Glossary · Word parts and vocabulary
What is an inflectional ending?
Definition
An inflectional ending is a suffix that changes a word's tense, number or comparison without making a new word: -s, -es, -ed, -ing, -er and -est.
Inflectional endings keep the word in the same family and the same part of speech. Jump, jumps, jumped and jumping are all the verb jump. Tall, taller and tallest are all the adjective tall.
They are the first suffixes taught, often right after short vowels and blends, because students can add them to words they already read. Jumping is a short step from jump.
The spelling changes come with them. Running doubles, hoping drops the e, cried changes y to i. Students also need the three sounds of -ed and the s versus es choice. Each is a small rule, but together they explain most early suffix errors.
In a lesson
Give the student the base word camp. They add -s, -ed and -ing and read each. Then try hop, which shows doubling: hops, hopped, hopping.
Examples
Each word with its spelling units, one per sound.
- campsc·a·m·p·s
- campedc·a·m·p·ed
- campingc·a·m·p·i·ng
- hoppedh·o·pp·ed
Words come from our lexicon, checked against a pronouncing dictionary. Words a student sees in our assessments are left out.
Why does this matter for the record?
Rate each ending separately at first. -s and -ing are often Secure well before -ed, because -ed has three sounds.
Rate each skill as you teach it
Needs support, Developing, Secure. The rating schedules the review and builds the report.