Add the Suffix -ation

In this worksheet, students will add the suffix -ation onto existing root words, seeing how the meaning changes.

Key stage: KS 2

Year: Year 4 English worksheets

Curriculum topic: Writing: Transcription

Curriculum subtopic: Use Prefixes and Suffixes

Difficulty level:

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Worksheet Overview

A suffix is a letter or group of letters that can be added to the end of a root word. When you add the suffix, you make a new word.

This new word has a related but different meaning.

This activity is about the suffix -ation.

Example

You inspire me.

You have given me inspiration.

girl drawing

Adding the suffix -ation changes a verb to a noun, and this new word tells us about an action, process or result.

There are spelling rules you have to follow when you add -ation:

1. Rule for root words ending in -ate.

to vacate	becomes	We have a vacation.
take off -ate		add on -ation

family on holiday

2. Rule for root words ending in -y.

to magnify	becomes	Magnification makes the picture bigger.
the -y ending becomes -ic		add on -ation

girl with magnifying glass

3. Rule for root words ending in -re, -ve, or -se.

to respire (to breathe)	becomes	Plants use their leaves for respiration.
take of -e		add on -*ation*

process of photosynthesis

4. Rule for most other root word endings, just add -ation on the end of the word.

Watch out - there are always words that don't match the spelling rules!

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Preview activity

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