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      Spelling words with the suffix "-ing"

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can spell words using the suffix -ing when you add -ing or remove the 'e' and add -ing.

      Key learning points

      1. A suffix is a letter or group of letters at the end of a word which creates another word.
      2. Adding "-ing" creates an extra syllable to the word.
      3. If the root word ends in the consonant "e", the "e" is removed before the suffix is added.
      4. How to spell the curriculum word: through.

      Keywords

      • Suffix - a letter or group of letters at the end of a word which creates another word

      • Present tense - tells the reader the action is happening now

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

      • Verb - a doing or being word

      • Past tense - tells the reader the action happened before now

      Common misconception

      Pupils often assume words ending in the suffix -ing indicate the present tense.

      Refer to the Year 3 grammar lesson on 'being' verbs and give plenty of examples to show the verbs in both past tense and present tense.

      Teacher tip

      Contextualise all of the words within sentences to help ensure pupils have a solid grasp of the words used within this lesson.

      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.
      What rule is being used when the word 'sip' becomes 'sipped' 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 'fry' becomes 'fried' 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.
      Match the verbs to the rule they use when the suffix -ed is added.

      Correct Answer:call - called,Just add -ed.
      Correct Answer:fry - fried,Remove the ‘y’ and add -ied.
      Correct Answer:race - raced,Remove the ‘e’ and add -ed.
      Correct Answer:jog - jogged,Double the consonant and add -ed.

      Q4.
      Select all the words containing the suffix -ing.

      sing
      Correct answer: playing
      played
      Correct answer: swimming
      string

      Q5.
      Choose the correct spelling of the word in bold in this sentence: 'He slist the fruit for breakfast.'

      slised
      Correct answer: sliced
      slist
      sliceed

      Q6.
      Choose the correct spelling of the word in bold in this sentence: 'He arskt a question.'

      arsked
      Correct answer: asked
      askt
      askeed

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      What tense is the following sentence in? 'The teacher is talking.'

      past
      Correct answer: present
      future

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

      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
      when the root word ends in 'ie'

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

      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
      when the root word ends in 'ie'

      Q4.
      Choose the correct spelling of the word in bold in this sentence: 'He is jumpign up and down.'

      jumpig
      jumpeing
      Correct answer: jumping
      jumbing

      Q5.
      Choose the correct spelling of the word in bold in this sentence: 'Mum was smyling as she read her book.'

      smilling
      smieling
      smilin
      Correct answer: smiling

      Q6.
      Correct the spelling of the word in bold in this sentence: 'They are walking thru the forest.'

      Correct Answer: through

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