New
New
Year 4

Adding the suffix -ous to words

I can spell words using the suffix "-ous".

New
New
Year 4

Adding the suffix -ous to words

I can spell words using the suffix "-ous".

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The suffix -ous often turns nouns into adjectives and often means 'full of'.
  2. If the root word ends in 'ge', just add -ous.
  3. If the root word ends in 'e', remove the 'e', then add -ous.
  4. If the root word ends in 'our', change 'our' to 'or', then add -ous.
  5. How to spell the curriculum words: promise and favourite.

Common misconception

Children may not be able to spell the root word or stem.

Ensure to focus on all the difficult elements of the words presented, not only the -ous ending that demonstrates the spelling rule.

Keywords

  • 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 root word

  • Noun - a naming word for a person, place or thing

  • Adjective - describes a noun

Adapt the words to focus on those suited to your pupils, at their challenge level and to prioritise words that you can apply in writing tasks.
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.
When the word 'outrage' becomes 'outrageous' what rule is applied?
Correct answer: Just add -ous.
Remove the ‘e’, add -ous.
Remove the ‘y’, add -ious.
Change ‘our’ to ‘or’, add -ous.
Q2.
When the word 'rigour' becomes 'rigorous' what rule is applied?
Just add -ous.
Remove the ‘e’, add -ous.
Remove the ‘y’, add -ious.
Correct answer: Change ‘our’ to ‘or’, add -ous.
Q3.
When the word 'continue' becomes 'continuous' what rule is applied?
Just add -ous.
Correct answer: Remove the ‘e’, add -ous.
Remove the ‘y’, add -ious.
Change ‘our’ to ‘or’, add -ous.
Q4.
When the word 'fury' becomes 'furious' what rule is applied?
Just add -ous.
Remove the ‘e’, add -ous.
Correct answer: Remove the ‘y’, add -ious.
Change ‘our’ to ‘or’, add -ous.
Q5.
Choose the correct spelling for the word in bold in this sentence. Yesterday, I thort I saw you on the street.
thort
thaught
Correct answer: thought
thoght
Q6.
Choose the correct spelling for the word in bold in this sentence. What is the purpus of this text?
purposs
purpous
Correct answer: purpose
perpose

6 Questions

Q1.
When the word 'hazard' becomes 'hazardous' what rule is applied?
Correct answer: Just add -ous.
Remove the ‘e’, add -ous.
Remove the ‘y’, add -ious.
Change ‘our’ to ‘or’, add -ous.
Q2.
When the word 'glamour' becomes 'glamorous' what rule is applied?
Just add -ous.
Remove the ‘e’, add -ous.
Remove the ‘y’, add -ious.
Correct answer: Change ‘our’ to ‘or’, add -ous.
Q3.
When the word 'adventure' becomes 'adventurous' what rule is applied?
Just add -ous.
Correct answer: Remove the ‘e’, add -ous.
Remove the ‘y’, add -ious.
Change ‘our’ to ‘or’, add -ous.
Q4.
Match the words to the rules that apply when the suffix -ous is added.
Correct Answer:joy - joyous,Just add -ous.

Just add -ous.

Correct Answer:fame - famous,Remove the ‘e’, add -ous.

Remove the ‘e’, add -ous.

Correct Answer:vary - various,Remove the ‘y’, add -ious.

Remove the ‘y’, add -ious.

Correct Answer:humour - humourous,Change ‘our’ to ‘or’, add -ous.

Change ‘our’ to ‘or’, add -ous.

Q5.
Choose the correct spelling for the word in bold in this sentence. I promiss to go to bed straight away.
promisse
promiss
promis
Correct answer: promise
Q6.
Correct the spelling of the word in bold in this sentence. Chocolate is my fayvrit flavour of icecream.
Correct Answer: favourite

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