Third Form Spelling Patterns Name:... Form:...
Introduction Welcome to the Third Form Spelling Patterns booklet. The twenty spelling patterns in this booklet are drawn from the Key Stage 3 National Strategy for teaching English. For each pattern, there is an Explanation of the rule or convention followed by Examples of words to learn. Additional commonly misspelled words are listed under Extras. At the bottom of each page, there are references to Wordshark, for further practice. Wordshark is a games based software programme by a company called Whitespace Ltd. You can access it on the KCS intranet via the remote link, or it can be purchased in CD form on Amazon. In most cases it is preferable to select the extended list of spellings from Wordshark. To get the most out of this booklet, you need to know a few rules. The five vowels can be pronounced in two ways - a short vowel such as a as in apple, e as in egg, i as in ink, o as in octopus, u as in umbrella and a long vowel where A, E, I, O, U sound the same as the names of the letters. A number of spelling patterns are based on letters at the beginning and / or end of a word. A prefix such as il- placed in front of legible makes illegible. Adding a suffix such as - ful to the end of a word like joy changes the meaning of the original word. People learn to spell in different ways. Some try to remember the look of a word. Others learn by sounding out and repeating the word. Others learn by writing the word or tracing it in the air to get a feel for the shape of it. Many of us use a combination of these methods. There is no right or wrong way the trick is to find out what works best for you. Keep this booklet safe with all your other English work. You will be using it regularly in class to revise key spelling patterns but you can also use the booklet independently at home. For further help and advice, see your English teacher or a member of the Learning Enrichment department. Some of us are lucky enough to be natural spellers, and may only need to look at a word a few times to learn it. Many of us, however, do not find spelling so easy. Given that over 80% of English spellings are regular, it makes sense to learn spellings by patterns. This booklet seeks to help you with this. Useful Resources www.spellathon.net www.timesspellingbee.co.uk Wordshark software
Tips for Learning Spellings Try out some of these methods for learning spellings, and see which strategies work best for you: 1. Use the Look / Say / Cover / Write / Check method. 2. Look for words within a word, and highlight them. eg. s old ier, sep a rat e 3. Separate and sound out the syllables. eg. hos-pi-tal, dis-in-fec-tant 4. Say the word aloud as it is spelt. eg. Wed-nes-day, bus-i-ness 5. Invent a mnemonic for the word. eg. because: baby elephants can always use small exits 6. Trace out the word with your finger in the air (as though you are writing on an imaginary whiteboard). 7. Use highlighters and coloured pens to make common patterns, or unusual features stand out. Most of us remember things more easily if they are in colour! 8. Compile an individual black list of spellings that you spell incorrectly on a regular basis. 9. Say letter names to a rhythmic beat, like a chant. eg. u-n-i-o-n, w-e-i-r-d 10. Learn the derivation of a word. eg. television, telephone
Contents Vowel Choices 1. Unstressed Vowels 2. Double Consonants 3. Soft c and g 4. ie and ei 5. ow and ou, aw and au Pluralisation 6. -es and -ves 7. Words ending y and irregulars Word Endings 8. Vowel Suffixes ( y to i and drop e ) 9. Consonant Suffixes ( -ly and -ful ) 10. -able and -ible 11. -tion, -sion and -ssion 12. -ent, -ence and -ant, -ance 13. -ous, -ious and -cious Prefixes 14. Antonym Prefixes 15. Classical Prefixes High Frequency Words 16. Common Letter Clusters ( -our, -ough, -ear, -au ) 17. Homophones 18. ph words 19. Silent Letters (h, w, k, l) 20. Silent Letters (h, ue, k, g) Appendix Subject Spellings
1. Unstressed Vowels Some vowels are difficult to hear because they are spoken quickly or quietly. Identify and sound out the syllables (bus-i-ness). er patterns such as int-er-est-ing are common. er words Unstressed a Others 1. desperate 5. boundary 12. definitely 2. generally 6. familiar 13. similar 3. interesting 7. February 14. medicine 4. mystery 8. parliament 15. memorable 17. acquaintance 18. alcohol 19. argument 20. assessment 9. separate 16. vegetable 10. signature 11. valuable Wordshark - Literacy Hour KS1 and 2, unstressed vowels (various lists)
2. Double Consonants Double consonants in the middle of a word mark the boundary of two syllables (sum-mer). A double consonant follows the short vowel (correct). For a short vowel word ending in a single consonant, double the consonant before adding vowel suffixes such as -ing, -er or -ed. Double consonants + -ing, -er or -ed Beginning and medial double consonants 1. fit, fitter 5. accommodation 2. hop, hopping 6. address 3. stop, stopped 7. beginning 4. swim, swimming 8. brilliant 9. difficult 10. embarrass 11. exaggerate 12. luggage 13. mammal 14. permitted 15. recommend 16. success 17. atmosphere 18. audible 19. benefited 20. beneath Wordshark - Alpha to Omega, Group 7, Rule 1, double Group 8, Suffix 11, 1 and 11, 2
3. Soft c and g The letter c can be pronounced with a hard c as in can and a soft c as in city when followed by an e, i or y. Common endings include -ice and -ace. Similarly, the letter g can be pronounced with a soft g as in gate or a hard g as in gentle. Common endings include -dge and -age. Soft c Soft g 1. circumference 9. gigantic 2. citizen 10. engineer 3. coincidence 11. imagination 4. disciple 12. religion 5. celebrity 13. generosity 6. cement 14. gesture 7. centenary 15. exaggerate 8. except 16. tragedy 17. caught 18. column 19. concentration 20. conclusion Wordshark - Alpha to Omega, Group 5, soft c soft g
4. ie and ei Usually i comes before e except after c. One exception is weird, a weird word! ie usually says ee as in field while ei usually says ay as in eight. ie words ei after c words ei words 1. achievement 11. deceitful 13. foreigner 2. besiege 12. receipt 14. protein 3. fierce 15. vein 4. grieve 16. weird 5. mischievous 6. pier 7. piece 8. shriek 9. shield 10. siege 17. conscience 18. consequence 19. continuous 20. decision Wordshark - Alpha to Omega, Group 8, odd letter strings - rule ie, cei - ei as long a - odd ie/ei/long i
5. ow and ou, aw and au Vowel sounds have a number of common alternative spellings. Ow can be spelled ow as in brown or ou as in house. Or can be spelled aw as in awful or au as in August. ow words aw words 1. brown 9. awful 2. clown 10. drawer 3. flower 11. lawn 4. powder 12. yawn ou words au words 5. about 13. August 6. ground 14. autumn 7. house 15. caution 8. mountain 16. laundry 17. description 18. definitely 19. disappointed 20. disappear Wordshark - Alpha to Omega, Group 6, long a long o - final -ow own oi, oy, ou, ow, au, aw, oar - ow - as in how - ou 2 - au - aw
6. -es and -ves The plural of most nouns is formed by adding -s to the singular. Nouns ending in hissing (kiss), buzzing (fox) or shushing sounds (wish) usually end -es in the plural (kisses, foxes, wishes) as do words ending -o (potatoes). For words ending in -f (thief) or -fe (knife), change -f or -fe to v and add -es (thieves, knives). However, there are a number of exceptions (roofs). Hissing, buzzing and shushing words -f or -fe words 1. benches 9. calves 2. classes 10. halves 3. boxes 11. shelves 4. taxes 12. ourselves -o words Exceptions 5. cargoes 13. cafes 6. dominoes 14. cast-offs 7. echoes 15. chiefs 8. volcanoes 16. dwarfs 17. dessert 18. energy 19. enquire 20. evaluation Wordshark - KS3 Subject Lists, English KS3 Literacy Hour, Pluralisation - plurals -es - plurals -oes - plurals -f>v
7. Words ending -y and irregulars For vowel + y words, add -s (monkeys). For consonant + y words, change the -y to an i and add -es (cherries). A number of nouns have unusual plurals. These include words that have no singular (scissors), words that are the same in the singular and the plural (sheep), and words that change the medial vowel (goose, geese). -y to i and add -es Unusual plurals 1. countries 9. antenna, antennae 2. enemies 10. deer, deer 3. factories 11. formula, formulae 4. hobbies 12. louse, lice 5. injuries 13. criteria 6. libraries 14. paparazzi 7. memories 15. phenomena 8. parties 16. strata 17. evidence 18. explanation 19. fulfil 20. gradually Wordshark - Alpha to Omega, Group 7, Plurals - plurals -ies - plurals irregular
8. Vowel Suffixes ( y to i and drop e ) For words ending vowel + y (play), keep the y when adding a vowel suffix such as -ed (played). For words ending consonant + y, change the y to an i when adding a vowel suffix such as -ed (try, tried) or -er (lazy, lazier). Keep the y when adding -ing (marrying). For words ending vowel + consonant + e, drop the silent e when adding a vowel suffix such as -ing (smile, smiling). y to i + vowel suffix Drop e + vowel suffix 1. marry, married, marrying 7. celebrate, celebrating 2. reply, replied, replying 8. compete, competing 3. satisfy, satisfied, satisfying 9. damage, damaging 4. busy, busier 10. decide, deciding 5. clumsy, clumsier 11. imagine, imagining 6. hungry, hungrier 12. increase, increasing 17. height 18. imaginary 19. improvise 20. interrupt 13. measure, measuring 14. traipse, traipsing 15. wriggle, wriggling 16. write, writing Wordshark - Alpha to Omega, Group 7, Suffix 1 Rule 11 and 111- drop e + ing Rule V, V1 and V11- change y to i
9. Consonant Suffixes ( -ly and -ful ) Consonant suffixes like -ly ( in this manner ) and -ful ( full of ) can generally be added without changing the base word. However, for words ending consonant + y, change the y to an i when adding -ly (angry, angrily) or -ful (beauty, beautiful). -ly words y to i + ly 1. immediately 9. happily 2. originally 10. hungrily 3. properly 11. necessarily 4. sincerely 12. steadily -ful words y to i + -ful 5. doubtful 13. beautiful 6. resentful 14. merciful 7. sorrowful 15. pitiful 8. wonderful 16. plentiful 17. jewellery 18. knowledge 19. listening 20. material Wordshark - Alpha to Omega, Group 9, Suffixes - full ful adj - suffix ly -ful
10. -able and -ible -able endings are more common than -ible ones. There is no clear rule but dropping -able often leaves a generally recognisable word (agreeable, agree). For the majority of words ending e, drop the e before adding -able (value, valuable) or -ible (reverse, reversible). Keep the final e to preserve a soft c (noticeable) or g (manageable). -able words Keep e -able words 1. capable 9. changeable 2. remarkable 10. knowledgeable 3. respectable 11. manageable 4. vegetable 12. noticeable Drop e -able words -ible words 5. believable 13. accessible 6. curable 14. invincible 7. debatable 15. sensible 8. valuable 16. visible 17. miscellaneous 18. murmur 19. outrageous 20. panicked Wordshark - Alpha to Omega, Group 8, (Stage 111), endings - suffix -able - suffix -ible Group 7, Suffix 1, Rule 1V - suffix not drop e after ce and ge - drop/not drop e after ce and ge
11. -tion, -sion and -ssion -tion, -sion and -ssion prefixes say shun. -tion is the most common ending. Where the base word ends in de (explode), use -sion (explosion). -ssion words (permission) have a clear sh sound. -tion words -sion words 1. competition 9. conclusion 2. conservation 10. collision 3. education 11. confusion 4. indigestion 12. decision 5. information 6. precaution -ssion words 7. quotation 13. aggression 8. reflection 14. depression 17. parallel 18. peculiar 19. permanent 20. physical 15. impression 16. succession Wordshark - Alpha to Omega, Group 8, (Stage 111), rr -tion -le -el -il -al ally - suffix tion verb > noun, - tion 2, - tion 3, - tion 4, - tion 5 - endings suffix sion, - sion & -shion, -ssion noun > verb, -ssion 2
12. -ent, -ence and -ant, -ance These words follow no specific rule and need to be learned. -ent words -ant words 1. announcement 9. arrogant 2. compliment 10. extravagant 3. intelligent 11. observant 4. Parliament 12. relevant -ence words -ance words 5. experience 13. endurance 6. obedience 14. hindrance 7. intelligence 15. significance 8. reference 16. tolerance 17. possession 18. potential 19. practical 20. preparation Wordshark - Alpha to Omega, Group 5, soft c -ance, -ence, -ince
13. -ous, -ious and -cious -ous and -ious endings say us as in bus whereas -cious endings say shus as in precious. -ous words -ious words 1. deciduous 9. anxious 2. disastrous 10. conscientious 3. humorous 11. mysterious 4. jealous 12. obviously 5. nervous 6. obnoxious -cious words 7. poisonous 13. atrocious 8. vigorous 14. precious 15. suspicious 16. unconscious 17. prejudice 18. prioritise 19. privilege 20. proposition Wordshark - Alpha to Omega, Group 8, (Stage 111), endings - ous - ious - itious -cious
14. Antonym Prefixes Prefixes such as im-, in-, il- and ir- mean not. un- means not or opposite of. Double letters are often created when the prefix is added to a word beginning with the letter which ends the prefix ( im- + mature = immature). im- words il- and ir- words 1. immeasurable 9. illiterate 2. immobile 10. illogical 3. imperceptible 11. irresistible 4. implausible 12. irresponsible in- words un- words 5. inaccessible 13. unashamedly 6. indigestion 14. uncomfortable 7. inexcusable 15. unmistakable 8. insoluble 16. unpleasant 17. replaceable 18. recommend 19. remember 20. safety Wordshark - Alpha to Omega, Group 9, (Stage 111), prefixes - prefix il- ir- negative - prefix im- negative - prefix in- negative 1 - prefix in- negative 2 - in- il- im- ir- mixed - prefix un-
15. Classical Prefixes aqua- means water aero- means air audi- means hear prim- means first aqua- words audi- words 1. aquamarine 9. audible 2. aquarium 10. audience 3. Aquarius 11. audition 4. aquatic 12. auditorium aero- words prim- words 5. aerodrome 13. prime 6. aerodynamic 14. primary 7. aeronaut 15. primate 8. aeroplane 16. primeval 17. sequence 18. simultaneous 19. straight 20. substantial Wordshark - KS3 Subject Lists, English KS3 Literacy Hour, Obj 4 Prefixes - classical prefixes mixed
16. Common Letter Clusters ( -our, -ough, -ear, -au ) These common letter clusters make different sounds and need to be learned. our words ear words 1. armour 9. rehearse 2. humour 10. research 3. neighbour 11. heard 4. sour 12. yearn ough words au words 5. thorough 13. applause 6. although 14. clause 7. rough 15. pause 8. thoughtless 16. fault 17. survey 18. technique 19. temporary 20. unfortunately Wordshark - Alpha to Omega, Group 6, (Stage 11) oi, oy, ou, ow, au, aw, oar, - au ir, ur, er, ear 1 sound, - ear saying er Group 8, (Stage 111) odd letter strings, - aught and ought endings, - our
17. Homophones Homophones are words that sound the same but are spelled differently. Analogy with family groups can be helpful (here, where, there) or focusing on single letters ( e for envelope in stationery ; s for verb, c for noun as in to practise ). 1. there / their / they re 2. were / where / we re 3. to / two / too 4. of / off 5. are / our 6. its / it s 7. hear / here 8. your / you re 9. who s / whose 10. past / passed 11. practice / practise 12. site / sight 13. pane / pain 14. knew / new 15. threw / through 16. rain / reign / rein 17. martyr 18. reservoir 19. spontaneous 20. unanimous Wordshark - Alpha to Omega, Group 8, (Stage 111) - homophones bonanza
18. ph words In some words (of Greek origin), the letters p and h are put together to make a new sound ph as in phone. ph- at word beginnings Medial ph- ph- at word endings 1. pharmacist 6. blasphemy 10. atmosphere 2. phobia 7. emphasize 11. biography 3. physics 8. euphemism 12. catastrophe 4. physique 9. sophisticated 13. decipher 5. sphinx 14. prophet 17. unconscious 18. unique 19. unnecessary 20. unnatural 15. sapphire 16. trophy Wordshark - Group 8, odd letter strings - ph as f
19. Silent Letters (h, w, n, l) Silent letters need to be learned by heart. Silent h Silent k 1. while 9. knew 2. whipped 10. knives 3. whisper 11. knuckle 4. somewhere 12. know Silent w Silent l 5. wrapper 13. calm 6. wrestle 14. half 7. wriggle 15. salmon 8. wrinkle 16. yolk 17. vaccination 18. vicious 19. tonsilitis 20. hideous Wordshark - Alpha to Omega, Group 8, (Stage 111), silent letters - -kn -gn -silent k,g - -wr - silent w - - silent l
20. Silent Letters (h, ue, k, g) Silent letters need to be learned by heart. Silent h Silent k 1. heir 9. knack 2. dinghy 10. knowledge 3. vehicle 11. knot 4. wheat 12. knuckle Silent ue Silent g 5. fatigue 13. design 6. intrigue 14. campaign 7. dialogue 15. sovereign 8. league 16. foreign 17. Wednesday 18. weight 19. whole 20. woollen Wordshark - Alpha to Omega, Group 8, (Stage 111), silent letters - silent letters mixed
Third Form Subject Spellings English alliteration antonym author atmosphere description dialogue imagery metaphor onomatopoeia personification rhyme rhythm scene simile synonym Maths algebraic adjacent corresponding congruent decagon estimate heptagon hexagon horizontal indices polygon octagon ratio rhombus vector
History armada Boleyn Cleves dissolution evidence foreign government illegitimate martyr monastery (-ies) parliament probably Protector Protestants Reformation Renaissance Shakespeare source successful Geography Brandt line brownfield site communication congestion conservation demography desert endangered environment extinct globalisation leisure pollution quaternary sector resource rural secondary sector site stadium (stadia) sustainable tertiary sector tourism urbanisation
Science algae amphibian arachnid bacteria carbohydrate characteristic chlorophyll crustacean environment habitat ingest sulphur photosynthesis vein Religious Studies altar belief Buddhism communion crucifixion denomination enlightenment Eucharist gurdwara Hinduism mandir meditation reincarnation Sikhism worship
Latin accusative adjective amphitheatre comparative dative declension gladiator imperfect nominative perfect plural Pompeii singular superlative theatre Art and Design architecture composition decorative glaze highlight illuminate illusion modelling refine review