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Year 5

Turning nouns and adjectives into verbs using the suffixes -ate and -en

I can spell words using the suffixes -ate and -en.

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New
New
Year 5

Turning nouns and adjectives into verbs using the suffixes -ate and -en

I can spell words using the suffixes -ate and -en.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The suffixes -en and -ate often turns adjectives and nouns into verbs.
  2. When the root word ends in a consonant, we often just add the suffix.
  3. When the root word ends in a vowel, we remove the final vowel and add the suffix.
  4. When the root word has a short vowel, we double the consonant and add the suffix.
  5. How to spell the curriculum words: separate, desperate and communicate.

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

  • Noun - a naming word for people, places or things

  • Verb - a doing, being or having word

Common misconception

Children mix up the vowel spellings in the words 'desperate' and 'separate'.

Saying the words slowly how they are spelt can help: sep-ar-ate, des-per-ate.


To help you plan your year 5 english lesson on: Turning nouns and adjectives into verbs using the suffixes -ate and -en, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Give pupils time to practise the spellings independently using a range of practice strategies, such as look, cover, write, check or big letters. Children can identify for themselves the words they want to focus on from a given list.
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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.
Read these sentences. Match the words 'pollinate', 'active' and 'elastic' in each sentence to the correct word class.
Correct Answer:Bees can pollinate flowers.,verb
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verb

Correct Answer:I will be active today.,adjective
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adjective

Correct Answer:This elastic is 5cm long.,noun
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noun

Q2.
Read these three sentences. Match the words 'slowly', 'slow' and 'shouted' in each sentence to the correct word class.
Correct Answer:We slowly wandered to the exit.,adverb
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adverb

Correct Answer:The tortoise is slow.,adjective
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adjective

Correct Answer:They shouted loudly.,verb
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verb

Q3.
Match these words to their definitions.
Correct Answer:strengthen,to make something stronger or more robust
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to make something stronger or more robust

Correct Answer:brighten,to make something brighter or more radiant
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to make something brighter or more radiant

Correct Answer:locate,to find the location or place of something
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to find the location or place of something

Q4.
Match these words to their definitions.
Correct Answer:ripen,to become ripe or ready for eating
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to become ripe or ready for eating

Correct Answer:flatten,to make something flat or level
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to make something flat or level

Correct Answer:purify,to remove impurities or make more pure
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to remove impurities or make more pure

Correct Answer:activate,to make something operational or ready for use
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to make something operational or ready for use

Q5.
Identify the words with verb suffixes.
Correct answer: modernise
education
Correct answer: ripen
boxes
Correct answer: beautify
Q6.
Identify the words with verb suffixes.
Correct answer: decorate
Correct answer: purify
knives
musician
Correct answer: sadden

6 Questions

Q1.
Which word class is the word 'activate' in this sentence? Don't activate the television now.
Correct answer: verb
noun
adjective
adverb
Q2.
Match the verbs to the rule that is used when the suffix -ate is added to the root word.
Correct Answer:motivate,Remove the final vowel, then add the suffix.
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Remove the final vowel, then add the suffix.

Correct Answer:elasticate,Just add the suffix
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Just add the suffix

Correct Answer:create,No obvious root word.
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No obvious root word.

Q3.
Match the word to the correct word class.
Correct Answer:flat,adjective
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adjective

Correct Answer:sadden,verb
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verb

Correct Answer:length,noun
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noun

Q4.
Match the verbs to the rule that is used when the suffix -en has been added to the root word.
Correct Answer:loosen,Remove the final vowel, then add the suffix.
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Remove the final vowel, then add the suffix.

Correct Answer:sharpen,Just add the suffix.
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Just add the suffix.

Correct Answer:sadden,Double the consonant, then add the suffix.
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Double the consonant, then add the suffix.

Correct Answer:happen,No obvious root word.
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No obvious root word.

Q5.
Correct the spelling of the word in bold in the sentence. The coach tried to motivayt the team.
Correct Answer: motivate
Q6.
Correct the spelling of the word in bold in the sentence. The gardener tried to flatin the earth in the pot.
Correct Answer: flatten

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