New
New
Year 6

Spelling words with the comparative suffix -er

I can apply spelling rules to spell words with the comparative suffix -er.

New
New
Year 6

Spelling words with the comparative suffix -er

I can apply spelling rules to spell words with the comparative suffix -er.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. If the root word ends in 'y', remove the 'y' and add -ier.
  2. If the root word ends in 'e', remove the 'e' and add -er.
  3. If the root word contains a short vowel sound, double the consonant and add -er.
  4. 'Good' is irregular as it does not follow the same pattern. Instead we have good, better and best.
  5. How to spell the curriculum words: necessary and average.

Keywords

  • Suffix - a letter or group of letters added to the end of a root word

  • Root word - the base word from which other words are formed often by adding prefixes or suffixes

  • Comparative - the form of an adjective or adverb that compares two or more things

Common misconception

Pupils often forget to double the consonant when adding the suffix -er.

Show non-examples when the consonant has not been doubled after a short vowel sound (hot-hoter). Explain how this alters our pronunciation.

Ensure pupils are aware that whilst we can add the suffix -er to many adjectives to create a comparative adjective, some adjectives are irregular. Discuss words such as 'good' and 'bad' and any others that pupils come up with.
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

Loading...

6 Questions

Q1.
Identify the adjectives in this sentence: The bright, white moon shone in the sky.
Correct answer: bright
Correct answer: white
moon
shone
sky
Q2.
How many syllables are in the following words: colder, fresher, faster.
1
Correct answer: 2
3
4
Q3.
Select the suffixes.
Correct answer: -ed
un-
Correct answer: -er
Correct answer: -ing
de-
Q4.
Select all the words containing the suffix -er.
Correct answer: player
referring
hopeless
Correct answer: healthier
Correct answer: fitter
Q5.
Match the words ending with the suffix -er to their root words.
Correct Answer:heavy,heavier

heavier

Correct Answer:big,bigger

bigger

Correct Answer:calm,calmer

calmer

Correct Answer:brave,braver

braver

Q6.
What rule is being used when the word 'quick' becomes 'quicker' when adding the suffix -er?
Correct answer: Just add -er.
Remove the ‘y’ and add -ier.
Remove the ‘e’ and add -er.
Double the consonant and add -er.

6 Questions

Q1.
The suffixes -er and -est help us to...
change the tense of a word.
create a plural noun.
Correct answer: compare things.
create an adjective.
Q2.
What rule is being used when the word 'flat' becomes 'flatter' when adding the suffix -er?
Just add -er.
Remove the ‘y’ and add -ier.
Remove the ‘e’ and add -er.
Correct answer: Double the consonant and add -er.
Q3.
What rule is being used when the word 'early' becomes 'earlier' when adding the suffix -er?
Just add -er.
Correct answer: Remove the ‘y’ and add -ier.
Remove the ‘e’ and add -er.
Double the consonant and add -er.
Q4.
What rule is being used when the word 'safe' becomes 'safer' when adding the suffix -er?
Just add -er.
Remove the ‘y’ and add -ier.
Correct answer: Remove the ‘e’ and add -er.
Double the consonant and add -er.
Q5.
What rule is being used when the word 'quiet' becomes 'quieter' when adding the suffix -er?
Correct answer: Just add -er.
Remove the ‘y’ and add -ier.
Remove the ‘e’ and add -er.
Double the consonant and add -er.
Q6.
Write the correct spelling of the word in bold in the following sentence: I took the largr piece of cake!
Correct Answer: larger

Additional material

Download additional material
We're sorry, but preview is not currently available. Download to see additional material.