Using and spelling suffixes: -est | English | Quizalize & Oak National Academy

Starter quiz

Select the suffixes.
- -ing ✓
- -er ✓
- pre-
- -ed ✓
- un-
Select all the words containing the suffix -er.
- quieter ✓
- slowly
- greener ✓
- happiest
- played
Match the words to the rule they apply when the suffix -er is added.
- quiet - quieter
  
  ⇔
  
  Just add -er. ✓
- wide - wider
  
  ⇔
  
  Remove the ‘e’ and add -er. ✓
- hot - hotter
  
  ⇔
  
  Double the consonant and add -er. ✓
- funny - funnier
  
  ⇔
  
  Remove the ‘y’ and add -ier. ✓
What word class is the word in bold in the following sentence: Today was hotter than yesterday.
- noun
- adjective ✓
- verb
Choose the correct spelling of the word in bold in the following sentence: I felt bravr when my friend arrived.
- braveer
- braver ✓
- brayver
- bravr
Choose the correct spelling of the word in bold in the following sentence: This slice of cake is thinr than that one.
- thiner
- thinr
- thinner ✓
- thinnur

Select all the words containing the suffix -est.
- fastest ✓
- slower
- list
- quietest ✓
- boxes
What happens when the suffix -est is added to a root word ending in 'y', such as 'happy' or 'easy'?
- Just add -est.
- Remove the ‘y’ and add -iest. ✓
- Remove the ‘e’ and add -est.
- Double the consonant and add -est.
What happens when the suffix -er is added to a root word ending in 'e', such as 'wise' or 'fine'?
- Just add -est.
- Remove the ‘y’ and add -iest.
- Remove the ‘e’ and add -est. ✓
- Double the consonant and add -est.
Correct the spelling of the word in bold in the following sentence: She was the hapyest after her friend arrived.
- hapyest
- happyest
- happiest ✓
- hapiest
Correct the spelling of the word in bold in the following sentence: It was the longist pencil she had ever seen.
- 'longest' ✓
Correct the spelling of the word in bold in the following sentence: He chose the thinist slice of cake.
- 'thinnest' ✓

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A suffix is a letter or group of letters at the end of a word which creates another word.
If the adjective ends in two consonant letters, the ending is simply added on.
If the root word ends in a consonant + 'y', the 'y' is changed to 'i' before the suffix is added.
If the root word ends in a consonant + 'e', the 'e' is removed before the suffix is added.

Pupils can think the -est suffix is spelt 'ist' or 'st' because that is what you can hear.

Review pupils' misconceptions after practice tasks. Even though the word can sound different, -est is always spelt in the same way.

Adjective - describes a noun
Suffix - a letter or group of letters added to the end of a root word
Root word - the base word from which other words are formed often by adding prefixes or suffixes
Syllable - a single sound or beat in a word that contains a vowel sound
Consonant - a sound that is made by blocking air in the mouth with the teeth, tongue, lips or palate