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Primary English · Year 6Chapter 2 · Spelling -ant, -ent, -able and -ible
Year 6 English · Spelling -ant, -ent, -able and -ible · Lesson 2.1

Year 6 English: The endings -ant, -ance and -ancy, from a word family

Part of the Year 6 English spelling -ant, -ent, -able and -ible chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page

2.1

The endings -ant, -ance and -ancy, from a word family

Year 6
Spell -ant, -ance and -ancy by choosing from a related word in the same family (Y5-6 spelling)
Story. Amir is the class assistant this week. He writes a notice for the library, which says there is a vacancy for a helper on Thursdays, and he thanks everyone for their help.

Some nouns end in -ance or -ancy, and their related adjectives end in -ant. To spell the noun, find the word family: the word you already know, such as assistant or vacant.

Take off the -ant from the word you know, then add -ance or -ancy.

Words with -ant and their nouns

Word with -antNoun with -ance or -ancyMeaning of the noun
assistantassistancehelp given to someone
vacantvacancya job or room that is free
toleranttolerancewillingness to accept others who are different
brilliantbrilliancegreat brightness or skill
arrogantarrogancebehaving as if you are better than others
elegantelegancea graceful and stylish quality
resistantresistanceopposing or fighting against something

Key ideas

  • A word that ends in -ant often has a noun in -ance or -ancy.
  • Take off -ant, then add -ance or -ancy.
  • Check the word family, not the sound.
Worked example 2.1.1
Write the noun made from assistant, which means help given to someone.

Method. Find the word family, then change the ending.

  1. Find the base word. Assistant ends in -ant.
    assistant
  2. Change the ending. Take off -ant and add -ance: assist + ance.
    assist + ance
  3. Write the noun. Assistance means help given to someone.
    assistance
  4. Write the answer.
    assistance

Check. assistant - ant + ance = assistance. ✓

Worked example 2.1.2
Write the noun made from vacant, which means a job or room that is free.

Method. Take off -ant, then add -ancy.

  1. Find the base word. Vacant ends in -ant.
    vacant
  2. Change the ending. Take off -ant and add -ancy: vac + ancy.
    vac + ancy
  3. Write the noun. A vacancy is a job or room that is free.
    vacancy
  4. Write the answer.
    vacancy

Check. vacant - ant + ancy = vacancy. ✓

Watch out. The noun from vacant ends in -ancy, not -ance.

Worked example 2.1.3
Which spelling is correct for the noun from tolerant: tolerence or tolerance?

Method. Use the word family, and change -ant to -ance.

  1. Find the base word. Tolerant ends in -ant, so the noun ends in -ance or -ancy.
    tolerant
  2. Change the ending. Take off -ant and add -ance: toler + ance.
    toler + ance
  3. Compare the spellings. Tolerence has -ence, which is not the family ending.
    tolerance
  4. Write the answer.
    tolerance

Check. tolerant gives tolerance with an a. ✓

Watch out. If the adjective has an a in its ending, the noun has an a too.

Watch out

Watch out: vacancy ends in -ancy, not -ance. Use -ancy for the noun from vacant, and check the noun in a dictionary if you are not sure.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Ask your child to write the -ant word and the noun side by side, then to cover the noun and rewrite it from the -ant word.

Exercise 2A  Practice: -ant, -ance and -ancy

1
FWrite the noun made from assistant, which means: help given to someone.
2
FWrite the noun made from vacant, which means: a job or room that is free.
3
FWrite the noun made from tolerant, which means: willingness to accept others who are different.
4
FWrite the noun made from brilliant, which means: great brightness or skill.
5
FWrite the noun made from arrogant, which means: behaving as if you are better than others.
6
FWrite the noun made from elegant, which means: a graceful and stylish quality.
7
FWrite the noun made from resistant, which means: opposing or fighting against something.
8
PSWhich spelling is correct for the noun from resistant? Choose one: resistence or resistance.
9
RExplain in one sentence how the word family helps you spell assistance.
10
PSWrite the adjective that gives the noun elegance. Write the word only.
11
PSWrite the noun made from brilliant, which means great brightness or skill.
12
PSA sign says Vacancies for helpers. Which word is the noun from vacant, and what ending does it take? Write the word only.
13
RIs the spelling arrogence correct for the noun from arrogant? Explain your answer.
14
FWrite the noun made from resistant, which means opposing or fighting against something. Write the word only.
15
FWrite the noun made from elegant, which means graceful and stylish.
16
PSWrite one sentence about a job that is free. Use the word vacancy correctly.
17
RExplain why the noun from vacant ends in -ancy, not -ance, in one sentence.

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