Inflectional Endings Worksheet

Lesson Overview

About this worksheet

An inflectional ending is a small ending added to a base word that changes how many or when without changing the word’s main meaning. The four most common are -s, -es, -ed, and -ing. Unlike prefixes and suffixes, which can change a word’s meaning or part of speech, inflectional endings just mark plurals, verb tense, or an ongoing action. This worksheet gives early readers direct practice adding and interpreting them.

Section A gives eight base words with an ending in parentheses (play + -ed, watch + -es, sing + -ing) and asks students to write the new word. The set covers all four endings and includes a -es case that follows a base ending in a hissing sound, so students see when -es is used instead of -s. The reference box teaches the endings with a walk/walks/walked/walking example not reused in any item.

Section B asks students to explain what each ending does in a phrase – the -s in ‘three cats’ means more than one, the -ed in ‘she jumped’ is past tense, the -ing in ‘he is running’ is happening now. Page 3 is a complete answer key. The skill is foundational for reading longer words and for spelling verb and noun forms correctly.

How to Use This Lesson

Read the reference box aloud and chant walk, walks, walked, walking together.

Complete Section A independently – point out the -es case (a base ending in a hissing sound).

Work Section B item 9 together: the -s in ‘three cats’ shows more than one.

Use the answer key on page 3 for self-check or teacher review.

Pair with the Prefixes Worksheet or the Suffixes Worksheet to compare ending types.

Printable Resource

A classroom-ready PDF with everything in one printable resource.

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