Prefixes and suffixes practice
Prefixes go at the start of a word and suffixes go at the end. Noggli practises choosing the right one and the spelling changes that come with them.
What your child practises
- Year 3use prefixes un-, dis-, mis-, in-, im-, il-, ir-
- Year 4add suffixes -ful, -less, -ly, -ness, -ment with the spelling rules
- Year 5spell the -tion, -sion, -ssion and -cian endings
Mix-ups Noggli looks out for
- Forgets the spelling change when adding a suffix
- Spells a common word the way it sounds rather than the way it is written
Prefixes
Prefixes like un-, dis-, mis-, in-, im-, il- and ir- change the meaning of a word, often to its opposite: active becomes inactive, possible becomes impossible. The word itself does not change spelling.
Suffixes and their spelling rules
Suffixes like -ful, -less, -ly, -ness and -ment sometimes change the spelling: happy becomes happiness. -ful only ever has one l (hopeful). In Year 5, children learn the -tion, -sion, -ssion and -cian endings (politician, not polititian).
Helping at home
- Collect words with the same prefix and talk about what the prefix means.
- Remember: full on its own, but -ful as a suffix.
- Words for jobs often end in -cian: musician, electrician, magician.
Made for children who worry about getting it wrong
A clue, not a cross
A wrong answer gets a clue and another go. A second miss shows how it works, step by step.
No clock
Nothing counts down. Confidence first, speed follows on its own.
The right level
After a few questions Noggli knows where your child is, and every question after that adapts.
Related practice
Questions parents ask
What is the difference between a prefix and a suffix?
A prefix is added to the start of a word (un + happy = unhappy). A suffix is added to the end (hope + ful = hopeful).
When are prefixes and suffixes taught?
Simple suffixes start in Year 2. Most prefixes are Year 3 and Year 4, and endings like -tion and -cian are Year 5 and Year 6.
Why does my child write hopefull?
Using two l's in -ful is a common slip. Noggli spots spelling-rule slips and gives a short reminder of the rule.
Practise this every day, at the right level
Noggli works out where your child is in every topic and adjusts each question to suit. Free, with no timers, no scores and no child accounts.