lesson

Try, tried and trying

Read with an adult. You can say, point, draw or write your answer.

1 · Learn

Try ends in a consonant followed by y. To add ed, change y to i: tried. To add ing, keep the y: trying. Otherwise you would have two i letters together.

A similar change helps with happy: happier and happiest. Before ing, copy the root carefully. These patterns do not mean every past-tense verb is made with ed; go becomes went.

try → tried / tryingcopy → copied / copyinghappy → happier / happiest
Key words and supplied examples.

2 · Worked example

I start with copy. For copied I change y to i and add ed. For copying I keep y and add ing.

3 · Your turn

Add ed to carry. Add ing to carry. Add est to happy.

Check your answer

Carried; carrying; happiest.

4 · Apply your learning

Complete two sentences: 'Yesterday I tried to __.' 'Now I am trying to __.' Read them aloud and circle tried and trying.

Adult guidance and safety

Read instructions and shared texts aloud when needed. Independent reading must match taught sound-spelling knowledge; do not ask children to guess unknown words from pictures. Accept spoken answers before writing and revisit with more books and examples.

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