New
New
Year 6

Spelling words with the superlative suffix -est

I can apply spelling rules to spell words with the superlative suffix -est.

New
New
Year 6

Spelling words with the superlative suffix -est

I can apply spelling rules to spell words with the superlative suffix -est.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. If the root word ends in 'y', remove the 'y' and add -iest.
  2. If the root word ends in 'e', remove the 'e' and add -est.
  3. If the root word contains a short vowel sound, double the consonant and add -est.
  4. 'Most' is irregular because it does not follow the same pattern. The comparative 'more' becomes 'most'.
  5. How to spell the curriculum words: secretary and controversy.

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

  • Superlative - the form of an adjective or adverb that indicates the highest degree of a quality when comparing three or more things

Common misconception

Pupils can think the -est suffix is spelt 'ist' or 'st' because that is what you can hear.

Review pupils' misconceptions after practice tasks. Even though the word can sound different, -est is always spelt in the same way.

Contextualise spellings by using superlative adjectives in sentences. Look at comparative adjectives alongside superlative adjectives and talk about irregularities such as 'good', 'better', 'best' and 'bad', 'worse', 'worst'.
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.
Match the word to the suffix it contains.
Correct Answer:carrying,-ing

-ing

Correct Answer:stayed,-ed

-ed

Correct Answer:shoes,-s

-s

Correct Answer:buses,-es

-es

Q2.
What happens when the suffix -est is added to a word such as 'long' or 'cold'?
Correct answer: Just add -est.
Keep the 'y' and add -est.
Remove the ‘e’ and add -est.
Double the consonant and add -est.
Q3.
What rule is being used when the word 'brave' becomes 'bravest' when adding the suffix -est?
Just add -est.
Keep the 'y' and add -est.
Correct answer: Remove the ‘e’ and add -est.
Double the consonant and add -est.
Q4.
Match the root words to the corresponding verbs with the suffix -est.
Correct Answer:tall,tallest

tallest

Correct Answer:wide,widest

widest

Correct Answer:early,earliest

earliest

Correct Answer:fat,fattest

fattest

Q5.
Select all the words containing the suffix -est.
Correct answer: simplest
chest
best
Correct answer: hungriest
Correct answer: calmest
Q6.
Match the verbs to the rule they use when the suffix -est is added.
Correct Answer:angry - angriest,Remove the ‘y’ and add -iest.

Remove the ‘y’ and add -iest.

Correct Answer:thin - thinnest,Double the consonant and add -est.

Double the consonant and add -est.

Correct Answer:cold - coldest,Just add -est.

Just add -est.

Correct Answer:safe - safest,Remove the ‘e’ and add -est.

Remove the ‘e’ and add -est.

6 Questions

Q1.
Which of the following is a superlative adjective?
tall
taller
Correct answer: tallest
Q2.
What rule is being used when the word 'thin' becomes 'thinnest' when adding the suffix -est?
Just add -est.
Remove the ‘y’ and add -iest.
Remove the ‘e’ and add -est.
Correct answer: Double the consonant and add -est.
Q3.
What rule is being used when the word 'healthy' becomes 'healthiest' when adding the suffix -est?
Just add -est.
Correct answer: Remove the ‘y’ and add -iest.
Remove the ‘e’ and add -est.
Double the consonant and add -est.
Q4.
What rule is being used when the word 'pale' becomes 'palest' when adding the suffix -est?
Just add -est.
Remove the ‘y’ and add -iest.
Correct answer: Remove the ‘e’ and add -est.
Double the consonant and add -est.
Q5.
What rule is being used when the word 'tough' becomes 'toughest' when adding the suffix -est?
Correct answer: Just add -est.
Remove the ‘y’ and add -iest.
Remove the ‘e’ and add -est.
Double the consonant and add -est.
Q6.
Write the correct spelling of the word in bold in the following sentence: The post office is always busyest early in the morning,
Correct Answer: busiest

Additional material

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