Year 9 English: KS3 Spellings

Understanding KS3 Spellings

Hello Year 9! Today, we will explore the importance of spellings and some rules to help you spell words correctly. Good spelling is essential for clear communication, whether you are writing essays, emails, or even text messages. Let’s break it down.

Why Is Spelling Important?

1. Clear Communication: Good spelling helps others understand your writing.
2. First Impressions: Well-spelled work looks professional.
3. Confidence: Knowing how to spell boosts your confidence when writing.

Key Rules for Spellings

1. Common Patterns

• Many words follow certain patterns. For example:
  • Words ending in “y” often change to “i” before adding “es” (e.g., “carry” becomes “carries”).
  • Words that end in “e” usually drop the “e” before adding “ing” (e.g., “make” becomes “making”).

2. Homophones

• Homophones are words that sound the same but have different meanings and spellings. For example:
  • “there” (place), “their” (belonging to them), “they’re” (they are).
• Remember to check which one fits the sentence!

3. Double Letters

• Some words have double letters. For instance:
  • “happy” has a double “p.”
• To remember, think about the sound. If you hear a vowel followed by a consonant (like in “running”), you may need to double the consonant.

4. Suffixes and Prefixes

• Adding prefixes (like “un-” or “re-“) and suffixes (like “-ly” or “-ment”) can change the meaning of a word.
• Be careful with how you spell them:
  • “happy” becomes “unhappy.”
  • “manage” becomes “management.”

Tips and Tricks

• Practice Regularly: Write down words you find difficult and practice them.
• Use Mnemonics: Create phrases to remember tricky spellings. For example, “necessary” – “one collar and two sleeves.”
• Read More: The more you read, the better you’ll get at recognising spellings.
• Spell Check Tools: Use tools like spell check in Word or online to help you, but don’t rely on them completely!

Spelling Questions

Easy Level (20 Questions)

1. How do you spell the word for the opposite of “happy”?
2. Spell the word that means “to make a choice.”
3. What is the correct spelling for a young cat?
4. How do you spell the word that describes a large body of water?
5. Spell the word for a period of seven days.
6. What is the spelling of the word for the season after winter?
7. How do you spell the word meaning “to give”?
8. Spell the word for a person who writes books.
9. What is the correct spelling for the color that is a mix of red and white?
10. How do you spell the word that means “to look at closely”?
11. Spell the word for the opposite of “hot.”
12. What is the spelling for the word meaning “a large animal with a trunk”?
13. How do you spell the word for a piece of furniture to sit on?
14. Spell the word for a young dog.
15. What is the correct spelling for the word meaning “to go in”?
16. How do you spell the word for a place where books are kept?
17. Spell the word for something that is not true.
18. What is the spelling for the word meaning “a bright light”?
19. How do you spell the word for a person who studies the past?
20. Spell the word for the opposite of “up.”

Medium Level (20 Questions)

1. How do you spell the word for a person who helps in a shop?
2. Spell the word meaning “to influence or change.”
3. What is the correct spelling for the word meaning “to visit someone”?
4. How do you spell the word for something that you can eat?
5. Spell the word that means “a place for animals.”
6. What is the spelling for the word that means “to show a direction”?
7. How do you spell the word for a large, flat area of land?
8. Spell the word for a person who plays music.
9. What is the correct spelling for the word that means “to take away”?
10. How do you spell the word for the opposite of “hard”?
11. Spell the word for a person who studies nature.
12. What is the correct spelling for something that is very large?
13. How do you spell the word for a type of fruit that is red or green?
14. Spell the word for the weather condition with falling water.
15. What is the spelling for the word meaning “an act of taking back”?
16. How do you spell the word for a place where things are made?
17. Spell the word meaning “to travel by foot.”
18. What is the correct spelling for the word describing the taste of something that is not sweet?
19. How do you spell the word for the opposite of “early”?
20. Spell the word for a small, round object used in games.

Hard Level (20 Questions)

1. How do you spell the word for something you can see, like a picture?
2. Spell the word that means “to show respect.”
3. What is the correct spelling for the word meaning “to gather together”?
4. How do you spell the word for a type of story that is not real?
5. Spell the word for something that is easy to understand.
6. What is the spelling for the word meaning “to look at something closely”?
7. How do you spell the word for a person who sells goods?
8. Spell the word for the opposite of “difficult.”
9. What is the correct spelling for the word meaning “to take part in something”?
10. How do you spell the word for a group of people working together?
11. Spell the word that means “to remember.”
12. What is the spelling for the word meaning “to make something happen”?
13. How do you spell the word for something that is very small?
14. Spell the word for a place where you can watch films.
15. What is the correct spelling for the word meaning “a decision made by a judge”?
16. How do you spell the word for a type of learning that involves practice?
17. Spell the word for something that is surprising.
18. What is the spelling for the word describing something that happens regularly?
19. How do you spell the word for the opposite of “beautiful”?
20. Spell the word that means “to change direction suddenly.”

Answers

Easy Level Answers

1. sad
2. choose
3. kitten
4. ocean
5. week
6. spring
7. give
8. author
9. pink
10. examine
11. cold
12. elephant
13. chair
14. puppy
15. enter
16. library
17. false
18. light
19. historian
20. down

Medium Level Answers

1. assistant
2. affect
3. visit
4. food
5. zoo
6. point
7. plain
8. musician
9. remove
10. soft
11. biologist
12. huge
13. apple
14. rain
15. withdrawal
16. factory
17. walk
18. bitter
19. late
20. ball

Hard Level Answers

1. image
2. honour
3. assemble
4. fiction
5. clear
6. inspect
7. merchant
8. easy
9. participate
10. team
11. recall
12. cause
13. tiny
14. cinema
15. ruling
16. practical
17. astonishing
18. frequent
19. ugly
20. swerve

By understanding these rules and practicing regularly, you will become more confident in your spelling skills. Happy learning!