Spelling words with the superlative suffix -est | English

Starter quiz

Match the word to the suffix it contains.
- carrying
  
  ⇔
  
  -ing ✓
- stayed
  
  ⇔
  
  -ed ✓
- shoes
  
  ⇔
  
  -s ✓
- buses
  
  ⇔
  
  -es ✓
What happens when the suffix -est is added to a word such as 'long' or 'cold'?
- Just add -est. ✓
- Keep the 'y' and add -est.
- Remove the ‘e’ and add -est.
- Double the consonant and add -est.
What rule is being used when the word 'brave' becomes 'bravest' when adding the suffix -est?
- Just add -est.
- Keep the 'y' and add -est.
- Remove the ‘e’ and add -est. ✓
- Double the consonant and add -est.
Match the root words to the corresponding verbs with the suffix -est.
- tall
  
  ⇔
  
  tallest ✓
- wide
  
  ⇔
  
  widest ✓
- early
  
  ⇔
  
  earliest ✓
- fat
  
  ⇔
  
  fattest ✓
Select all the words containing the suffix -est.
- simplest ✓
- chest
- best
- hungriest ✓
- calmest ✓
Match the verbs to the rule they use when the suffix -est is added.
- angry - angriest
  
  ⇔
  
  Remove the ‘y’ and add -iest. ✓
- thin - thinnest
  
  ⇔
  
  Double the consonant and add -est. ✓
- cold - coldest
  
  ⇔
  
  Just add -est. ✓
- safe - safest
  
  ⇔
  
  Remove the ‘e’ and add -est. ✓

Which of the following is a superlative adjective?
- tall
- taller
- tallest ✓
What rule is being used when the word 'thin' becomes 'thinnest' when adding the suffix -est?
- Just add -est.
- Remove the ‘y’ and add -iest.
- Remove the ‘e’ and add -est.
- Double the consonant and add -est. ✓
What rule is being used when the word 'healthy' becomes 'healthiest' when adding the suffix -est?
- Just add -est.
- Remove the ‘y’ and add -iest. ✓
- Remove the ‘e’ and add -est.
- Double the consonant and add -est.
What rule is being used when the word 'pale' becomes 'palest' when adding the suffix -est?
- Just add -est.
- Remove the ‘y’ and add -iest.
- Remove the ‘e’ and add -est. ✓
- Double the consonant and add -est.
What rule is being used when the word 'tough' becomes 'toughest' when adding the suffix -est?
- Just add -est. ✓
- Remove the ‘y’ and add -iest.
- Remove the ‘e’ and add -est.
- Double the consonant and add -est.
Write the correct spelling of the word in bold in the following sentence: The post office is always busyest early in the morning,
- 'busiest' ✓

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If the root word ends in 'y', remove the 'y' and add -iest.
If the root word ends in 'e', remove the 'e' and add -est.
If the root word contains a short vowel sound, double the consonant and add -est.
'Most' is irregular because it does not follow the same pattern. The comparative 'more' becomes 'most'.
How to spell the curriculum words: secretary and controversy.

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.

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
Superlative - the form of an adjective or adverb that indicates the highest degree of a quality when comparing three or more things