlative adjective.

Say that for me.

Superlative adjective.

Let's look at it in action.

My suitcase was the heaviest of all of them.

So we're comparing three or more things here, and we're saying that it's the most heavy.

It's the superlative.

Adjectives containing that suffix -est are called superlative adjectives because they show the most of something.

In this instance, saying it is the most heavy.

The suffix -est then helps us to compare three or more things.

Let's look at our root word, tall.

The tree is tall.

Then we can add our -er suffix to create taller.

This tree is taller.

But then we could add our -est suffix to our root word tall to create tallest.

This tree is the tallest out of those three items. It's really useful.

This is called the superlative adjective.

Can you choose the correct words to complete these sentences? Read the sentences and select the four words from the words below to complete the sentences.

Off you go, team.

Fantastic job.

Let's see how you've done them.

<v ->er and -est are a type of suffix</v> because we're adding them to the end of a word.

They help us to compare things.

The suffix m usually indicates the most of something.

That's our superlative, isn't it? So it's the suffix -est.

Brilliant.

Read that sentence one more time for me.

Off you go! Great.

I should have said sentences there, shouldn't I really? But well done for reading it back to me.

So there are four rules when adding that suffix -est.

I'm really sure that you're going to recognise some of these rules from when you've worked with other suffixes, particularly that -er suffix if you've done any work with that.

So here are those four rules.

The first is just to add -est.

The next is to remove a y and then add -iest.

The next is, if the root word ends in an e, whoosh, remove that e and add -est.

We don't want two Es.

And finally, in some words, we have to double the consonant and then add -est.

If you look at saddest, hottest, and thinnest, for instance, that's because they've got those short vowel sounds, a, e, i, o, u, before a single consonant letter.

Let's review these rules then, and do a bit of revision.

See what you can remember.

So often, we can just add the suffix -est to the root word without changing it.

Quick, for instance, becomes quickest.

Tall becomes tallest.

Young becomes youngest.

Watch out for young.

It's a OU for that ah.

And tough becomes toughest.

Watch out for that word as well.

OU Grumpy Hippos is how I remember that OUGH for that ough.

So watch out.

The suffix -est, as I alluded to earlier, can sometimes sound like ist, like it's IST, but it's -est.

What will the spelling of these words be when we add our -est suffix then? So how am I going to spell tallest, quietest, toughest? Pause the video and have a think now.

Brilliant.

Good job, team.

Of course, we're just going to add -est to all of these.

Remember, the spelling of the root word can help us to spell the new superlative adjective that we are looking at.

And our rule here is just add -est to the end of the root word.

When the root word ends in a y, the y is replaced by an i and then we add our -est suffix.

And this can be when that y is making either an ee or an igh vowel sound.

For instance, heavy becomes heaviest, -iest.

Messy, with that y making that ee sound at the end.

Remove the y.

It becomes messiest.

And dry, where that y is making an igh sound, becomes driest.

Removes the y.

Add -iest.

Sneaky, where that y is making that ee sound.

Remove the y.

Add -iest.

Great.

So how will these words change when the suffix -est is added to them? We have the root word sneaky, happy, and messy.

How will I spell sneakiest, happiest, messiest? Off you go.

Brilliant.

Well, if you've been paying attention, you know that if our word ends in a y and that y is making an ee or an igh sound, we remove the y and add -iest.

Remember, looking carefully at the spelling of the root word can help us here to spell the new superlative adjective, the most of that thing.

So sneakiest, the most sneaky.

Happiest, the most happy.

Messiest, the most messy.

In each of these instances, we've removed the y and added -iest.

So our rule is, remove the y and add -iest.

So I want you to read the word pairs below.

Look carefully at them.

Which rule has been used? Have you just added -est? Or have you had to remove a y and add -iest? Off you go.

Good job, team.

So quick ends in those two consonant letters.

We can just add -est.

Remember, it's that -est spelling.

Sometimes sounds like ist, IST, but it's -est.

Heavy and heaviest.

Well, it's that ee sound spelled with a y.

Whoosh.

Remove the y and add -iest.

And bright and brightest.

Of course, -est, just adding that suffix.

Great.

Remember, these are all superlative adjectives.

They are the most of that thing.

The most quick, the most heavy, the most bright.

When the root word ends in an e, we need to remove the e and then add -est.

And this makes sense, doesn't it? We don't want to have a double -est.

That might be confusing with pronunciation.

So the word simple becomes simplest.

Again, be careful.

It sounds like ist, but it's the -est suffix.

Wide becomes widest.

Safe becomes safest.

So our rule here is remove the e and then add our -est suffix.

Fine becomes finest.

Remove the e and then add -est.

So how will these words that ended in e change when we add our -est suffix to create our superlative adjectives? Off you go.

How will I spell the superlative adjectives? Good job, team.

They all end in an e.

Oh, and there was an extra one there, simple.

They all end in an e though.

We know the rule here.

We just need to remove the e and then add our -est suffix.

Remember, the spelling of the root word here, knowing that ends in an e is going to help us to spell those superlative adjectives.

Our rule, remove the e and then add -est.

And then our final rule to look at when adding our -est suffix, when the root word has a short vowel, a, e, i, o, u, and a single consonant letter following that short vowel at the end of the word, that final consonant letter is doubled and then we add our -est suffix.

Sad, a, a, short vowel a followed by a single consonant d.

Double the d.

Add -est to create saddest, our superlative adjective.

Hot, o, o.

Double the t.

Add -est to create hottest.

Slim.

Something that's slim is very skinny.

To create slimmest, i, i.

Double the m.

Add -est.

Big, i, i.

Double the g.

Add -est to create biggest.

So our rule here is double that final consonant and add -est.

This pattern also helps us to pronounce the words correctly.

So how will these words change when the suffix -est is added? How will I spell the new superlative adjectives? Off you go.

Great job, team.

I didn't want to read them there to you because I want you to listen out for those vowel sounds.

We have wet, thin, hot, e, i, o, all short vowel sounds followed by a single consonant letter.

So remember, the spelling of that root word and the way it sounds as well in this instance is going to help us to spell that superlative adjective.

And of course, we just need to double that final consonant letter to create wettest, thinnest, hottest.

All the superlatives.

The most wet, the most thin, the most hot.

So our rule here is double that final consonant and then add -est.

With that in mind, I want you to read the word pairs below and then match them to the rule that's been used.

Have you had to double a consonant and then add -est? Or remove an e and then add -est? Look carefully at those root words.

Off you go, team.

Brilliant job.

Nice ends in an e, doesn't it? So I remove the e and add my -est suffix.

Nicest.

Wise, again, also ends in an e.

Remove the e and add -est to create wisest.

And slim, i, i, short vowel sound there, followed by a single consonant letter.

Double that final consonant and then add -est to create the superlative adjective.

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

Will you just add -est? Will you need to remove a y and add -iest? Do you need to remove an e and add -est? Or do you need to double that final consonant letter and then add -est? Match them now.

Have a go at spelling these superlative adjectives.

Off you go, team.

Excellent job.

I'm really impressed.

You've clearly been paying a lot of attention.

So let's see how you've done.

Small and quiet.

We just had to add -est there.

Shiny and messy both ended in that y spelling, didn't they? Making that vowel sound.

So we removed the y and added -iest.

Simple and brave both ended in e.

We don't want confusion with that double -est.

So we removed the e and then add our suffix -est.

And finally, big and flat, i and a, short vowel sounds.

We double that final single consonant letter and then add -est.

Great job.

Check.

See how you did.

Make any corrections.

Off you go.

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

Let's see if you've been paying attention.

Let's read some curriculum words first.

My turn, your turn.

Secretary.

A secretary is someone who works for an organisation, might help with communication, keep minutes, and organise things.

Controversy is a state of public dispute or disagreement.

The design of the building caused controversy.

Maybe people didn't agree with how it should look.

Have a look at these words again, secretary and controversy.

Do you notice anything maybe difficult or tricky about them? Compare how they sound to how they're spelled.

Pause the video and have a think.

Brilliant.

Some great thinking going on there.

So I've noticed a couple of things.

Secretary here.

That second vowel and that third vowel in secretary, they can sound different dependent on how you pronounce them.

They're also not particularly stressed, dependent on how you pronounce them.

You might say, secretary.

I say secretary, which means you don't clearly hear that e and that a.

So dependent on pronunciation, it might have unstressed vowels that may be difficult to hear.

Controversy is a very interesting one as well, isn't it? That second o in controversy is a schwa or unstressed vowel too.

Controversy.

You don't say controversy.

It's quite unstressed.

So be careful.

It can be easy to miss it.

Remember, these words both contain vowel sounds that might not be easy to hear dependent on pronunciation.

So how are we going to spell the words that we just read? Point now to the correct spelling of secretary.

Off you go.

Brilliant.

Remember, dependent on how you pronounce it, this can be quite tricky.

So it's sec-re-tary, secretary.

Brilliant.

Point now to the correct spelling of controversy.

Off you go.

Well, I hope there's no controversy there because it's spelled like this.

Watch out for that second o in the middle.

Excellent.

So some words are irregular, which means they don't follow the patterns we've been looking at when adding that -est suffix.

They don't even add that -est suffix at all to make the superlative adjective.

For instance, we don't say good becoming goodest.

It becomes best.

And we don't see more becoming the superlative morest.

It becomes most.

So you can see best and most here both ending in that -st.

These are irregular superlative adjectives.

Watch out for them.

So we're now going to have a go at practising the spellings of the four patterns that we've been looking at.

Just adding -est.

Looking out for those root words that end in y to add -iest.

Looking out for those root words ending in e to remove that e and add -est.

And finally, listening and looking out for those words that end in that short vowel sound and a single consonant letter to double that consonant letter and add -est.

So I want you to read the words in the left here.

I want you to have a go at adding the -est suffix to create the superlative adjective and then match it to the rule that it's used.

Off you go, team.

Brilliant.

So, wise.

Oh, my root word there ends in an e, doesn't it? So I need to remove the e and add -est.

Funny.

Oh, that's that ee sound at the end but it's spelled with a y.

I want to create the superlative adjective, funniest, so I have to remove the y and add -iest.

Bright.

Oh, this one's quite a straightforward one, isn't it? We can just add -est here because it ends in those consonant letters.

Watch out those -est but it sounds like ist.

And flat, a, a, short vowel sound.

Double that final consonant letter and add -est.

Great job, team.

Now I'd like you to have a go at reading these sentences.

Read them carefully and select the correct spellings of those superlative adjectives.

Remember the rules that we have looked at.

Off you go.

Great.

Your room is the messiest I have ever seen.

Listen.

Messy.

Oh, that's our root word there, messy.

It's that ee but a y.

We need to remove the y and add -iest to create our superlative adjective, messiest.

Eat the ripest peach in the bowl first.

So the one that's most ready to be eaten, most ripe.

Ripe.

That's R-I-P-E, isn't it? So I need to remove the e and add -est.

Ripest.

I know it sounds like ist, IST, but it's that -est suffix, remember.

The lights were dimmest in the corner of the room.

So they were the lowest.

They weren't most clear.

They were dim.

Not very bright.

Dim, i, i.

Oh, short vowel sound.

Single consonant letter m.

Double the m.

Add -est.

And they used the strongest metal they had.

Strong here.

Finishing that root word in those consonant letters.

So we can just add -est.

There's no short vowel sound there previous to those consonant letters.

There's not a single consonant letter after that vowel sound.

So already has two consonant letters.

We can just add -est.

Great job, team.

So for our practise task now, we're going to have a go at creating and spelling some superlative adjectives with that suffix -est.

I'd like you to remember, please, to sound out the words.

Think of a root word if there's a clear one.

Remember the spelling rules then, and then also read and check the words to see if you're happy with them.

Sometimes just telling by sight or seeing by sight helps us know which word looks correct.

So I'm going to read the words to you now.

Strongest.

She was the strongest in the competition.

Two, widest.

Three, sneakiest.

Of our root word sneaky.

Four, slimmest.

They had the slimmest of chances.

And five, simplest.

He gave the simplest of answers.

So I'll say those one more time for you.

Strongest.

Widest.

Sneakiest.

Slimmest.

Simplest.

Pause the video now.

Have a good at writing those words.

Off you go.

Brilliant job, team.

I can see you've really been paying attention with the rules around adding this -est suffix.

Great.

So strongest.

Our root word strong.

Now it has an o, o in it, but that short vowel isn't followed by a single consonant letter.

It's followed by an ng.

So I can just add my -est suffix here.

I don't need to double that final consonant letter.

Widest was the next one.

Wide is our root word here, ending in an e.

I don't want a double eest so I chop off an e and then add -est.

Sneakiest was our next one.

Sneaky.

Sneakiest.

Well, I'm adding an extra syllable, aren't I? Sneaky ends in that y for that ee sound.

So I remove the y and add -iest to create sneakiest, my superlative.

And slimmest.

Slim, i, i, short vowel sound.

And it ends in a single consonant letter, the root word, m.

I double the m and then add -est.

And simplest.

My root word here is simple.

Simple is that ul spelled LE.

So it ends in an e.

I need to remove the e and then add -est.

I know it sounds like ist, simplest, but it's that -est spelling because we're dealing with superlatives here, that superlative adjectives, the most simple.

Great job, team.

How did you do? Share your learning with me now.

Share any magical mistakes and make any corrections.

Off you go.

Really good job in spelling today, team.

We've been adding the suffix -est to an adjective to create superlative adjectives today.

When using that -est suffix, there are four key rules.

In some instances, we can just add -est.

When our root word ends in an e, we remove the e and then add -est.

When our root word ends in a y, we remove the y and add -iest.

And if our root word has that short vowel sound, a, e, i, o, u, followed by a single consonant letter, we double that final consonant letter and add -est.

Remember also, there are some irregular adjectives where we cannot add the -est, such as good and more.

We don't say goodest and morest.

We say best and most.

Great job, and see if you can spot any of these superlatives in your reading.

I'll see you again soon.