Spelling words with the suffixes -er and -est using alternative rules | English

Starter quiz

Identify the adjective in this sentence: The red ball rolled under the car.
- red ✓
- ball
- rolled
- car
How many syllables are in the following words: nicest, darkest, kindest.
- 1
- 2 ✓
- 3
- 4
Match the word to the suffix it contains.
- hurrying
  
  ⇔
  
  -ing ✓
- played
  
  ⇔
  
  -ed ✓
- dresses
  
  ⇔
  
  -es ✓
- flowers
  
  ⇔
  
  -s ✓
What happens when the suffix -er is added to a word such as 'long' or 'cold'?
- Just add -er. ✓
- Remove the 'y' and add -ier.
- Remove the 'e' and add -er.
- Double the consonant and add -er.
What happens when the suffix -est is added to a root word ending in 'e', such as 'safe' or 'brave'?
- 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 this sentence: It was coldir this morning.
- 'colder' ✓

What is the correct spelling of the word in bold in this sentence: The story was unpoppular with the children.
- unpopuler
- unpopulir
- unpopular ✓
- unpoppular
What happens when the suffix -est is added to a word such as 'early' or 'busy'?
- Just add -est.
- Remove the 'y' and add -ier or -iest. ✓
- Remove the 'e' and add -est.
- Double the consonant after a short vowel, then add -est.
What happens when the suffix -er is added to a word such as 'sad' or 'red'?
- Just add -er.
- Remove the 'y' and add -ier or -iest.
- Remove the 'e' and add -er.
- Double the consonant after a short vowel, then add -er. ✓
Match the words to the rules that apply when adding the suffix -er.
- long - longer
  
  ⇔
  
  Just add -er. ✓
- nice - nicer
  
  ⇔
  
  Remove the 'e', add -er. ✓
- busy - busier
  
  ⇔
  
  Remove the 'y' and add -ier or -iest. ✓
- hot - hotter
  
  ⇔
  
  Double the consonant after a short vowel, then add -er. ✓
Match the words to the rules that apply when adding the suffix -est.
- tall - tallest
  
  ⇔
  
  Just add -est. ✓
- wise - wisest
  
  ⇔
  
  Remove the 'e', add -est. ✓
- stormy - stormiest
  
  ⇔
  
  Remove the 'y' and add -ier or -iest. ✓
- angry - angriest
  
  ⇔
  
  Double the consonant after a short vowel, then add -est. ✓
Correct the spelling of the word in this sentence: Pizza is always populer at parties.
- 'popular' ✓

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-er and "-est" are suffixes that can be used to change the meaning of a root word.
For root words ending in 'y', you can remove the 'y' and add -ier or -iest.
For root words with a short vowel sound, you can double the consonant and add the suffix -er or -est.
How to spell the curriculum words popular and unpopular.

Pupils often forget to double the consonant when adding the suffixes -er or -est.

Show non-examples when the consonant has not been doubled after a short vowel sound (hot-hotest). Explain how this alters our pronunciation.

Suffix - a letter or group of letters added to the end of a word to change its meaning
Root word - the base word from which other words are formed often by adding prefixes or suffixes
Adjective - describes a noun
Vowel - a speech sound produced with an open mouth
Consonant - a sound that is made by blocking air in the mouth with the teeth, tongue, lips or palate