Download SPELLING PATTERNS (2F)

Second Form
Spelling Patterns
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Form: ..........
Introduction
Welcome to the Second 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.
‘ai’ and ‘ay’, ‘oa’ and ‘ow’
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 (g, n, t, c)
20.
Silent Letters (u, w, k, b)
Appendix
Subject Spellings
1.
Unstressed Vowels
Explanation:
Some vowels are difficult to hear because they are spoken quickly or quietly. Identify and
sound out the syllables (bus-i-ness).
‘er’ and ‘en’ patterns are common (int-er-est-ing, fright-en-ing)
Examples:
Medial ‘er’ words
Medial ‘en’ words
Others
1.
camera
5.
deafening
9.
business
2.
different
6.
listening
10.
definite
3.
interesting
7.
frightening
11.
dictionary
4.
miserable
8.
widening
12.
January
13.
library
14.
jewellery
15.
mathematics
16.
Wednesday
Extras:
17.
achievement
18.
altogether
19.
anxious
20.
apparatus
Wordshark - Literacy Hour KS1 and 2, unstressed vowels (various lists)
2.
Double Consonants
Explanation:
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’.
Examples:
Double consonants + ‘-ing’, ‘-er’ or ‘-ed’
Medial double consonants
1.
cut, cutting
12.
beginning
2.
drum, drummer
13.
accident
3.
grab, grabbed
14.
address
4.
hot, hotter
15.
common
5.
plan, planned
16.
sudden
6.
pin, pinned
7.
rub, rubber
8.
shop, shopping
9.
trip, tripped
10.
swim, swimmer
11.
win, winning
Extras:
17.
appearance
18.
applause
19.
awkward
20.
audience
Wordshark - Alpha to Omega, Group 7, Rule 1, double
3.
Soft ‘c’ and ‘g’
Explanation:
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’.
Examples:
Soft ‘c’
Soft ‘g’
1.
cinema
9.
giant
2.
circle
10.
giraffe
3.
decision
11.
imagine
4.
electricity
12.
magic
5.
ceiling
13.
huge
6.
cellar
14.
geography
7.
cemetery
15.
damage
8.
descend
16.
postage
Extras:
17.
basically
18.
beautiful
19.
believe
20.
beige
Wordshark - Alpha to Omega, Group 5, soft c
4.
‘ie’ and ‘ei’
Explanation:
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’.
Examples:
‘ie’ words
‘ei’ words after ‘c’
‘ei’ words
1.
believe
9.
ceiling
12.
foreign
2.
fiery
10.
deceive
13.
height
3.
friend
11.
receive
14.
leisure
4.
grief
15.
weight
5.
mischief
16.
weird
6.
piece
7.
relief
8.
thief
Extras:
17.
business
18.
character
19.
chocolate
20.
climb
Wordshark - Alpha to Omega, Group 8, odd letter strings
- rule –ie, cei
- ei as long a
5.
‘ai’ and ‘ay’, ‘oa’ and ‘ow’
Explanation:
Vowel sounds have a number of common alternative spellings.
A long ‘a’ can be spelled ‘ai’ (main), ‘ay’ (play) or ‘a-e’ (made). A long ‘o’ can be spelled ‘o-e’
(phone), ‘oa’ (moan) or ‘ow’ (show).
Examples:
‘ai’ words
‘oa’ words
1.
dainty
9.
boast
2.
reclaim
10.
coach
3.
sprain
11.
groan
4.
terrain
12.
soap
‘ay’ words
‘ow’ words
5.
crayon
13.
bungalow
6.
player
14.
furrow
7.
prayer
15.
swallow
8.
delay
16.
tomorrow
Extras:
17.
cupboard
18.
cough
19.
definitely
20.
desperate
Wordshark - Alpha to Omega, Group 6, long a long o
- ain -ail
- oa –mixed
- final –ow as long o
6.
‘-es’ and ‘-ves’
Explanation:
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).
Examples:
‘Hissing’, ‘buzzing’ and ‘shushing’ words
‘-f’ or ‘-fe’ words
1.
buses
9.
elves
2.
crashes
10.
leaves
3.
glasses
11.
loaves
4.
lunches
12.
thieves
‘-o’ words
Exceptions
5.
heroes
13.
giraffes
6.
mangoes
14.
reefs
7.
potatoes
15.
roofs
8.
tomatoes
16.
sheriffs
Extras:
17.
disappear
18.
disappoint
19.
embarrass
20.
equipment
Wordshark - KS3 Subject Lists, English KS3 Literacy Hour, Pluralisation
- plurals -es
- plurals -oes
- plurals -f>v
7.
Words ending ‘-y’ and irregulars
Explanation:
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).
Examples:
‘-y’ to ‘i’ and add ‘-es’
Unusual plurals
1.
armies
9.
foot, feet
2.
babies
10.
larva, larvae
3.
centuries
11.
mouse, mice
4.
cities
12.
sheep, sheep
5.
dictionaries
13.
bacteria
6.
diaries
14.
fungi
7.
families
15.
macaroni
8.
stories
16.
ravioli
Extras:
17.
environment
18.
February
19.
fierce
20.
forty
Wordshark - Alpha to Omega, Group 7, Plurals
- plurals -ies
- plurals irregular
8.
Vowel Suffixes (‘y’ to ‘i’ and ‘drop e’)
Explanation:
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).
For words ending vowel + consonant + ‘e’, drop the silent ‘e’ when adding a vowel suffix
such as ‘-ing’ (smile, smiling).
Examples:
‘y’ to ‘i’ + vowel suffix
Drop ‘e’ + vowel suffix
1.
cry, cried
9.
drive, driving
2.
marry, married
10.
hope, hoping
3.
try, tried
11.
lose, losing
4.
worry, worried
12.
make, making
5.
happy, happier
13.
pause, pausing
6.
healthy, healthier
14.
smile, smiling
7.
hungry, hungrier
15.
take, taking
8.
lazy, lazier
16.
use, using
Extras:
17.
guard
18.
guess
19.
health
20.
hymn
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’)
Explanation:
Consonant suffixes like ‘-ly’ (‘in this manner’) and ‘-ful’ (‘full of’) can generally be added
without changing the base word.
However, words ending consonant + ‘y’, change the ‘y’ to an ‘i’ when adding ‘-ly’ (angry,
angrily) or ‘-ful’ (beauty, beautiful).
Examples:
‘-ly’ words
‘y’ to ‘i’ + ‘ly
1.
actually
9.
happily
2.
especially
10.
hungrily
3.
eventually
11.
necessarily
4.
likely
12.
steadily
‘-ful’ words
‘y’ to ‘i’ + ‘-ful’
5.
forgetful
13.
beautiful
6.
grateful
14.
merciful
7.
successful
15.
pitiful
8.
thoughtful
16.
plentiful
Extras:
17.
interesting
18.
issue
19.
jealous
20.
lonely
Wordshark - Alpha to Omega, Group 9, Suffixes
- full –ful adj
- suffix –ly -ful
10.
‘-able’ and ‘-ible’
Explanation:
‘-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).
Examples:
‘-able’ words
Keep ‘e’ ‘-able’ words
1.
available
9.
changeable
2.
capable
10.
knowledgeable
3.
comfortable
11.
manageable
4.
vegetable
12.
noticeable
Drop ‘e’ ‘-able’ words
‘-ible’ words
5.
believable
13.
edible
6.
curable
14.
flexible
7.
debatable
15.
horrible
8.
desirable
16.
sensible
Extras:
17.
marriage
18.
meanwhile
19.
modern
20.
necessary
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’
Explanation:
‘-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.
Examples:
‘-tion’ words
‘-sion’ words
1.
action
9.
division
2.
celebration
10.
invasion
3.
conservation
11.
revision
4.
description
12.
television
5.
fraction
6.
question
‘-ssion’ words
7.
station
13.
discussion
8.
subtraction
14.
mission
15.
percussion
16.
permission
Extras:
17.
neighbour
18.
ninety
19.
original
20.
parallel
Wordshark - Alpha to Omega, Group 8, (Stage 111), rr -tion -le -el -il -al –ally
- suffix –tion verb > noun, - tion 2, - tion 3
- endings suffix –sion, - sion & -shion, -ssion noun > verb, -ssion 2
12.
‘-ent’, ‘-ence’ and ‘-ant’, ‘-ance’
Explanation:
These words follow no specific rule and need to be learned.
Examples:
‘-ent’ words
‘-ant’ words
1.
achievement
9.
elephant
2.
advertisement
10.
ignorant
3.
excitement
11.
pleasant
4.
persistent
12.
reluctant
‘-ence’ words
‘-ance’ words
5.
evidence
13.
appearance
6.
science
14.
distance
7.
sentence
15.
importance
8.
difference
16.
substance
Extras:
17.
peaceful
18.
peculiar
19.
practical
20.
process
Wordshark - Alpha to Omega, Group 5, soft c -ance, -ence, -ince
13.
‘-ous’, ‘-ious’ and ‘-cious’
Explanation:
‘-ous’ and ‘-ious’ endings say ‘us’ as in ‘bus’ whereas ‘-cious’ endings say ‘shus’ as in
‘precious’.
Examples:
‘-ous’ words
‘-ious’ words
1.
disastrous
9.
serious
2.
famous
10.
curious
3.
humorous
11.
mysterious
4.
jealous
12.
obviously
5.
nervous
6.
numerous
‘-cious’ words
7.
ridiculous
13.
spacious
8.
vigorous
14.
precious
15.
suspicious
16.
unconscious
Extras:
17.
queue
18.
receive
19.
recognise
20.
recommend
Wordshark - Alpha to Omega, Group 8, (Stage 111), endings
- ous
- ious
- itious -cious
14.
Antonym Prefixes
Explanation:
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).
Examples:
‘im-’ words
‘il-’ and ‘ir-’ words
1.
immature
9.
illegal
2.
immortal
10.
illegible
3.
impartial
11.
irrational
4.
impatient
12.
irregular
‘in- words
‘un-’ words
5.
inarticulate
13.
unbelievable
6.
inaudible
14.
unconscious
7.
incredible
15.
ungrateful
8.
insincere
16.
uninterested
Extras:
17.
Saturday
18.
sandwich
19.
scissors
20.
separate
Wordshark - KS3 Subject Lists, English KS3 Literacy Hour, Obj 4 Prefixes
- antonym prefixes
15.
Classical Prefixes
Explanation:




‘auto-’ means ‘self’
‘circum-’ means ‘round’
‘bi-’ means ‘two’ or ‘twice’
‘micro-’ means ‘small’
Examples:
‘auto-’ words
‘bi-’ words
1.
autobiography
9.
biceps
2.
autograph
10.
bicycle
3.
automatic
11.
bilingual
4.
autopsy
12.
bisect
‘circum-’ words
‘micro-’ words
5.
circle
13.
microcosm
6.
circumference
14.
microchip
7.
circumstance
15.
microphone
8.
circus
16.
microscopic
Extras:
17.
shoulder
18.
sieve
19.
sincerely
20.
skilful
Wordshark - KS3 Subject Lists, English KS3 Literacy Hour, Obj 4 Prefixes
- classical prefixes mixed
16.
Common Letter Clusters (‘-our’, ‘-ough’, ‘-ear’, ‘-au’)
Explanation:
These common letter clusters make different sounds and need to be learned.
Examples:
‘our’ words
‘ear’ words
1.
colour
9.
early
2.
favourite
10.
earth
3.
flavour
11.
heard
4.
journey
12.
learn
‘ough’ words
‘au’ words
5.
bought
13.
autumn
6.
cough
14.
author
7.
drought
15.
August
8.
enough
16.
because
Extras:
17.
stomach
18.
strength
19.
success
20.
surely
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
Explanation:
‘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’).
Examples:
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.
here / hear
8.
your / you’re
9.
who’s / whose
10.
passed / past
11.
practice / practise
12.
bare / bear
13.
pair / pear
14.
by / buy / bye
15.
waist / waste
16.
weigh / way
Extra:
17.
surprise
18.
technology
19.
texture
20.
tomorrow
Wordshark - Alpha to Omega, Group 8, (Stage 111)
- homophones bonanza
18.
‘ph’ words
Explanation:
In some words (of Greek origin), the letters ‘p’ and ‘h’ are put together to make a new
sound ‘ph’ as in ‘phone’.
Examples:
‘ph-’ at word beginnings
Medial ‘ph-’
‘ph-’ at word endings
1.
phase
4.
atmosphere
12.
biography
2.
phrase
5.
emphasis
13.
geography
3.
physics
6.
emphasize
14.
graph
7.
nephew
15.
paragraph
8.
orphan
16.
photograph
9.
sophisticated
10.
telephone
11.
trophy
Extras:
17.
traveller
18.
twelfth
19.
unique
20.
unnatural
Wordshark - Group 8, odd letter strings
- ph as f
19.
Silent Letters (g, n, t, c)
Explanation:
Silent letters need to be learned by heart.
Examples:
Silent ‘g’
Silent ‘t’
1.
gnat
9.
castle
2.
gnaw
10.
listen
3.
sign
11.
often
4.
design
12.
whistle
Silent ‘n’
Silent ‘c’
5.
autumn
13.
scene
6.
condemn
14.
science
7.
column
15.
scissors
8.
hymn
16.
muscle
Extras:
17.
variety
18.
valuable
19.
vegetable
20.
velocity
Wordshark - Alpha to Omega, Group 8, (Stage 111)
rr -tion -le -el -il -al –ally
- -stle –scle
silent letters
- silent letters mixed
20.
Silent Letters (u, w, k, b)
Explanation:
Silent letters need to be learned by heart.
Examples:
Silent ‘u’
Silent ‘k’
1.
biscuit
9.
knight
2.
disguise
10.
knee
3.
guess
11.
knot
4.
tongue
12.
knock
Silent ‘w’
Silent ‘b’
5.
wrong
13.
bomb
6.
write
14.
lamb
7.
wrist
15.
numb
8.
wrap
16.
thumb
Extras:
17.
Wednesday
18.
weight
19.
weird
20.
woollen
Wordshark - Alpha to Omega, Group 8, (Stage 111)
silent letters
- -kn –gn – silent k,g
- -wr – silent w
- -mb – silent b
Second Form Subject Spellings
English
Maths
alliteration
approximate
antonym
breadth
author
co-ordinates
atmosphere
equilateral
description
equivalent
dialogue
isosceles
imagery
kilometre
metaphor
negative
onomatopoeia
opposite
personification
parallel
rhyme
parallelogram
rhythm
pentagon
scene
probability
simile
quadrilateral
synonym
sequence
History
Geography
archbishop
Antarctica
army (-ies)
Arctic Ocean
Bailey
British Isles
besiege
contour line
cavalry
convenience goods
Conqueror
equator
Domesday
Greenwich mean time
evidence
longitude
feudal
Northern Ireland
foreign
physical geography
guard
precipitation
knight
process
marriage (-ied)
redevelop
martyr
revenue
monatery (-ies)
symbol
Motte
sustainable
plague
urban regeneration
probably
voluntary migrant
siege
soldier
villain
Science
Religious Studies
absorb
believe
acceleration
Bible
ammeter
celebration
converge
Christian
flexible
disciple
frequency
Jerusalem
indices
Judaism
joule
Pentecost
liquid
prayer
nutrient
resurrection
organism
Spirit
oxygen
symbol
radii
synagogue
vacuum
Testament
vary
Trinity
vertebrate
Art and Design
baton
collage
colour
design
dowel
mechanism
textile
texture
movement
pattern