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 5 - English

Turning nouns and adjectives into verbs using the suffixes -ate and -en

Verb, adjective and noun suffixes

Unit Summary

In this unit, pupils learn spelling and grammar conventions associated with certain verb, adjective and noun suffixes like -ing, -ed, -s, -ies, -es, -ves, -ate, -en, -ify and -less. Pupils review and learn more examples of how the addition of a suffix can affect the grammar of a word.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to spell words using the suffixes -ate and -en.

Key Notes

  • The suffixes -en and -ate often turns adjectives and nouns into verbs.
  • When the root word ends in a consonant, we often just add the suffix.
  • When the root word ends in a vowel, we remove the final vowel and add the suffix.
  • When the root word has a short vowel, we double the consonant and add the suffix.
  • How to spell the curriculum words: separate, desperate and communicate.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • 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
  • noun: a naming word for people, places or things
  • verb: a doing, being or having word

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Children mix up the vowel spellings in the words 'desperate' and 'separate'.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

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

The suffixes -en and -ate often turns adjectives and nouns into verbs. When the root word ends in a consonant, we often just add the suffix.

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

a letter or group of letters added to the end of a word to change its meaning.

3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.

Mistake: Children mix up the vowel spellings in the words 'desperate' and 'separate'. Correction: Saying the words slowly how they are spelt can help: sep-ar-ate, des-per-ate.

More Lessons In This Unit

Browse all guides in the Year 5 English guide library.