Suffix: -ation
Source: DfE, English Appendix 1: Spelling (2013) — Years 3–4 statutory suffix
Origin: Latin -atio / -ationis, via Old French -ation
Purpose: Guide to the suffix -ation — how it nominalises verbs, KS2 word list with definitions, etymology, and morpheme-based practice activities.
What it means
-ation turns a verb into a noun meaning "the act or process of [verb]-ing" or "the result of [verb]-ing."
inform (to tell) → information (the act of informing; the thing communicated)
explore (to investigate) → exploration (the act of exploring)
imagine (to picture in the mind) → imagination (the faculty of imagining)
Where it comes from
-ation came into English from Old French, which took it from Latin -atio. It is by far the most common way to form nouns from verbs in academic and formal English. Recognising -ation is one of the highest-leverage vocabulary skills for KS2 and beyond.
How to add -ation
Base ends in a vowel (usually e): drop the e
adore → adoration (e dropped before -ation)
explore → exploration
imagine → imagination
Base ends in a consonant: add -ation directly
inform → information
transform → transformation
Statutory examples (Appendix 1, Y3/4)
| Verb | -ation noun |
|---|---|
| inform | information |
| transform | transformation |
| adore | adoration |
| explore | exploration |
| imagine | imagination |
| observe | observation |
| educate | education |
| celebrate | celebration |
| organise | organisation |
| invite | invitation |
| relax | relaxation |
| examine | examination |
Morpheme matrix
| (nothing) | -ation | -ational | -ationally | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| inform- | inform | information | informational | informationally |
| transform- | transform | transformation | transformational | transformationally |
| educate- | educate | education | educational | educationally |
| organise- | organise | organisation | organisational | organisationally |
| explore- | explore | exploration | explorational | — |
The word family explosion
-ation is a gateway to a full word family. From information alone:
inform (verb) → information (noun) → informative (adjective) → informatively (adverb) → uninformative (adjective with un-)
Show children one base word can become dozens of words. This is the power of morphology.
Common -ation words across KS2 subjects
Science: investigation, observation, evaporation, condensation, classification, reproduction, circulation
History: civilisation, exploration, colonisation, reformation, declaration, occupation, nomination
Geography: location, vegetation, population, formation, erosion, migration
PSHE/English: communication, imagination, cooperation, celebration, determination, inspiration
Classroom activity: the -ation chain
Give children a verb: observe. Build the chain:
- observe (verb)
- observation (noun) — what do you observe?
- observational (adjective) — an observational study
- observer (person noun) — the one who observes
- observable (adjective) — able to be observed
The -ation suffix is the hinge that makes the whole family visible.
Dictation sentences
- The exploration of the cave required careful organisation and preparation.
- Her imagination created a vivid transformation of the ordinary scene before her.
- They completed the examination of the information and shared their observation.
- The invitation to the celebration arrived with a detailed explanation of the event.
- Education begins with observation and grows through investigation.
Source: DfE English Appendix 1: Spelling (2013). Etymology: Latin -atio / -ationis, from verbs of the first conjugation (-are).