New
New
Year 3

Spelling words with the suffixes -er and -est

I can change the meaning of a word by adding the suffixes -er and -est.

New
New
Year 3

Spelling words with the suffixes -er and -est

I can change the meaning of a word by adding the suffixes -er and -est.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. -er and -est are suffixes that can be used to change the meaning of a root word.
  2. For some root words you can add the suffix -er.
  3. For some root words you can add the suffix -est.
  4. For root words ending in 'e' you remove the 'e' and add the suffix -er or -est.
  5. How to spell the curriculum word: minute.

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.

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

Use objects or images to show how we can compare and describe things using adjectives containing the suffixes -er and -est.
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).

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6 Questions

Q1.
Select the adjective from the following sentence: 'The tall trees swayed.'
The
Correct answer: tall
trees
swayed
Q2.
Where would you find a suffix?
at the beginning of a word
in the middle of a word
Correct answer: at the end of a word
Q3.
Match the word to the suffix it contains.
Correct Answer:quickly,-ly

-ly

Correct Answer:windy,-y

-y

Correct Answer:hopeful,-ful

-ful

Correct Answer:careless,-less

-less

Q4.
What rule is used when 'fear' becomes 'fearless'?
Just add -ful.
Correct answer: Just add -less.
Remove the 'y', replace it with 'i' and add -less.
Remove the 'e' and add -less.
Q5.
What rule is used when 'play' becomes 'playful'?
Correct answer: Just add -ful.
Just add -less.
Remove the 'y', replace it with 'i' and add -less.
Remove the 'e' and add -less.
Q6.
Match the words to the rules that apply when adding the suffix -y.
Correct Answer:storm - stormy,Just add -y.

Just add -y.

Correct Answer:noise - noisy,Remove the ‘e’, add -y.

Remove the ‘e’, add -y.

Correct Answer:mud - muddy,Double the consonant, add -y.

Double the consonant, add -y.

6 Questions

Q1.
Select all the words containing the suffix '-er'.
Correct answer: quieter
hopeful
happily
Correct answer: brighter
loudest
Q2.
Match the words to the suffix they contain.
Correct Answer:happily,-ly

-ly

Correct Answer:largest,-est

-est

Correct Answer:hotter,-er

-er

Correct Answer:sunny,-y

-y

Q3.
What word class is the word in bold in the following sentence: 'Ben felt braver when my friend arrived.'
noun
Correct answer: adjective
verb
adverb
Q4.
What happens when the suffix -est is added to a word such as 'long' or 'quick'?
Correct answer: Just add -est.
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 ending in 'e', such as 'nice' or 'wise'?
Just add -er.
Remove the 'y' and add -ier.
Correct answer: Remove the 'e' and add -er.
Double the consonant and add -er.
Q6.
Correct the spelling of the word in bold in the following sentence: 'We arrived one minnit late.'
Correct Answer: minute

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