Year 4 English: The suffixes -ation and -ly
Part of the Year 4 English prefixes, suffixes and word families chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
The suffixes -ation and -ly
The suffix -ation turns a verb into a noun, which names a thing or an action. Most root words end in e. Drop the e, then add -ation: explore becomes exploration, and prepare becomes preparation.
The suffix -ly turns an adjective into an adverb. An adverb tells how something is done: gently, bravely, successfully. Some adjectives need a change first: gentle drops its e and adds y, and basic adds -ally.
| Root word | What changes | New word |
|---|---|---|
| explore | drop the e, add -ation | exploration |
| prepare | drop the e, add -ation | preparation |
| alter | no e to drop; add -ation | alteration |
| gentle | drop the e, add -y | gently |
| basic | add -ally | basically |
| final | add -ly, so the l is doubled | finally |
| successful | the -ful becomes -fully | successfully |
Key ideas
- -ation turns a verb into a noun: explore becomes exploration.
- Most root words end in e: drop the e, then add -ation.
- -ly turns an adjective into an adverb: gentle becomes gently.
- Adjectives that end in -ic take -ally: basic becomes basically, and magic becomes magically.
Method. Match the meaning to the word, then check the prefix or suffix.
- Read the meaning. Think about what the clue describes.the work of getting ready for something
- Find the word that matches. Think of the one word with this meaning.preparation
- Check the affix. Prepare ends in e. Drop the e and add -ation.Affix letters: ation
- Write the answer. preparation
Check. Read preparation and check each letter against the word. ✓
Watch out. Prepare ends in e. Drop the e and add -ation.
Method. Think what the sentence means, then choose the word that fits the gap and its spelling.
- Read the sentence with the gap. Think what the sentence means.Lift the baby ___ out of the cot.
- Find the word that fits the meaning. in a soft, kind and careful waygently
- Put the word in the gap. Read the sentence again. It makes sense.Lift the baby gently out of the cot.
- Write the answer. gently
Check. Read the whole sentence with gently in it. ✓
Watch out. Gentle ends in le. Drop the e and add -y: gently.
Method. Read the whole word, then fill the box with the affix letters.
- Say the whole word, and look at each part. Read every letter in order.magically
- Look at the empty box. The box stands for the letters in a row, 4 in all.4 missing letters
- Write the missing letters. Magic ends in ic, so add -ally: magically.ally
Check. Put ally back in the box and read magically. ✓
Watch out. Magic ends in ic, so add -ally: magically.
Watch out
Watch out: do not write explorasion or finaly. The ending is -ation, and final doubles its l before -ly, so the adverb is finally.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Ask your child to say the root word, then the new word. Ask: what did you take off, and what did you add? Then ask whether the new word is a verb, an adjective, a noun or an adverb.
Exercise 3D Practice: -ation and -ly
Method. Match the meaning to the word, then check the prefix or suffix.
- Read the meaning. Think about what the clue describes.the work of getting ready for something
- Find the word that matches. Think of the one word with this meaning.preparation
- Check the affix. Prepare ends in e. Drop the e and add -ation.Affix letters: ation
- Write the answer. preparation
Check. Read preparation and check each letter against the word. ✓
Watch out. Prepare ends in e. Drop the e and add -ation.
Method. Match the meaning to the word, then check the prefix or suffix.
- Read the meaning. Think about what the clue describes.a journey made to find out about a new place
- Find the word that matches. Think of the one word with this meaning.exploration
- Check the affix. Explore ends in e. Drop the e and add -ation.Affix letters: ation
- Write the answer. exploration
Check. Read exploration and check each letter against the word. ✓
Watch out. Explore ends in e. Drop the e and add -ation.
Method. Match the meaning to the word, then check the prefix or suffix.
- Read the meaning. Think about what the clue describes.a feeling that gives you a new idea to create or do something
- Find the word that matches. Think of the one word with this meaning.inspiration
- Check the affix. Inspire ends in e. Drop the e and add -ation.Affix letters: ation
- Write the answer. inspiration
Check. Read inspiration and check each letter against the word. ✓
Watch out. Inspire ends in e. Drop the e and add -ation.
Method. Match the meaning to the word, then check the prefix or suffix.
- Read the meaning. Think about what the clue describes.the ability to form pictures and ideas in your mind
- Find the word that matches. Think of the one word with this meaning.imagination
- Check the affix. Imagine ends in e. Drop the e and add -ation.Affix letters: ation
- Write the answer. imagination
Check. Read imagination and check each letter against the word. ✓
Watch out. Imagine ends in e. Drop the e and add -ation.
Method. Think what the sentence means, then choose the word that fits the gap and its spelling.
- Read the sentence with the gap. Think what the sentence means.The crowd showed their ___ for the athletes.
- Find the word that fits the meaning. a feeling of liking and respecting someone very muchadmiration
- Put the word in the gap. Read the sentence again. It makes sense.The crowd showed their admiration for the athletes.
- Write the answer. admiration
Check. Read the whole sentence with admiration in it. ✓
Watch out. Admire ends in e. Drop the e and add -ation.
Method. Think what the sentence means, then choose the word that fits the gap and its spelling.
- Read the sentence with the gap. Think what the sentence means.The school council is a student ___ that helps the whole school.
- Find the word that fits the meaning. a group of people who work together for a purposeorganisation
- Put the word in the gap. Read the sentence again. It makes sense.The school council is a student organisation that helps the whole school.
- Write the answer. organisation
Check. Read the whole sentence with organisation in it. ✓
Watch out. Organise ends in e. Drop the e and add -ation. UK English spells this with -is-.
Method. Think what the sentence means, then choose the word that fits the gap and its spelling.
- Read the sentence with the gap. Think what the sentence means.The tailor made an ___ to the sleeves of the coat.
- Find the word that fits the meaning. a small change made to somethingalteration
- Put the word in the gap. Read the sentence again. It makes sense.The tailor made an alteration to the sleeves of the coat.
- Write the answer. alteration
Check. Read the whole sentence with alteration in it. ✓
Watch out. Alter does not end in e, so add -ation straight on: alteration.
Method. Think what the sentence means, then choose the word that fits the gap and its spelling.
- Read the sentence with the gap. Think what the sentence means.The mayor read a ___ at the start of the festival.
- Find the word that fits the meaning. a formal statement that is made in publicdeclaration
- Put the word in the gap. Read the sentence again. It makes sense.The mayor read a declaration at the start of the festival.
- Write the answer. declaration
Check. Read the whole sentence with declaration in it. ✓
Watch out. Declare ends in e. Drop the e and add -ation.
Method. Read the whole word, then fill the box with the affix letters.
- Say the whole word, and look at each part. Read every letter in order.examination
- Look at the empty box. The box stands for the letters in a row, 5 in all.5 missing letters
- Write the missing letters. Examine ends in e. Drop the e and add -ation.ation
Check. Put ation back in the box and read examination. ✓
Watch out. Examine ends in e. Drop the e and add -ation.
Method. Read the whole word, then fill the box with the affix letters.
- Say the whole word, and look at each part. Read every letter in order.gently
- Look at the empty box. The box stands for the letters in a row, 2 in all.2 missing letters
- Write the missing letters. Gentle ends in le. Drop the e and add -y: gently.ly
Check. Put ly back in the box and read gently. ✓
Watch out. Gentle ends in le. Drop the e and add -y: gently.
Method. Read the whole word, then fill the box with the affix letters.
- Say the whole word, and look at each part. Read every letter in order.basically
- Look at the empty box. The box stands for the letters in a row, 4 in all.4 missing letters
- Write the missing letters. Basic ends in ic, so add -ally, not -ly: basically.ally
Check. Put ally back in the box and read basically. ✓
Watch out. Basic ends in ic, so add -ally, not -ly: basically.
Method. Read the whole word, then fill the box with the affix letters.
- Say the whole word, and look at each part. Read every letter in order.magically
- Look at the empty box. The box stands for the letters in a row, 4 in all.4 missing letters
- Write the missing letters. Magic ends in ic, so add -ally: magically.ally
Check. Put ally back in the box and read magically. ✓
Watch out. Magic ends in ic, so add -ally: magically.
Method. Compare the wrong spelling with the correct word.
- Look at terribley. Compare it with the word terribly.terribley is not right
- Find the affix. Terrible ends in -ible. Drop the e and add -y: terribly.Affix letters: ly
- Write the word correctly. terribly
Check. Read terribly and check each letter. ✓
Watch out. Terrible ends in -ible. Drop the e and add -y: terribly.
Method. Compare the wrong spelling with the correct word.
- Look at successfuly. Compare it with the word successfully.successfuly is not right
- Find the affix. Successful ends in -ful, so -ly makes -fully: successfully.Affix letters: ly
- Write the word correctly. successfully
Check. Read successfully and check each letter. ✓
Watch out. Successful ends in -ful, so -ly makes -fully: successfully.
Method. Compare the wrong spelling with the correct word.
- Look at finaly. Compare it with the word finally.finaly is not right
- Find the affix. Final ends in l, so add -ly, and the l is doubled: finally.Affix letters: ly
- Write the word correctly. finally
Check. Read finally and check each letter. ✓
Watch out. Final ends in l, so add -ly, and the l is doubled: finally.
Method. Compare the wrong spelling with the correct word.
- Look at bravly. Compare it with the word bravely.bravly is not right
- Find the affix. Brave ends in e. Drop the e and add -ly: bravely.Affix letters: ly
- Write the word correctly. bravely
Check. Read bravely and check each letter. ✓
Watch out. Brave ends in e. Drop the e and add -ly: bravely.
Method. Compare the wrong spelling with the correct word.
- Look at truthfuly. Compare it with the word truthfully.truthfuly is not right
- Find the affix. Truthful ends in -ful, so -ly makes -fully: truthfully.Affix letters: ly
- Write the word correctly. truthfully
Check. Read truthfully and check each letter. ✓
Watch out. Truthful ends in -ful, so -ly makes -fully: truthfully.
Method. Look at the end of the root word, then add the suffix.
- Look at prepare. Prepare ends in e.prepar + e
- Drop the e and add -ation. The e is dropped, then -ation is added.prepar + ation
- Write the answer. preparation
Check. Preparation keeps the -ation ending. ✓
Watch out. Do not keep the e: preparetion is wrong.
Method. Look at the end of the root word, and compare it with the new word.
- Look at imagine. Imagine ends in e.imagin + e
- Look at imagination. The e is dropped, then -ation is added.imagin + ation
- Write the answer. Not quite. Imagine ends in e, so the e is dropped, and then -ation is added to make imagination.
Check. The e is dropped before -ation. ✓
Watch out. Imagination has no e before the -ation.
Method. Check the letters of each spelling.
- Look at organsation. It is missing an i before the -sation ending.organsation: missing i
- Look at organisation. It has the -isation ending, with its i kept.organisation: -isation
- Write the answer. organisation
Check. Organisation has the full -isation ending. ✓
Watch out. Organise ends in e, so drop the e and add -ation.
Method. Look at the end of the adjective.
- Look at basic. Basic ends in ic.basic
- Add -ally. Adjectives ending in -ic add -ally to make the adverb.basic + ally
- Write the answer. basically
Check. Basically tells how something is done. ✓
Watch out. Basically has -ally, not -ly on its own.
Method. Decide what each word does in a sentence.
- Look at gentle. Gentle describes a thing, such as a gentle breeze.adjective
- Look at gently. Gently tells how something is done, such as lift gently.adverb
- Write the answer. Gentle is the adjective, and gently is the adverb, which tells how something is done.
Check. The -ly ending makes the adverb. ✓
Watch out. An adverb often answers the question how.
Method. Look at the ending of the adjective.
- Look at successful. It ends in -ful.success + ful
- Add -ly. The -ful becomes -fully, so the adverb is successfully.success + fully
- Write the answer. successfully. The -ful becomes -fully.
Check. Successfully ends in -fully. ✓
Watch out. Successfully has two l letters.
Method. Compare the root word with the new word.
- Look at explore. Explore ends in e.explor + e
- Look at exploration. The e is dropped, then the ending -ation is added.explor + ation
- Write the answer. Accept any answer that says the root word explore ends in e, so the e is dropped and -ation is added.
Check. The ending is -ation, from the root word. ✓
Watch out. The ending -ation is spelt with t, as in -ation words.