KS2 SATs 2017 — English GPS Paper 2: Spelling

The idea

A suffix is a group of letters added to the end of a word. The suffix -ly often turns a word into one that tells you how something is done: quick becomes quickly and slow becomes slowly. The suffix -ful means full of, as in careful and helpful. Notice that this suffix has only one l, even though the separate word full has two. The suffix -less means without: careless means without care, and endless means without an end. The suffix -ness means a state or quality, as in kindness and darkness.

Most root words stay the same when a suffix is added, but there is an important change to watch. If a root ends in a consonant followed by y, change the y to i before adding -ness or -ly: happy becomes happiness and happily. Before -ful, beauty becomes beautiful in the same way.

Build each word in parts, say it slowly, then check the join and the end of the word. The last letters are where many spelling marks are lost.

Worked example

Add a suffix to 'help' to make a word meaning 'full of help'.

1. Full of points to the suffix -ful.
2. Join the root and suffix: help + ful.
3. The suffix -ful has only one l, so the word is helpful.

Answer: helpful

Watch out

• Writing helpfull with two l letters at the end: the suffix -ful has only one l.
• Forgetting to change y to i in happiness and happily.
• Dropping letters at the join instead of building the word in clear parts.