Explore · English · Vocabulary

Word Parts as Clues

Use knowledge of common inflections and affixes (-ed, -s, un-, -er) as clues to the meaning of unknown words; understand how the prefix un- changes meaning

ages 5 to 824 practice questionsvideo included

What a learner can do afterwards

Recognise that -ed signals past tense (e.g. 'jumped' = already happened)
Explain how un- makes a word mean the opposite (e.g. 'unhappy' = not happy)
Use word parts to figure out the meaning of an unfamiliar word

1 · Read

Words have parts. Each part gives a clue. A part at the start or end can change the meaning and help you read new books.

The word jump plus -ed becomes jumped. -ed means it already happened.

Try it together

Mia read the word played. She saw -ed at the end. She knew it already happened.

Un- plus kind becomes unkind. Un- means not, so unkind means not kind.

When you see a new word, look at its start and end. Word parts can help you guess the meaning.

Word parts like -ed and un- give clues to a word's meaning.

2 · Watch

3 · Play

step 1 of 6

You have pulled endings off words before, and you have asked what a new word means. Today the word itself hands you clues. Mia is reading a book about the park, and she meets the word played.

Played is built from play plus a small part at the end. What does -ed tell you?

Take it off screen

Print a worksheetA4 with an answer key page for grown-ups. No screen, no internet.

Where it sits

Learn first

Reading Inflectional Endings Discussing and Questioning New Words

This opens up

Word Families and Root Words Root Words & Inflections

Where this leads

Jobs that lean on this skill. Follow one to see everything it is built on.

Translator Librarian Pharmacist Writer

Then practise

24 questions wait behind this lesson, each with its answer explained. Every answer feeds the sky: stars light as they are learned, and dim when it is time to come back.

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