Skip to content

Study Hub

Study Guides

This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.

Year 2 - English

Using and spelling suffixes: -ment and -ness

Suffixes

Unit Summary

In this unit, pupils learn certain spelling rules associated with suffixes. Pupils will learn how the addition of a suffix can affect the grammar of a word, for example by changing its word class or tense.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to spell words using the suffixes -ment and -ness.

Key Notes

  • A suffix is a letter or group of letters at the end of a word which creates another word.
  • If the suffix starts with a consonant letter, it is usually added without any change to the root word.
  • If a root word has more than one syllable and ends in a consonant + 'y', then 'y' is replaced by 'i' before the suffix.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • root word: the base word from which other words are formed often by adding prefixes or suffixes
  • noun: a naming word for people, places or things
  • suffix: a group of letters added to the end of a root word

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Children may struggle to generate a sentence with these nouns in, such as improvement or darkness.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.

A suffix is a letter or group of letters at the end of a word which creates another word. If the suffix starts with a consonant letter, it is usually added without any change to the root word.

2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'root word'

the base word from which other words are formed often by adding prefixes or suffixes.

3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.

Mistake: Children may struggle to generate a sentence with these nouns in, such as improvement or darkness. Correction: Model all the focus words simply and clearly in sentences to help demonstrate the meaning and their place within a sentence.

More Lessons In This Unit

Browse all guides in the Year 2 English guide library.