Use the Suffix -ous

We can use prefixes and suffixes to change the meaning of some words.  

We call the original word a root word.

 

Prefixes go at the start of words. 

For example: un + kind = unkind. 

The prefix un means not.  When we add it to the root word kind we create its opposite.

 

Suffixes go at the end of words.

For example: cheer + ful = cheerful

The suffix ful turns a noun (naming word) into an adjective (describing word).

 

 

In this activity, we will look at the use of the suffix -ous.

 

This suffix turns a noun (naming word) into an adjective (describing word). 

For example: danger (noun) becomes dangerous (adjective).

 

Sometimes, we have to make a change to the root word before we add -ous.

 

If the root word ends in our we change this to or before adding -ous.

For example: glamour (noun) becomes glamorous (verb). 

Did you spot the missing u?

 

 

Sometimes, there is no obvious root word.

For example: enormous

 

Other rules for adding -ous can be practised in another activity.

 

Here are some examples of words that use this suffix that we will practise in this activity. 

Some need us to remove the u from an our ending before adding the suffix:

 

poisonous

dangerous

enormous

humorous

glamorous

 

You can listen to them here:

 

 

You can break the words up into the root word and the suffix to help you to spell them:

 

poison ous

danger ous

enorm ous

humor ous

glamor ous

 

Why not use Look, Say, Cover, Write, Check to practise spelling them a few times before we begin the activity?