New
New
Year 2

Using and spelling suffixes: -less

I can spell words using the suffix -less.

New
New
Year 2

Using and spelling suffixes: -less

I can spell words using the suffix -less.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. A suffix is a letter or group of letters at the end of a word which creates another word.
  2. If the suffix starts with a consonant letter, it is usually added without any change to the root word.
  3. If a root word has more than one syllable and ends in a consonant + 'y', then 'y' is replaced by 'i' before the suffix.

Keywords

  • Suffix - a letter or group of letters at the end of a word which creates another word

  • Adjective - describes a noun

  • Noun - a naming word for people, places or things

Common misconception

Pupils may think the suffix only has one 's', like the suffix -ful, which only has one 'l'.

Draw a direct comparison: '-less' is how we would expect it to be spelt, whereas '-ful' is surprising and only has one 'l'.

Focus on the easier spellings, as pupils will return to the more complex rules several times in KS2. At this point, securing an understanding of the meaning and function of suffix, and seeing the connections between spellings is the most important.
Teacher tip

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
Choose the correct spelling and representation of the word in bold in the following sentence: They heard a byootifull song.
beautifull
Correct answer: beautiful
beutiful
beatifull
Q2.
Select the two words that contain the suffix '-ful'.
Correct answer: cheerful
slowly
Correct answer: fearful
cheerless
Q3.
Match the words with their word roots.
Correct Answer:slowly,slower

slower

Correct Answer:fearless,fear

fear

Correct Answer:played,playing

playing

Q4.
Choose the correct spelling of the word in bold in the following sentence: He was very chearfull.
cheerfull
chearful
Correct answer: cheerful
Q5.
Choose the correct spelling of the word in bold in the following sentence: He was a very hellpfull teacher.
helpfull
Correct answer: helpful
hepful
Q6.
Which word class are words ending in the suffix '-ful' usually?
verbs
Correct answer: adjectives
nouns

6 Questions

Q1.
What is a suffix?
a letter or group of letters at the start of a word which creates another word
Correct answer: a letter or group of letters at the end of a word which creates another word
a type of verb
a type of adjective
Q2.
Select the words that contain the suffix '-less'.
Correct answer: fearless
slowly
lesson
Correct answer: hairless
harmful
Q3.
Match the words with their word roots.
Correct Answer:hairy,hairless

hairless

Correct Answer:harmful,harmless

harmless

Correct Answer:fearful,fearless

fearless

Q4.
Choose the correct spelling of the word in bold in the following sentence: The spider was harmles.
harnles
Correct answer: harmless
harmles
Q5.
Correct the spelling of the word in bold in the following sentence: The day seemed endles.
Correct Answer: endless
Q6.
Correct the spelling of the word in bold in the following sentence: It was a strange hareles cat.
Correct Answer: hairless

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