Year 6 - English
Spelling words with the suffixes -ent and -ence
Letter strings, etymology and curriculum words
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit, pupils review and learn a wide range of Year 6 spellings, including letter strings, words with the suffixes -ant, -ance, -ent, -ence, -able and -ible, silent letters, French and Greek origin words, curriculum words and words that use the hyphen in two ways.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to spell words with the suffixes -ent and -ence for the sounds 'unt' and 'unce'.
Key Notes
- The -ent and -ence suffixes generally come after a soft 'c', soft 'g' and 'qu'.
- Words ending in -ent sometimes have related words where the 'e' vowel sound is clearer, like resident - residential.
- Changing the suffix -ent to the suffix -ence or -ency can change the word from an adjective to an abstract noun.
- How to spell the curriculum words: hindrance, excellent and relevant.
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
- 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
- Some pupils may think all words ending in -ent are the same word class.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.
The -ent and -ence suffixes generally come after a soft 'c', soft 'g' and 'qu'. Words ending in -ent sometimes have related words where the 'e' vowel sound is clearer, like resident - residential.
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: Some pupils may think all words ending in -ent are the same word class. Correction: Whilst the suffixes -ent and -ence can change word class, not all words ending in -ent are the same word class. Give examples in a sentence to demonstrate, using the words contentment, (to) frequent, and silent.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Recognising the different sounds made by the letter strings 'ough' and 'au' Study Guide
- Recognising the different sounds made by the letter strings "ou", "ear" and "ice" Study Guide
- Spelling key curriculum words Study Guide
- Spelling words from the Y5/6 curriculum list Study Guide
- Spelling words with French etymology Study Guide
- Spelling words with Greek and Latin etymology Study Guide
- Spelling words with the -able suffix Study Guide
- Spelling words with the -ible suffix Study Guide
- Spelling words with the 'ee' sound spelt 'ei' Study Guide
- Spelling words with the 'ee' sound spelt 'ie' Study Guide
- Spelling words with the silent letters 'b', 'k', 'g', 'w' and 't' Study Guide
- Spelling words with the silent letters 'h', 'p', 'n', 'l' and 's' Study Guide
- Spelling words with the suffixes -ant and -ance Study Guide
- Using hyphens to create adjectives Study Guide
- Using hyphens to join prefixes to root words Study Guide
Browse all guides in the Year 6 English guide library.