Suffix: -ly
Year group: 3/4
Source: DfE, English Appendix 1: Spelling, National Curriculum for England (2013) — Years 3–4, Suffixes
Curriculum requirement: Statutory
Purpose: Years 3–4 guide to the suffix -ly — rules including y→i and -le→-ly changes, with worked examples and practice activities.
The rule
The suffix -ly is usually added to adjectives to make adverbs. It means "in a [adjective] way."
slow (adjective) → slowly (adverb — in a slow way)
complete (adjective) → completely (adverb)
gentle (adjective) → gently (adverb — note spelling change)
Four cases where the spelling changes:
1. Base word ends in -le preceded by a consonant: change -le to -ly
gentle → gently (not gentlely)
simple → simply
terrible → terribly
2. Base word ends in -ic: add -ally (not just -ly)
basic → basically (not basicly)
dramatic → dramatically
automatic → automatically
3. Base word ends in -y (with a consonant before it): change y to i then add -ly
happy → happily
angry → angrily
easy → easily
4. Most other bases: add -ly directly, with no change
quick → quickly
near → nearly
certain → certainly †
Etymology note
-ly descends from Old English -lice (pronounced approximately "lee-cheh"). It has been part of English for over a thousand years, which is why it attaches to so many native English adjectives (quickly, slowly, kindly). The -ic → -ically pattern comes from words of Greek origin via Latin: basic, dramatic, electric all derive from Greek and take -ally rather than -ly alone. This is why basicly feels wrong — the -ic ending comes with its own rule.
Examples from the Y3/4 statutory word list and Appendix 1
(† = statutory word)
Straightforward -ly (add directly):
- certainly † (certain + -ly)
- commonly (common + -ly)
- recently † (recent + -ly)
- particularly † (particular + -ly)
- probably † (probable → probabl- → change -le to -ly → probably) (case 1)
- possibly † (possible → possibly) (case 1)
- simply (simple → simply) (case 1)
- gently (gentle → gently) (case 1)
-ly from -y bases (y → i):
- happily (happy → happily)
- angrily (angry → angrily)
- easily (easy → easily)
-ally from -ic bases:
- basically (basic → basically)
- dramatically (dramatic → dramatically)
- magically (magical → magically) (note: magical ends in -al, not -ic, so just -ly)
The awkward ones worth teaching explicitly
| Adjective | Adverb | What's happening |
|---|---|---|
| whole | wholly | silent e kept despite the -ly rule (one of the genuine exceptions) |
| true | truly | drop the e before -ly |
| due | duly | drop the e before -ly |
| full | fully | drop one l — full + -ly → fully (not fullly) |
| possible | possibly | change -le to -ly |
| terrible | terribly | change -le to -ly |
Common mistakes and why they happen
| Wrong | Right | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| gentlely | gently | gentle ends in -le — change -le to -ly |
| basicly | basically | -ic words take -ally |
| happly | happily | happy → change y to i → happily |
| probaly | probably | probable → drop -le → probabl → add -y |
| certainley | certainly | no e — just certain + -ly |
The -ic trap is the most common in KS2. Children write basicly, specificly, automaticly. Teach -ic → -ically as a reliable sub-rule: if the adjective ends in -ic, the adverb ends in -ically.
Word sort activity
Sort these adverbs by which -ly rule applies. Write the base adjective first.
Adverbs to sort: certainly · simply · dramatically · happily · gently · possibly · basically · nearly · angrily · terribly · automatically · easily
| Add -ly directly | Change -le to -ly | Change y to i + ly | Add -ally (-ic words) |
|---|---|---|---|
Dictation sentences (teacher-ready)
- She certainly worked hard enough to deserve the reward.
- The children gently placed the eggs back in the nest.
- He was probably the fastest runner in the whole school.
- Simply adding the suffix does not always work — you need to check the base word.
- She happily accepted the challenge and got started straight away.
- The magician dramatically revealed the hidden card.
Classroom questions
- What is the base word in possibly? What rule did we use?
- Why is basicly wrong? What should it be?
- What happens to happy when we add -ly? Why?
- Can you think of three more adverbs that end in -ically?
- What is the difference between an adjective and an adverb? Can you give an example of each?
Links to other rules
- Y2 rule: -y → -i (changing y to i before a suffix) — same rule applies here in happily, angrily
- Y2 rule: drop the -e — true → truly, due → duly
- Y5/6: -ant/-ent and -ance/-ence — these suffixes also change adjectives; -ly connects them to adverb forms
Source: DfE English Appendix 1: Spelling (2013). All statutory word examples verified against the published statutory word lists for Years 3–4.