---
title: "Suffixes (age 7+)"
description: "Spell words using productive suffixes (-ation, -ly, -ous) and less common sound-spelling correspondences (/ɪ/ as y, /ʌ/ as ou, endings sounding like /ʒə/, /tʃə/, /ʒən/, /ʃən/) introduced in the Year 3"
canonical: https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/suffixes-age-7-mt_tHtjfjjFrl
source: https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/suffixes-age-7-mt_tHtjfjjFrl.md
retrieved: 2026-10-19
---

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# Suffixes (age 7+)

Spell words using productive suffixes (-ation, -ly, -ous) and less common sound-spelling correspondences (/ɪ/ as y, /ʌ/ as ou, endings sounding like /ʒə/, /tʃə/, /ʒən/, /ʃən/) introduced in the Year 3-4 programme

Subject: English · Area: Spelling & Word Study · Ages 7 to 9
Page: https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/suffixes-age-7-mt_tHtjfjjFrl

## Ready when they can

- Spell words with suffixes -ation (e.g., information, sensation), -ly (e.g., sadly, gently, happily), and -ous (e.g., famous, enormous, various)
- Spell words with less common vowel patterns: /ɪ/ as y (e.g., myth, gym), /ʌ/ as ou (e.g., young, touch, double)
- Spell words with endings /ʒə/ as -sure (e.g., measure, treasure), /tʃə/ as -ture (e.g., creature, furniture), /ʒən/ as -sion (e.g., division, television)

## Lesson: Suffixes: -ation, -ly, -ous, and sneaky sounds

You already know a suffix is added to the end of a word. Three suffixes turn up everywhere: -ation, like in information, -ly, like in sadly, and -ous, like in famous. Spelling them means remembering the pattern, since some tricky letters can surprise you too.

*(drawing: Inform + ation = information. The suffix -ation often changes an action word into a thing or state.)*

**Example.** Mia is a famous swimmer. She trains happily every morning at the gym. Famous ends in -ous. Happy changes y to i before -ly to make happily. Gym uses y to make the short i sound.

*(drawing: In young, the letters ou make a short u sound, like in touch and double, not the usual 'ow' sound you might expect.)*

Measure and division end with a soft sound like 'zhuh' or 'zhun', spelled -sure and -sion. Creature's -ture sounds like 'chuh'. These endings sound close but look different, so learn each word by sight.

**Recap.** Suffixes like -ation, -ly, and -ous follow patterns, and letters such as y and ou can make surprising sounds, so spell by the pattern, not just by ear.

## Practice

24 questions on this page, each with its working shown.

## Needs first

- [Suffixes](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/suffixes-mt_FYK8m6eHQm)
- [Spelling Simple Suffixes](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/spelling-simple-suffixes-mt_QdMMLRYWhn)

## Opens up

- [Suffixes (age 9+)](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/suffixes-age-9-mt_2X9Cd38eSJ)
- [Spelling -able & -ible](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/spelling-able-and-ible-mt_9hBs430cU4)
- [Converting Words into Verbs](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/converting-words-into-verbs-mt_p3tZiUaWAa)
- [Spellings from Greek, French and Latin](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/spellings-from-greek-french-and-latin-mt_y8sicbhMci)