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      Using and spelling suffixes: -ed

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can spell words using the suffix -ed.

      Key learning points

      1. A suffix is a letter or group of letters at the end of a word which creates another word.
      2. The past tense of some verbs may sound like they end in 'id', 't' or 'd', but they are spelt using '-ed'.
      3. If the verb ends in two consonant letters, the ending is simply added on.
      4. If the verb ends in a consonant + 'y', the 'y' is changed to 'i' before 'ed' is added.
      5. If the root word ends in a consonant + 'e', the 'e' is removed before the suffix is added.

      Keywords

      • Suffix - a letter or group of letters added to the end of a root word

      • Past tense - shows that the action happened before now

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

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

      Common misconception

      Children hear 'd', 't' or 'id' at the end of the word and spell it that way.

      Explain that sometimes the ending sounds like ‘t’, ‘d’ or ‘id’ but it is still spelt with the suffix -ed.

      Teacher tip

      Acknowledge that there are exceptions to the rule, but focus on securing the spellings that follow the rules first. Children continue to focus on past tense spellings throughout KS2.

      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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      Prior knowledge starter quiz

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      Select the suffixes.

      Correct answer: -ly
      un-
      Correct answer: -ing
      in-
      Correct answer: -ful

      Q2.
      Select all the words containing the suffix -ing.

      Correct answer: swimming
      Correct answer: humming
      funnily
      Correct answer: flying
      flew

      Q3.
      Select all the words containing the suffix -ed.

      Correct answer: played
      playful
      Correct answer: skipped
      slowly
      playing

      Q4.
      What happens when the suffix -ing is added to a root word with a short vowel and ending in a consonant, such as 'hop' or 'run'?

      Just add -ing.
      Keep the ‘y’ and add -ing.
      Remove the 'e' and add -ing.
      Correct answer: Double the consonant and add -ing.

      Q5.
      Choose the correct spelling of the word in bold in the following sentence: I like to go swimin at the weekends.

      swiming
      Correct answer: swimming
      swimmin

      Q6.
      Choose the correct spelling of the word in bold in the following sentence: I heard my sister crighing next door.

      criing
      Correct answer: crying
      cryying
      cryin

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      Select the suffixes.

      Correct answer: -ed
      Correct answer: -ing
      un-
      de-

      Q2.
      What happens when the suffix -ed is added to a root word with a short vowel and ending in a consonant, such as 'hop' or 'skip'?

      Just add -ed.
      Remove the ‘y’ and add -ied.
      Remove the ‘e’ and add -ed.
      Correct answer: Double the consonant and add -ed.

      Q3.
      What happens when the suffix -ed is added to a root word ending in an 'e' such as 'bake' or 'hope'?

      Just add -ed.
      Remove the ‘y’ and add -ied.
      Correct answer: Remove the ‘e’ and add -ed.
      Double the consonant and add -ed.

      Q4.
      Choose the correct spelling of the word in bold in the following sentence: I cride when I fell over.

      cryed
      criied
      Correct answer: cried

      Q5.
      Correct the spelling of the word in bold in the following sentence: My teacher helpt me when I was stuck on a question.

      Correct Answer: helped

      Q6.
      Correct the spelling of the word in bold in the following sentence: The car stopt at the red light.

      Correct Answer: stopped

      To help you plan your 2 English lesson on: Using and spelling suffixes: -ed, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...