Choose exam board for KS4 Computer Science (GCSE)
Choose exam board for KS4 English
Choose exam board for KS4 French
Choose exam board for KS4 Geography
Choose exam board for KS4 German
Choose exam board for KS4 History
Choose tier for KS4 Maths
Choose exam board for KS4 Music
Choose exam board for KS4 Physical education (GCSE)
Choose exam board for KS4 Religious education (GCSE)
Choose exam board for KS4 Spanish

      Using the suffix -ed to form the past tense

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can apply spelling rules to spell words with the suffix -ed.

      Key learning points

      1. If the root word contains a short vowel sound, double the consonant and add the suffix -ed.
      2. If the root word ends in 'y', remove the 'y' and add -ied unless there is a vowel before the 'y'.
      3. If the root word is a verb that ends in 'e', remove the 'e' and add -ed.
      4. There are specific rules for words containing the stressed or unstressed 'fer' spelling.
      5. How to spell the curriculum words: determined, suggest.

      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

      • Vowel sound - the specific sound produced by a vowel when pronounced

      • Stressed - an emphasised sound

      Common misconception

      Children misspell the 'ough' letter string, like in irregular past tense verbs 'thought' or 'fought'.

      Use the phrase 'oh you grumpy hippo' to remember the sequence of letters: o u g h.

      Teacher tip

      Showing the words in full sentences can help pupils learn and remember the spellings. Comment on other elements of the more difficult spellings to identify what is unique or challenging about the spelling. This will help build up familiarity with these harder to spell words.

      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

      Loading...

      Prior knowledge starter quiz

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      Select the suffixes.

      Correct answer: -ed
      un-
      Correct answer: -ly
      de-
      Correct answer: -ful

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

      Correct answer: stayed
      slept
      Correct answer: jogged
      edible
      Correct answer: worried

      Q3.
      Match the words ending with the suffix -ed to their root words.

      Correct Answer:stop,stopped

      stopped

      Correct Answer:hurry,hurried

      hurried

      Correct Answer:appreciate,appreciated

      appreciated

      Correct Answer:laugh,laughed

      laughed

      Q4.
      Which sentences are in the past tense?

      Correct answer: He went home.
      I love apples and berries.
      Correct answer: They ran across the field.
      You do not have a pen.
      Correct answer: She walked to the shop.

      Q5.
      Match the present tense verbs with their past tense verbs.

      Correct Answer:stay,stayed

      stayed

      Correct Answer:share,shared

      shared

      Correct Answer:go,went

      went

      Correct Answer:sleep,slept

      slept

      Q6.
      What rule is being used when the word 'slice' becomes 'sliced' when adding the suffix -ed?

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

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      What rule is being used when the word 'commit' becomes 'committed' when adding the suffix -ed?

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

      Q2.
      What rule is being used when the word 'occupy' becomes 'occupied' when adding the suffix -ed?

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

      Q3.
      What rule is being used when the word 'sacrifice' becomes 'sacrificed' when adding the suffix -ed?

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

      Q4.
      Write the correct spelling of the word in bold in the following sentence: 'He dragd his coat along the ground.'

      Correct Answer: dragged

      Q5.
      Write the correct spelling of the word in bold in the following sentence: I am determind to get full marks in the test.

      Correct Answer: determined

      Q6.
      Write the correct spelling of the word in bold in the following sentence: 'The room was okupied so we couldn't go in.'

      Correct Answer: occupied

      To help you plan your 6 English lesson on: Using the suffix -ed to form the past tense, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...