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Year 5 - English

Spelling words with the suffixes -ence and -ency

Noun suffixes, letter strings and homophones

Unit Summary

In this unit, pupils learn spelling and grammar conventions associated with more noun suffixes like -ant, -ance, -ancy, -ent, -ence and -ency, reviewing how the addition of a suffix can affect the grammar of a word, for example its word class. Pupils investigate letter strings and homophones.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to spell words using the suffixes -ence and -ency.

Key Notes

  • The suffixes -ence and -ency can create abstract nouns.
  • The -ence or -ency spellings may be found after a 'soft c', 'soft g' or 'qu'.
  • Words ending in -ence and -ency sometimes have related words where the 'e' vowel sound is clearer.
  • Words in word families often have connected meaning and spelling.
  • How to spell the curriculum words: accident, accidentally, especially and actually.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • root word: the base word from which other words are formed often by adding prefixes or suffixes
  • suffix: a letter or group of letters added to the end of a word to change its meaning
  • noun: a naming word for a person, place or thing
  • abstract noun: a type of noun that names an idea or quality that cannot be seen
  • adjective: describes a noun

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Children may not be able to think of related words to create word maps independently.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

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

The suffixes -ence and -ency can create abstract nouns. The -ence or -ency spellings may be found after a 'soft c', 'soft g' or 'qu'.

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 not be able to think of related words to create word maps independently. Correction: Use a dictionary to support generating words and to check spelling. This will help pupils to find words with different suffixes as the start of the spelling will be the same.

More Lessons In This Unit

Browse all guides in the Year 5 English guide library.