English // Grammar & Punctuation
Converting Words into Verbs
Convert nouns and adjectives into verbs by adding suffixes -ate, -ise (-ize), and -ify, understanding how word class changes affect sentence construction
Quick check
Can the learner take a word like "active" or "sharp" and turn it into a verb by adding a suffix — knowing that "activate" and "sharpen" are the verb forms?
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Topic // Mastery
What mastery looks like
- Add -ate, -ise, or -ify to nouns or adjectives to form verbs, e.g. pollen → pollinate, advert → advertise, simple → simplify
- Choose the correct verb-forming suffix for a given root and use the resulting verb in a sentence, e.g. 'They needed to classify the animals' from 'class'
- Identify the word-class change when a suffix converts a noun or adjective into a verb and explain how this affects the sentence structure
Topic // Map
Where this fits
- RequiredMust come first
- HelpfulHelps, but not essential
Before this
2 topics- Basic Nouns & VerbsRequired
Grammar & Punctuation // Ages 5 to 6
Converting nouns and adjectives into verbs requires confident understanding of what nouns and verbs are as word classes
- Suffixes (age 7+)Required
Spelling & Word Study // Ages 7 to 9
Converting word class via suffixes (-ate, -ise, -ify) requires secure suffix knowledge from the Y3-4 suffix programme
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Converting Words into Verbs
Ages 9 to 10 // Method
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Topic // Standards
Curriculum standards
- The national curriculum in England: Key stages 1 and 2 framework document
- Eng.App2.Y5.Word.1
English // Grammar & Punctuation
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