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SATs practice · Year 6Chapter 7 · Spelling rules: prefixes, suffixes and word families
Year 6 · Chapter 7

Spelling rules: prefixes, suffixes and word families

By the end of this chapter you will be able to

  • Add a prefix to a root word without changing the root spelling
  • Add a suffix to a root word, and choose -cious, -tious, -cial or -tial
  • Choose -ant or -ent, and -ance or -ence, for a word
  • Choose -able or -ible for a root word
  • Choose the right homophone for its meaning, and spell silent letters

You should already know

  • Common prefixes and suffixes (Year 4 spelling)
  • Word families and spelling patterns from the Year 5-6 English book (chapters 1, 2 and 4)

Where this leads

  • The Year 5-6 word list and spelling correction (Chapter 8 of this book)

KS2 SATs practice for grammar, punctuation and spelling (Year 6). Original questions in the style of the national tests. Content: Add the prefixes dis-, de-, mis-, over-, re-, un-, anti-, auto-, sub-, inter- and super-, and explain how they change the meaning (Year 5-6 spelling), Spell the suffixes -cious, -tious, -cial and -tial correctly (Year 5-6 spelling), Spell words ending in -ant, -ent, -ance and -ence correctly (Year 5-6 spelling), Spell words ending in -able and -ible correctly (Year 5-6 spelling), Choose the correct spelling of the homophones affect/effect, practise/practice and stationary/stationery (Year 5-6 spelling), Spell words with silent letters, such as doubt, island and knight, and use word families to spell new words (Year 5-6 spelling).

Exercise P  Do you remember?

1
FAdd the prefix un- to happy. Write the word.
2
FWhich spelling is correct? Choose one: recieve, receive or receeve.
3
FWrite the plural of baby. Write one word.
4
FAdd the suffix -ful to care. Write the word.
5
FAdd the prefix im- to possible. Write the word.
7.1

Prefixes and their meanings

Year 6
Add the prefixes dis-, de-, mis-, over-, re-, un-, anti-, auto-, sub-, inter- and super-, and explain how they change the meaning (Year 5-6 spelling)
Video lesson: Prefixes and their meaningsComing soon
Practice material. This is practice in the style of the Year 6 grammar, punctuation and spelling test. It is not the official test, and no official test item is used. Marks and timings are a practice guide only.
Story. The school newsletter says: "The bus will be defrosted and the window repaired. Some pupils disagree, but the teachers will misunderstand nothing. We hope the overflow of visitors will be unnecessary."

Rule

A prefix is added to the start of a root word, and it changes the meaning. The root word keeps its spelling.

PrefixMeaningExample
dis-not, the oppositedisagree
mis-wronglymisspell
over-too much, aboveoverflow
re-againreappear
sub-under, belowsubmarine
super-above, beyondsupermarket

Some words need a double letter when the prefix and root meet: misspell, unnecessary, dissatisfied.

Key ideas

  • A prefix comes at the start of a word and changes its meaning.
  • Keep every letter of the prefix and the root word.
  • When the prefix ends with the same letter as the root, both letters are written: misspell.
Worked example 7.1.1
Add the prefix mis- to spell. Write the word.

Method. Add the prefix to the start, and keep both s letters.

  1. Find the prefix. Mis- means wrongly.
    mis-
  2. Find the root. Spell is the root.
    spell
  3. Join them. Mis- ends with s and spell begins with s, so both are kept.
    misspell
  4. Write the answer.
    misspell

Check. both s letters are kept. ✓

Worked example 7.1.2
Add the prefix sub- to marine. Write the word.

Method. Add sub- to the start, which means under.

  1. Find the prefix. Sub- means under or below.
    sub-
  2. Find the root. Marine means relating to the sea.
    marine
  3. Join them. Sub- and marine make submarine.
    submarine
  4. Write the answer.
    submarine

Check. a submarine goes under the sea. ✓

Worked example 7.1.3
What does the prefix re- mean in rewrite? Write one word.

Method. Re- means again, or back.

  1. Find the prefix. Re- is at the start.
    re-
  2. Find its meaning. Re- means again.
    again
  3. Check the word. Rewrite means write again.
    again
  4. Write the answer.
    again

Check. rewrite means to write again. ✓

Exercise 7A  Practice: prefixes

1
FAdd the prefix dis- to agree. Write the word.
2
FAdd the prefix un- to necessary. Write the word.
3
FWhich word means "not satisfied"? Choose one: dissatisfied, satisfied or misatisfied.
4
FAdd the prefix anti- to clockwise. Write the word in British spelling.
5
FAdd the prefix auto- to graph. Write the word.
6
FWhich prefix means "too much"? Choose one: over-, inter- or auto-.
7
FAdd the prefix super- to market. Write the word.
8
FIs this spelling correct? international Choose one: True or False.
9
PSAdd the prefix de- to frost. Write the word.
10
RExplain why misspell has two s letters.
11
PSAdd the prefix re- to appear. Write the word.
12
PSWhich word is spelled correctly? Choose one: misbehave, mysbehave or misbehaive.
7.2

Suffixes -cious, -tious, -cial and -tial

Year 6
Spell the suffixes -cious, -tious, -cial and -tial correctly (Year 5-6 spelling)
Video lesson: Suffixes -cious, -tious, -cial and -tialComing soon
Story. A review of the restaurant says: "The soup was delicious and the staff were gracious. The chef is ambitious, and the menu is nutritious. The owner made an official announcement about a new residential block."

Rule

The endings -cious, -tious, -cial and -tial all sound like "shus" or "shul". You cannot hear the difference, so learn the root word.

-cious: from a root ending in -ce, as in malice, vice, grace: malicious, vicious, gracious.

-tious: after a root ending in -tion, as in caution, ambition, nutrition: cautious, ambitious, nutritious.

-cial and -tial: official (from office), essential (from essence).

Key ideas

  • -cious and -tious usually mean full of: ambitious means full of ambition.
  • -cial and -tial are the adjective endings for many nouns.
  • Learn the root word, because the endings sound the same.
Worked example 7.2.1
Add the suffix -ious to malice. Write the word.

Method. Drop the e from malice, and add -ious.

  1. Find the root. Malice ends with e.
    malice
  2. Drop the e and add the suffix. Malice loses its e, and -ious is added.
    malic
  3. Write the word. The word is malicious.
    malicious
  4. Write the answer.
    malicious

Check. malicious comes from malice. ✓

Worked example 7.2.2
Add the suffix -ious to caution. Write the word.

Method. Drop -ion from the root, and add -ious.

  1. Find the root. Caution ends with -ion.
    caution
  2. Drop -ion and add -ious. The -ion is removed, and -ious is added.
    caut
  3. Write the word. The word is cautious.
    cautious
  4. Write the answer.
    cautious

Check. cautious is full of caution. ✓

Worked example 7.2.3
Write the adjective from essence, ending in -tial. Write one word.

Method. The root essence gives the adjective essential, with -tial.

  1. Find the root. Essence is the root.
    essence
  2. Change the ending. Essence becomes essential, with the t of -tial.
    essen-tial
  3. Write the word. The word is essential.
    essential
  4. Write the answer.
    essential

Check. essential comes from essence. ✓

Exercise 7B  Practice: -cious, -tious, -cial and -tial

1
FAdd the suffix -ious to vice. Write one word.
2
FAdd the suffix -ious to ambition. Write one word.
3
FWhich spelling is correct? Choose one: officail, official or offical.
4
FAdd the suffix -ial to face. Write one word.
5
FWhich word is spelled correctly? Choose one: confidencial, confidential or confidentail.
6
FWrite the adjective from nutrition, ending in -ous. Write one word.
7
FWrite the adjective from residence, ending in -tial. Write one word.
8
PSIs this spelling correct? delicious Choose one: True or False.
9
PSFind the wrong letter and write the word correctly: gracous
10
RWhy are the endings -cious and -tious hard to spell?
11
PSAdd the suffix -al to commerce, using -cial. Write one word.
12
PSWhich is the correct spelling of the adjective from finance? Choose one: financial, financal or financeal.
7.3

Words ending in -ant, -ent, -ance and -ence

Year 6
Spell words ending in -ant, -ent, -ance and -ence correctly (Year 5-6 spelling)
Video lesson: Words ending in -ant, -ent, -ance and -enceComing soon
Story. Ayesha is a confident assistant at the school library. "Your attendance matters, and the importance of reading is clear. The independence of the library is excellent."

Rule

Many nouns end in -ance or -ence, and many adjectives end in -ant or -ent. There is no simple rule, so check the root word and its partner.

Pairs to learn: confident / confidence, important / importance, independent / independence, assistant / assistance.

Key ideas

  • Many nouns end in -ance or -ence.
  • Many adjectives end in -ant or -ent.
  • Learn the pairs, because one word helps you spell the other.
Worked example 7.3.1
Write the noun from confident, ending in -ence. Write one word.

Method. Confident gives the noun confidence, with -ence.

  1. Find the adjective. Confident is the adjective.
    confident
  2. Change the ending. The noun ends in -ence.
    confid-ence
  3. Write the noun. The noun is confidence.
    confidence
  4. Write the answer.
    confidence

Check. confidence is the noun from confident. ✓

Worked example 7.3.2
Write the adjective from importance, ending in -ant. Write one word.

Method. Importance gives the adjective important, with -ant.

  1. Find the noun. Importance is the noun.
    importance
  2. Change the ending. The adjective ends in -ant.
    import-ant
  3. Write the adjective. The adjective is important.
    important
  4. Write the answer.
    important

Check. important is the adjective from importance. ✓

Worked example 7.3.3
Choose the correct spelling: assistant or assistent? Write the correct word.

Method. The partner noun is assistance, so the adjective and person word is assistant.

  1. Find the partner noun. Assistance is the noun.
    assistance
  2. Match the ending. Assistance has an a, so the word is assistant.
    assistant
  3. Write the word. The word is assistant.
    assistant
  4. Write the answer.
    assistant

Check. assistant matches assistance. ✓

Exercise 7C  Practice: -ant, -ent, -ance and -ence

1
FWrite the noun from independent. Write one word.
2
FWhich spelling is correct? Choose one: existance, existence or existense.
3
FWrite the adjective from excellence. Write one word.
4
FWhich spelling is correct? Choose one: attendance, attendence or attendanse.
5
FAdd the suffix -ance to perform. Write one word.
6
FFind the wrong letters and write the word correctly: importence
7
FIs this spelling correct? guidance Choose one: True or False.
8
PSWrite the adjective from elegance. Write one word.
9
PSWhich word is the person who helps, spelled correctly? Choose one: assistant, assistent or assistan.
10
RWhy is it hard to know whether to write -ant or -ent?
11
PSWrite the noun from annoy, ending in -ance. Write one word.
12
PSWrite a sentence that uses a word ending in -ence correctly.
7.4

Words ending in -able and -ible

Year 6
Spell words ending in -able and -ible correctly (Year 5-6 spelling)
Video lesson: Words ending in -able and -ibleComing soon
Story. Mr Cole writes on the board: "This jacket is washable. The path is visible in the dark. The trip is affordable, and the view is adorable. Some of the tasks are manageable."

Rule

The ending -able is far more common, and it is usually added to a complete word: enjoy becomes enjoyable.

Keep the e after c or g, so the sound stays soft: notice becomes noticeable, manage becomes manageable.

-ible is used after a root that is not a whole word: visible, horrible, reversible.

Key ideas

  • -able is added to a complete word: wash, washable.
  • Keep the e after c or g: noticeable, manageable.
  • Some words end in -ible, so check the root.
Worked example 7.4.1
Add the suffix -able to enjoy. Write one word.

Method. Add -able to the complete word enjoy.

  1. Find the root. Enjoy is a complete word.
    enjoy
  2. Add the suffix. Enjoy ends in y, so the y stays and -able is added.
    enjoy-able
  3. Write the word. The word is enjoyable.
    enjoyable
  4. Write the answer.
    enjoyable

Check. enjoyable means able to be enjoyed. ✓

Worked example 7.4.2
Add the suffix -able to notice. Write one word.

Method. Keep the e, so that the c stays soft.

  1. Find the root. Notice ends with e.
    notice
  2. Keep the e. The e is kept before -able, after the c.
    notice
  3. Write the word. The word is noticeable.
    noticeable
  4. Write the answer.
    noticeable

Check. the e is kept after c. ✓

Worked example 7.4.3
Write the word that means "able to be seen", ending in -ible. Write one word.

Method. Visible is spelled with -ible, from the root vis.

  1. Find the meaning. Able to be seen.
    able to be seen
  2. Find the ending. Visible ends in -ible.
    -ible
  3. Write the word. The word is visible.
    visible
  4. Write the answer.
    visible

Check. visible means able to be seen. ✓

Exercise 7D  Practice: -able and -ible

1
FAdd the suffix -able to wash. Write one word.
2
FWhich spelling is correct? Choose one: visable, visible or visibel.
3
FAdd the suffix -able to change. Write one word.
4
FWrite the adjective meaning very unpleasant, ending in -ible. Write one word.
5
FWhich spelling is correct? Choose one: reversable, reversible or reversiable.
6
FFind the wrong letters and write the word correctly: accessable
7
FIs this spelling correct? comfortable Choose one: True or False.
8
PSAdd the suffix -able to manage. Write one word.
9
PSWrite a word ending in -able that describes something you can afford.
10
RWhy is the e kept in noticeable?
11
PSAdd the suffix -able to believe. Write one word.
12
PSWhich spelling is correct? Choose one: adorable, adorible or adorabel.
7.5

Homophones: affect and effect, practise and practice, stationary and stationery

Year 6
Choose the correct spelling of the homophones affect/effect, practise/practice and stationary/stationery (Year 5-6 spelling)
Video lesson: Homophones: affect and effect, practise and practice, stationary and stationeryComing soon
Story. Sam is writing a report about the school trip. "The weather will affect our plans. The effect of the rain was clear. We must practise the route. The bus was stationary at the lights, and the stationery in the bag was dry."

Rule

affect is usually a verb: to change something. effect is usually a noun: the result of a change.

practise is the verb (to practise). practice is the noun (good practice).

stationary means not moving. stationery means paper, envelopes and pens.

Key ideas

  • affect is a verb (to change); effect is a noun (a result).
  • practise is a verb; practice is a noun.
  • stationary means not moving; stationery is paper and pens.
Worked example 7.5.1
Choose the correct word: The storm will affect / effect the match. Write the correct word.

Method. Affect is the verb: to change something.

  1. Find the job of the word. The storm will change the match, so it is a verb.
    will ___ the match
  2. Choose the verb. Affect is the verb.
    affect
  3. Check the meaning. The storm changes the match.
    affect
  4. Write the answer.
    affect

Check. affect is a verb. ✓

Worked example 7.5.2
Write the noun that fits: The ___ of the rain was clear. Use affect or effect. Write one word.

Method. The effect is a noun, meaning a result.

  1. Find the gap. The gap needs a noun.
    The ___
  2. Choose the noun. Effect means the result of a change.
    effect
  3. Check the sentence. The effect of the rain was clear.
    effect
  4. Write the answer.
    effect

Check. effect is a noun. ✓

Worked example 7.5.3
Which word is correct? The bus was ___ at the lights, not moving. Write one word.

Method. Stationary means not moving.

  1. Find the meaning. The bus was not moving.
    not moving
  2. Choose the word for not moving. Stationary means not moving.
    stationary
  3. Check the other word. Stationery means paper and pens, which does not fit.
    stationary
  4. Write the answer.
    stationary

Check. stationary means not moving. ✓

Exercise 7E  Practice: homophones

1
FWhich word fits: The cold will ___ the crops. Choose one: affect or effect.
2
FWrite the word that fits: The ___ of the new medicine was quick. Write one word.
3
FWhich word fits: We must ___ our spellings every day. Choose one: practise or practice.
4
FWhich word fits: Daily ___ makes a musician better. Choose one: practise or practice.
5
FWhich word is correct? The car was ___ at the traffic lights. (not moving) Write one word.
6
FWhich word means paper, pens and envelopes? Choose one: stationary or stationery.
7
PSCorrect the spelling: I need to practice my times tables. Write the corrected sentence.
8
PSWhich word fits: The ___ paper was stacked neatly on the desk. Choose one: stationary or stationery.
9
PSIs this correct? She will practice the piano tonight. Choose one: True or False.
10
PSCorrect the word: The rain will effect the crops. Write the corrected sentence.
11
PSWrite a sentence that uses practice as a noun.
12
RWhy do affect and effect sound alike but mean different things? Explain in one sentence.
7.6

Silent letters and word families

Year 6
Spell words with silent letters, such as doubt, island and knight, and use word families to spell new words (Year 5-6 spelling)
Video lesson: Silent letters and word familiesComing soon
Story. Ali writes a story about a knight on an island. "The knight had a doubt about the castle, but he wrapped the map in a cloth. Then he remembered the signature on the old letter."

Rule

A silent letter is written but not said: the b in doubt, the s in island, the k in knight, the w in wrap.

A word family shares a root, so one word can help you spell another: sign, signature, signal.

Key ideas

  • A silent letter is written but not said: doubt, knight, wrap.
  • Learn the silent letter with each word.
  • Words from the same root family often share a spelling pattern: sign, signature.
Worked example 7.6.1
Which letter is silent in doubt? Write the letter.

Method. Say the word, and find the letter you do not hear.

  1. Say the word. Doubt sounds like dout.
    dout
  2. Find the letter you do not hear. The b is written but not said.
    b
  3. Check the spelling. Doubt is spelled with b.
    b
  4. Write the answer.
    b

Check. the b is silent in doubt. ✓

Worked example 7.6.2
Write the word that begins with silent k and means a medieval soldier. Write one word.

Method. The k at the start of knight is not said.

  1. Find the silent letter. The k at the start is silent.
    k
  2. Check the meaning. A knight is a medieval soldier.
    knight
  3. Write the word. The word is knight.
    knight
  4. Write the answer.
    knight

Check. knight starts with a silent k. ✓

Worked example 7.6.3
Which word from the same family as sign means a name written by hand? Write one word.

Method. A word family shares the root sign.

  1. Find the root. Sign is the root.
    sign
  2. Find the word for a hand-written name. A signature is a hand-written name.
    signature
  3. Check the family. Signature comes from sign.
    signature
  4. Write the answer.
    signature

Check. signature comes from the sign family. ✓

Exercise 7F  Practice: silent letters and word families

1
FWhich letter is silent in thumb? Write the letter.
2
FWhich spelling is correct? Choose one: iland, island or ilnd.
3
FWrite the word that begins with a silent g and means a small biting insect. Write one word.
4
FWhich word has a silent w? Choose one: wrap, wagon or window.
5
FFind the mistake and write the word correctly: dout
6
FIs this spelling correct? knife Choose one: True or False.
7
FWhich word has a silent t? Choose one: castle, cattle or castor.
8
PSWrite a sentence that uses the word knight.
9
RWhy do silent letters make spelling harder?
10
PSWhich word is spelled correctly? Choose one: writen, written or rittan.
11
PSWhich word has a silent h? Choose one: honest, horse or hungry.

Chapter summary

SkillMethod
PrefixAdded to the start of a root; keep every letter: misspell, unnecessary, submarine.
-cious and -tiousOften from a root ending in -ce or -tion: vicious, cautious.
-cial and -tialAdjective endings: official, essential; learn the root word.
-ant, -ent, -ance, -enceLearn the pair: confident and confidence; important and importance.
-able and -ibleAdd -able to a complete word; keep the e after c or g; -ible follows other roots.
Homophonesaffect (verb), effect (noun); practise (verb), practice (noun); stationary (still), stationery (paper).
Silent lettersWritten but not said: doubt (b), island (s), knight (k), wrap (w).

Can you…?

  • I can add a prefix to a root and keep every letter
  • I can spell words ending in -cious, -tious, -cial and -tial
  • I can choose -ant or -ent, and -ance or -ence, from a root word
  • I can choose -able or -ible for a root word
  • I can choose the right homophone for its meaning
  • I can spell a word with a silent letter, and use a word family to help

Key terms

prefix
a group of letters added to the start of a word to change its meaning
suffix
a group of letters added to the end of a word
root word
the main part of a word, to which prefixes and suffixes are added
homophone
a word that sounds the same as another but has a different meaning or spelling
silent letter
a letter that is written in a word but not said
word family
words that share a root, such as sign, signature and signal

Exercise 7Z  Check-up

1
Add the prefix mis- to understand. Write one word.
2
Add the suffix -ious to space. Write one word.
3
Which spelling is correct? Choose one: independance, independence or independense.
4
Add the suffix -able to rely. Write one word.
5
Which word means not moving? Choose one: stationery or stationary.
6
Which letter is silent in island? Write the letter.
7
Find the wrong letters and write the word correctly: apparant
8
Write the noun from assistant, ending in -ance. Write one word.
9
Write a sentence that uses effect as a noun.
10
Which spelling is correct? Choose one: necesary, necessary or neccesary.

Total 14 marks. Allow about 14 minutes.

Exercise 7X  Practice test questions

1
FAdd the prefix over- to flow. Write one word.[1 mark]
2
FWhich spelling is correct? Choose one: delicious, delicous or deliscious.[1 mark]
3
FWrite the noun from different. Write one word.[1 mark]
4
FWhich word fits: The rain will ___ our picnic. Choose one: affect or effect.[1 mark]
5
PSFind the wrong letters and write the word correctly: sufficiant[2 marks]
6
PSWrite the word with the prefix in- that means not visible. Write one word.[2 marks]
7
FWhich word is spelled correctly? Choose one: vegetable, vegitable or vegtable.[1 mark]
8
FWhich spelling is correct for a medieval soldier who rides a horse? Choose one: knight, nite or night.[1 mark]
9
PSWrite a sentence that uses practise as a verb.[2 marks]
10
RExplain how adding the prefix dis- changes the meaning of agree.[2 marks]
← Chapter 6: Speech punctuationChapter 8: The Year 5-6 word list and spelling correction →

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