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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 2.3

Year 6 English: Words with -ant or -ent that have no clear family, and how to learn them

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

2.3

Words with -ant or -ent that have no clear family, and how to learn them

Year 6
Learn the spelling of words with -ant or -ent that have no clear related word (Y5-6 spelling), Check the spelling in a dictionary (Y5-6 spelling)
Story. Dev is reading a dictionary to check his spelling for the school magazine. He finds that some words have no family word, so he has to learn their spelling, one word at a time.

Some words end in -ant or -ent, but they have no clear word family that helps you spell them. Examples are important and different. For these words, learn the spelling. Say the word, look at each letter, then write it again from memory.

Words to learn

WordEndingMeaning
important-antof great value or meaning
pleasant-antnice to see, hear or be with
elephant-anta very large animal with a long trunk
different-entnot the same as another
apparent-enteasy to see or understand
parent-enta mother or a father

Key ideas

  • Some -ant and -ent words have no family word to help.
  • Learn these words by their spelling, and check a dictionary when you are not sure.
  • Write the word from memory, then check it.
Worked example 2.3.1
Write the word with the ending -ant that means of great value or meaning.

Method. Look for a family word, then learn the spelling.

  1. Look for a family word. There is no clear family word that shows the ending.
    no clear family
  2. Learn the spelling. Important ends in -ant, so write it with the a.
    important
  3. Check the meaning. Important means of great value or meaning.
    of great value
  4. Write the answer.
    important

Check. important is spelt with -ant. ✓

Worked example 2.3.2
Which spelling is correct: different or differant?

Method. Learn the spelling, then check the ending.

  1. Say the parts of the word. Dif-fer-ent: the ending is -ent.
    dif-fer-ent
  2. Check the spelling. Differant has -ant, which is wrong for this word.
    different
  3. Write the answer.
    different

Check. different ends in -ent. ✓

Worked example 2.3.3
Write the word with the ending -ent that means a mother or a father.

Method. Learn the spelling of the word with -ent.

  1. Think about the meaning. A mother or a father is a parent.
    a mother or a father
  2. Learn the ending. Parent ends in -ent, so write the e and the n.
    par + ent
  3. Check the word. Parent is spelt with -ent.
    parent
  4. Write the answer.
    parent

Check. parent ends in -ent. ✓

Watch out

Watch out: elephant ends in -ant, and it is easy to write -ent. Learn the spelling with its a.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Choose three words from this section, and ask your child to write each one from memory. Then check them together in a dictionary.

Exercise 2C  Practice: words to learn

1
FWrite the word with the ending -ant that means: of great value or meaning.
2
FWrite the word with the ending -ant that means: nice to see, hear or be with.
3
FWrite the word with the ending -ant that means: a very large animal with a long trunk.
4
FWrite the word with the ending -ent that means: not the same as another.
5
FWrite the word with the ending -ent that means: easy to see or understand.
6
FWrite the word with the ending -ent that means: a mother or a father.
7
PSWhich spelling is correct? Choose one: importent or important.
8
PSWhich spelling is correct? Choose one: pleasent or pleasant.
9
PSCorrect the spelling in this sentence: The elefant at the zoo was very gentle.
10
RExplain why you cannot use a family word to spell important.
11
FWrite the word with the ending -ent that means easy to see or understand. Write the word only.
12
PSCorrect the spelling: The diferent answers were all correct.
13
PSWrite one sentence with the word pleasant in it. Write the sentence.
14
FWrite the word with the ending -ant that means a very large animal with a long trunk.
15
RDev says he will learn different by saying it loudly. Suggest a better way to learn its spelling.
16
RExplain in one sentence why the spelling of parent must be learned.
17
FWrite the word with the ending -ent that means not the same as another.

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