New
New
Year 3

Practise and apply spelling -er and -est words with alternative rules

I can use a range of strategies to practise spelling words using the suffixes -er and -est.

New
New
Year 3

Practise and apply spelling -er and -est words with alternative rules

I can use a range of strategies to practise spelling words using the suffixes -er and -est.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. -er and -est are suffixes that can be used to change the meaning of a root word.
  2. 'Colour blocks' is a useful practice strategy.
  3. How to spell the curriculum word: difficult.

Keywords

  • Suffix - a letter or group of letters added to the end of a word to change its meaning

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

  • Adjective - describes a noun

  • Vowel - a speech sound produced with an open mouth

  • Consonant - a sound that is made by blocking air in the mouth with the teeth, tongue, lips or palate

Common misconception

Remind pupils to use the root word to help them spell the new word created by adding the suffix.

Ensure pupils have a good understanding of the vocabulary. If they do not know the root word, they will find it harder to spell. Use images.

Draw links between rules for adding other suffixes and talk about commonalities. For example, removing the 'e' from root words ending in 'e' and changing the 'y' to 'i' for root words ending in 'y'.
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.
Adding the suffix -er or -est ...
creates a plural noun.
changes the tense of a word.
Correct answer: adds an extra syllable to a word.
creates an adverb.
Q2.
What happens when the suffix -est is added to a word such as 'long' or ‘fast’?
Correct answer: Just add -est.
Remove the 'y' and add -iest.
Remove the 'e' and add -est.
Double the consonant and add -est.
Q3.
What happens when the suffix -er is added to a root word ending in 'e', such as 'nice' or 'close'?
Just add -er.
Remove the 'y' and add -ier.
Correct answer: Remove the 'e' and add -er.
Double the consonant and add -er.
Q4.
What happens when the suffix -est is added to a root word ending in 'y', such as 'angry' or 'funny'?
Just add -est.
Correct answer: Remove the 'y' and add -iest.
Remove the 'e' and add -est.
Double the consonant and add -est.
Q5.
What happens when the suffix -er is added to a root word including a short vowel followed by a single consonant, such as 'big' or 'mad'?
Just add -er.
Remove the 'y' and add -ier.
Remove the 'e' and add -er.
Correct answer: Double the consonant and add -er.
Q6.
Match the words to the rules that apply to them when adding the suffix -er or -est.
Correct Answer:slow - slowest,Just add -er or -est.

Just add -er or -est.

Correct Answer:strange - stranger,Remove the 'e' and add -er or -est.

Remove the 'e' and add -er or -est.

Correct Answer:easy - easiest,Remove the 'y' and add -ier or -iest.

Remove the 'y' and add -ier or -iest.

Correct Answer:messy - messier,Double the consonant after a short vowel, then add -est.

Double the consonant after a short vowel, then add -est.

6 Questions

Q1.
Match the words to the rules that apply to them when adding the suffix -er or -est.
Correct Answer:fast - faster,Just add -er or -est.

Just add -er or -est.

Correct Answer:nice - nicest,Remove the 'e', add -er or -est.

Remove the 'e', add -er or -est.

Correct Answer:smelly - smellier,Remove the 'y', add -ier or -iest.

Remove the 'y', add -ier or -iest.

Correct Answer:hot - hottest,Double the consonant and add -er or -est.

Double the consonant and add -er or -est.

Q2.
Choose the correct spelling of the word in bold in the following sentence: 'This is the carmist I have ever seen the sea.'
carmest
calmist
Correct answer: calmest
calmmest
Q3.
Choose the correct spelling of the word in bold in the following sentence: 'You will need a lardger size.'
lrger
Correct answer: larger
largir
largier
Q4.
Choose the correct spelling of the word in bold in the following sentence: 'Your bedroom is the messyest room in the house.'
messiyest
messyiest
mesiest
Correct answer: messiest
Q5.
Choose the correct spelling of the word in bold in the following sentence: 'My number of blocks is biggur than yours.'
Correct answer: bigger
biggir
biger
bigga
Q6.
Correct the spelling of the word in bold in the following sentence: 'It was a diffaclt decision to make.'
Correct Answer: difficult

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