New
New
Year 4

Using the suffixes -cial and -tial

I can spell words using the suffixes -cial and -tial using spelling rules and exceptions.

New
New
Year 4

Using the suffixes -cial and -tial

I can spell words using the suffixes -cial and -tial using spelling rules and exceptions.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. It is common to see a ‘c’ or a ‘t’ before the suffix -ial.
  2. The /shul/ ending can be spelt -cial or -tial.
  3. If the letter before the /shul/ ending is a consonant, -tial is usually used.
  4. If the letter before the /shul/ ending is a vowel, -cial is usually used.
  5. How to spell the curriculum words: separate, popular and opposite.

Common misconception

The wrong vowels are used in curriculum words: separate, popular and opposite.

Saying the words slowly 'how they are spelt' is a useful strategy to remember these tricky spellings, e.g. sep -ar -ate.

Keywords

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

  • Vowel - a speech sound produced with an open mouth

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

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

Whilst exceptions to the rule are introduced in the lesson, focus on the words that follow the rules primarily, as there is time in upper KS2 to focus on exceptions.
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.
Match each word to the representation of the 'sh' sound it contains.
Correct Answer:shop,sh

sh

Correct Answer:portion,ti

ti

Correct Answer:special,ci

ci

Q2.
The -cial spelling of /shul/ is usually used if the letter before the /shul/ ending is a ...
consonant.
Correct answer: vowel.
double letter.
Q3.
The -tial spelling of /shul/ is usually used if the letter before the /shul/ ending is a ...
Correct answer: consonant.
vowel.
double letter.
Q4.
Choose the correct spelling of the word in bold in the following sentence: 'My birthday is a speshul day.'
spetial
speshul
Correct answer: special
Q5.
Choose the correct spelling of the word in bold in the following sentence: 'This letter is conffidenshul because nobody else can read it.'
confidenshul
confidensial
confidencial
Correct answer: confidential
Q6.
Write the correct spelling of the word in bold in the following sentence: 'Fish can breev under water.'
Correct Answer: breathe

6 Questions

Q1.
If the letter before the /shul/ ending is a vowel, -cial is usually used, like in 'social'. Which word is an exception to this rule?
social
Correct answer: initial
crucial
essential
Q2.
If the letter before the /shul/ ending is a consonant, -tial is usually used, like in 'confidential'. Which word is an exception to this rule?
essential
social
torrential
Correct answer: financial
Q3.
Choose the correct spelling of the word in bold in the following sentence: 'It was an ofishul document from the bank.'
offitial
oficial
Correct answer: official
Q4.
Choose the correct spelling of the word in bold in the following sentence: 'There was a parrshul closure of the park.'
parshal
Correct answer: partial
parcial
Q5.
Correct the spelling of the word in bold in the following sentence: 'Please use sepiret spoons for the meat and vegetables.'
Correct Answer: separate
Q6.
Correct the spelling of the word in bold in the following sentence: 'The hall is oposit the office.'
Correct Answer: opposite

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