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

      Spelling words with the suffix "-ed"

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can spell words using the suffix -ed when you just add -ed or remove the ‘e’ and add -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. -ed is a suffix that can be used to create the past tense.
      3. Some root words just add -ed to create the past tense.
      4. Some root words lose the final e and add the suffix -ed to create the past tense.
      5. How to spell the curriculum word: circle.

      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

      • Verb - a doing or being word

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

      Common misconception

      Children can spell past tense verbs how they sound, ending them with 't', 'd' or 'id'.

      Explicitly discuss the examples of words where the ending sounds different and remind pupils that the spelling is still -ed.

      Teacher tip

      Ensure pupils understand and can use all vocabulary introduced in the lesson. If the pupils can't say it, then they won't be able to spell it. Remember to refer back to pupils' phonics learning in line with your school's SSP to support spelling of root words (e.g. rhymes, visuals, rules).

      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: -ful
      in-
      Correct answer: -ly

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

      Correct answer: played
      head
      Correct answer: stopped
      seed
      Correct answer: cried

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

      Correct Answer:play,played

      played

      Correct Answer:stop,stopped

      stopped

      Correct Answer:cry,cried

      cried

      Correct Answer:smile,smiled

      smiled

      Q4.
      Which sentences are in the past tense?

      Correct answer: I went home.
      I like football.
      Correct answer: I played football.
      I do not eat meat.
      Correct answer: I smiled at my mum.

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

      Correct Answer:play,played

      played

      Correct Answer:smile,smiled

      smiled

      Correct Answer:go,went

      went

      Correct Answer:hop,hopped

      hopped

      Q6.
      Where is a suffix found in a word?

      at the start
      in the middle
      Correct answer: at the end
      nowhere

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      Which tense is the following sentence in? 'She walked to the park.'

      Correct answer: past
      present
      future

      Q2.
      When do we 'just add -ed' when using the suffix -ed?

      when the root word ends in 'y' after a consonant
      when the root word ends in 'e'
      Correct answer: when the root word ends in two consonant letters
      when the root word is a single syllable with a short vowel

      Q3.
      When do we 'remove the 'e', then add -ed' when using the suffix -ed?

      when the root word ends in 'y' after a consonant
      Correct answer: when the root word ends in 'e'
      when the root word ends in two consonant letters
      when the root word is a single syllable with a short vowel

      Q4.
      Choose the correct spelling of the word in bold in the following sentence: 'He clozd the door behind him.'

      closd
      clozed
      Correct answer: closed
      closeed

      Q5.
      Choose the correct spelling of the word in bold in the following sentence: 'I helpt to clear the table.'

      helpet
      helpt
      Correct answer: helped
      helpd

      Q6.
      Correct the spelling of the word in bold in the following sentence: 'The sun is the shape of a surcel.'

      Correct Answer: circle

      To help you plan your 3 English lesson on: Spelling words with the suffix "-ed", download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...