Spelling words with the suffixes "-ful" and "-less"
I can change the meaning of a word by adding the suffix -ful or -less.
Spelling words with the suffixes "-ful" and "-less"
I can change the meaning of a word by adding the suffix -ful or -less.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- -ful and -less are suffixes that can be used to change the meaning of a root word.
- Some root words can use the suffixes -ful and -less.
- The -less and -ful suffixes start with a consonant, so the root word usually doesn’t change when the suffix is added.
- If the root word has more than one syllable and ends in a consonant +y, then ‘y’ is replaced by ‘i’ before the suffix.
- How to spell the curriculum words: reign and island.
Keywords
Root word - the base word from which other words are formed often by adding prefixes or suffixes
Adjective - describes a noun
Suffix - a letter or group of letters added to the end of a word to change its meaning
Noun - a naming word for a person, place or thing
Common misconception
All root words can take both suffixes -ful and -less.
Show a variety of words with suffixes -ful and -less. Choose ones familiar to the pupils and put into sentences to demonstrate the meaning.
To help you plan your year 3 english lesson on: Spelling words with the suffixes "-ful" and "-less", download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 3 english lesson on: Spelling words with the suffixes "-ful" and "-less", download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
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The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
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Explore more key stage 2 english lessons from the More suffixes and silent letters unit, dive into the full secondary english curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
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Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
-ly
-ful
-est
-ed
Exit quiz
6 Questions
Just add -ful.
Remove the ‘y’, then add -iful.
Just add -less.
Remove the ‘y’, then add -iless.