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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.

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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.

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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. 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.

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

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.


To help you plan your year 3 english lesson on: Spelling words with the suffixes -er and -est, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

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

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), 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.
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
tick

-ly

Correct Answer:windy,-y
tick

-y

Correct Answer:hopeful,-ful
tick

-ful

Correct Answer:careless,-less
tick

-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.
tick

Just add -y.

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

Remove the ‘e’, add -y.

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

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
tick

-ly

Correct Answer:largest,-est
tick

-est

Correct Answer:hotter,-er
tick

-er

Correct Answer:sunny,-y
tick

-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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