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Year 6 - English

Spelling words with the spellings -le, -el and -il

Homophones and tense

Unit Summary

In this unit, pupils build and review a range of spelling patterns with a focus on homonyms, homophones and a wide range of suffixes, including -ed, -ing, -er, -est, -s, -ies, -es, -ves, -le, -el, -il, -al, -cian, -tion, -sion, -ssion, -ous, -tious, -cious, -cial and -tial.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to spell words that use the spellings -le, -el and -il.

Key Notes

  • The spelling -le is the most common spelling out of the suffixes -le, -el, -al and -il.
  • The spelling -le often forms letter strings: -cle, -dle, -able, -ckle, -ible and -ple.
  • The spelling -el is one of the least common spellings out of the suffixes -le, -el, -al and -il.
  • The spelling -il is the least common spelling out of the suffixes -le, -el, -al and -il.
  • How to spell the curriculum words: vehicle and apparent.

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
  • polysyllabic: describes a word that has more than one syllable

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Children may think that the vowel sound preceding the 'l' will always determine the spelling.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

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

The spelling -le is the most common spelling out of the suffixes -le, -el, -al and -il. The spelling -le often forms letter strings: -cle, -dle, -able, -ckle, -ible and -ple.

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 may think that the vowel sound preceding the 'l' will always determine the spelling. Correction: Showing examples of incorrect use of 'el' and 'le' alongside the correct use can be very useful for children to spot the correct spelling.

More Lessons In This Unit

Browse all guides in the Year 6 English guide library.