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Investigating the letter string ‘fer’

Lesson details

Learning outcome

I can spell words using the letter string ‘fer’.

Key learning points

  1. When adding suffixes to words ending ‘fer’, the ‘r’ is doubled if the 'fer' is still stressed when the ending is added.
  2. The ‘r’ is not doubled if the ‘fer’ is no longer stressed.
  3. We can use word maps to link related words and identify connections in the meaning and spelling of words.
  4. How to spell the curriculum words: sincere and sincerely.

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 word to change its meaning

  • Letter string - a sequence of letters that appears in several words

  • Stressed sound - an emphasised sound

Common misconception

Children may find it very difficult to identify when 'fer' is stressed or unstressed.

Model saying the words with 'fer' aloud and stressing the appropriate syllable. Ask pupils to copy you.

Teacher tip

Look at the root words, such as 'offer' with a stressed first syllable and show pupils how the 'r' is never doubled, because the 'fer' is never stressed. Group the related words of other examples by those that have a double 'r' and those without.

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: -ence
Correct answer: -ed
in-
Correct answer: -ing
un-

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

Correct answer: offered
head
Correct answer: hopped
seed
Correct answer: cried

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

Correct Answer:play,played

played

Correct Answer:preferred,prefer

prefer

Correct Answer:stopped,stop

stop

Correct Answer:smile,smile

smile

Correct Answer:cried,cry

cry

Q4.
Match the root words to the corresponding verbs with the suffix -ing.

Correct Answer:bake,baking

baking

Correct Answer:talk,talking

talking

Correct Answer:hop,hopping

hopping

Correct Answer:cry,crying

crying

Q5.
Choose the correct spelling of the word in bold in the following sentence: 'Last week, I went swiming.'

swiming
Correct answer: swimming
swimin

Q6.
Choose the correct spelling of the word in bold in the following sentence: 'I am carefully controwling the kite.'

controling
controlin
controllign
Correct answer: controlling

6 Questions

Q1.
Which word or words below have 'fer' in a stressed syllable?

preference
suffering
Correct answer: transferring

Q2.
Which word or words below have 'fer' in a stressed syllable?

Correct answer: referred
reference
offer

Q3.
Select the correct spelling of the word.

offring
Correct answer: offering
offerring

Q4.
Select the correct spelling of the word.

transferd
transfered
Correct answer: transferred

Q5.
Correct the spelling of the word in bold in the following sentence: 'You need a refrance to get a job.'

Correct Answer: reference

Q6.
Correct the spelling of the word in bold in the following sentence: 'I would like a difrant pen.'

Correct Answer: different

To help you plan your 5 English lesson on: Investigating the letter string ‘fer’, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...