New
New
Year 3

Practise and apply spelling words with the suffixes "-er" and "-est"

I can use a range of strategies to practise spelling words using the suffixes -er and -est.

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New
New
Year 3

Practise and apply spelling words with the suffixes "-er" and "-est"

I can use a range of strategies to practise spelling words using the suffixes -er and -est.

Link copied to clipboard

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. -er and -est are suffixes that can be used to change the meaning of a root word.
  2. The strategy 'big letters' is a useful practice strategy.
  3. How to spell the curriculum word: special.

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

Common misconception

Pupils may think that you can add -er or -est to any adjective and use it to make comparisons.

Make pupils aware that we cannot always add the suffix -er or -est to compare. For example, good - better - best or bad - worse - worst.


To help you plan your year 3 english lesson on: Practise and apply spelling words with the suffixes "-er" and "-est", download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Explain that adding the suffix -er or -est adds an extra syllable to the word. If pupils grasp this it will help them when it comes to spelling the words.
Teacher tip

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

6 Questions

Q1.
Identify the adjectives in this sentence: The bright, white moon shone in the sky.
Correct answer: bright
Correct answer: white
moon
shone
sky
Q2.
How many syllables are in the following words: colder, fresher, faster.
1
Correct answer: 2
3
4
Q3.
The suffixes -er and -est help us to ...
change the tense of a word.
create a plural noun.
Correct answer: compare things.
create an adjective.
Q4.
What happens when the suffix -est is added to a word such as 'old' or ‘new’?
Correct answer: Just add -est.
Remove the 'y' and add -iest.
Remove the 'e' and add -est.
Double the consonant and add -est.
Q5.
What happens when the suffix -er is added to a root word ending in 'e', such as 'cute' or 'safe'?
Just add -er.
Remove the 'y' and add -ier.
Correct answer: Remove the 'e' and add -er.
Double the consonant and add -er.
Q6.
Correct the spelling of the word in bold in this sentence: He knew the quickist way home.
Correct Answer: quickest

6 Questions

Q1.
Match the words to the rules that apply when adding the suffix -er or -est.
Correct Answer:small - smaller,Just add -er.

Just add -er.

Correct Answer:loud - loudest,Just add -est.

Just add -est.

Correct Answer:pale - paler,Remove the 'e', add -er.

Remove the 'e', add -er.

Correct Answer:wise - wisest,Remove the 'e', add -est.

Remove the 'e', add -est.

Q2.
Choose the correct spelling of the word in bold in this sentence: The weather is coldir now.
coldder
coldur
coldr
Correct answer: colder
Q3.
Choose the correct spelling of the word in bold in this sentence: Which class is the quitest in assembly?
quietist
quiatest
Correct answer: quietest
quiettest
Q4.
Choose the correct spelling of the word in bold in this sentence: My peach is rieper than yours.
ripeer
Correct answer: riper
righper
ripper
Q5.
Choose the correct spelling of the word in bold in this sentence: Andeep lives closesst to school.
closiest
closist
closes
Correct answer: closest
Q6.
Correct the spelling of the word in bold in this sentence: This speshal ring belonged to my Nan.
Correct Answer: special

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