Welcome to the World of Growing and Shrinking Words!

Have you ever noticed that words can change their shape? Sometimes they grow longer at the end, and sometimes two words squeeze together to become one. Today, we are going to learn how to read these special words. This will help you become a super-fast and "fluent" reader!

Part 1: Suffixes (The "Growing" Words)

A suffix is a group of letters that we add to the end of a word to change its meaning. Think of it like adding a tail to a kite! The main part of the word is called the root word.

Making Words Plural (-s and -es)

We use these suffixes when we have more than one of something. Singular means one. Plural means more than one.

  • -s: Just add it to the end! (Example: dog becomes dogs)
  • -es: We use this for words ending in sounds like sh, ch, x, s, or z because it makes it easier to say. (Example: box becomes boxes)

Action and Describing Suffixes

Sometimes we add suffixes to show when something is happening or to compare things:

  • -ing: Something is happening right now. (Example: play + ing = playing)
  • -ed: Something that already happened in the past. (Example: jump + ed = jumped)
  • -er: Comparing two things or describing a person who does something. (Example: fast + er = faster)
  • -est: Comparing three or more things to find the "most." (Example: tall + est = tallest)

Special Year 2 Suffixes

As you get even better at reading, you will see these suffixes too:

  • -ment: Turns an action into a thing. (Example: enjoy + ment = enjoyment)
  • -ness: Describes a state of being. (Example: kind + ness = kindness)
  • -ful: Means "full of." (Example: play + ful = playful)
  • -less: Means "without." (Example: help + less = helpless)
  • -ly: Describes how something is done. (Example: slow + ly = slowly)

Quick Tip: If you see a long word, try to cover the suffix with your finger. Read the root word first, then add the "tail" back on!

Quick Review: Key Terms

Suffix: Letters added to the end of a word.
Singular: Only one.
Plural: More than one.

Part 2: Contractions (The "Shrinking" Words)

Sometimes, two words are used so often together that they "squash" into one word. These are called contractions. They are like shortcuts for your mouth!

The Magic Apostrophe

When we squash two words together, some letters fly away and disappear! To show where the missing letters used to be, we use a tiny mark called an apostrophe (it looks like this: ’).

Think of the apostrophe as a "ghost" of the letters that are gone.

Common Contractions to Spot

  • I’m (Shortcut for: I am. The 'a' is missing!)
  • don’t (Shortcut for: do not. The 'o' is missing!)
  • can’t (Shortcut for: cannot. The 'no' is missing!)
  • it’s (Shortcut for: it is. The 'i' is missing!)
  • he’s or she’s (Shortcut for: he is or she is)
  • wasn’t (Shortcut for: was not)
Did You Know?

We use contractions a lot when we are talking to our friends because they make our speech sound smoother and faster.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Don't worry if these seem tricky at first! Here are two things to watch out for:

  • Mixing up plurals and possessives: In Year 1 and 2, we usually use an apostrophe for contractions (missing letters). We don't usually need an apostrophe just to make a word plural (like cats or dogs).
  • Reading too fast: When you see a contraction like didn’t, make sure you see the apostrophe so you don't accidentally read it as "did not."

Key Takeaway Summary

  • Suffixes are endings like -ing, -ed, -er, -est, -ness, and -ful. They change what a word does.
  • Plurals (-s and -es) mean there is more than one.
  • Contractions are two words squashed together.
  • The apostrophe (’) always sits where the missing letters used to be.

You are doing a great job! The more you practice spotting these "growing" and "shrinking" words in your storybooks, the easier they will become to read.