-ture and -sure endings
These two endings look almost identical but make different sounds: -ture says 'cher' as in picture, and -sure says 'zher' as in measure. Children who listen carefully to the sound have a real advantage.
Three endings, three sounds
| Ending | Sound | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| -ture | 'cher' | picture, adventure, furniture, temperature, signature |
| -sure | 'zher' | measure, treasure, pleasure, leisure, enclosure |
| -ssure / -sure | 'sher' | pressure, assure, ensure |
The 'cher' and 'zher' sounds are quite different once children are tuned in to them. Saying the words slowly with a hand on the throat helps: 'zher' buzzes, 'cher' doesn't. That's the clue to choosing between -ture and -sure.
Spotting the pattern
- picture'cher' sound: -ture.
- measure'zher' sound: -sure.
- pressure'sher' sound after a short vowel: -ssure.
Point out that words ending in a 'cher' sound are spelt -ture far more often than -cher. Teacher and richer are different: they are root words with -er added (teach + er). If there's no root word that makes sense on its own, -ture is the answer.
Hear every syllable
Several words in these lists are misspelt because a syllable gets swallowed in speech. Temperature is often said “tem-pra-chur”, which leads to temprature. Furniture and signature have the same problem. Saying words in exaggerated syllables (tem-per-a-ture) in a “spelling voice” is one of the most effective tricks for these.
Leisure
Leisure deserves its own mention: it has the 'zher' ending and an ei that children rarely meet. It's a good word to link with the ei words such as receive and ceiling, so pupils see it from both sides.
In the SATs
Words like temperature, adventure, measure and pressure are typical of the SATs spelling paper, which reads 20 words aloud in context. The National Curriculum lists -sure and -ture endings for Years 3 and 4, but they keep causing errors in Year 6, partly because the vocabulary gets longer and harder to say.
Common mistakes
- piccherPhonetic spelling: picture.
- measherPhonetic spelling: measure.
- tempratureA syllable dropped: temperature.
- Writing -cher or -sher instead of the correct ending.
- Dropping syllables from long words: temprature, furnture.
- Missing the double s in pressure.
- Spelling leisure with ie.
Teaching ideas
Buzz or no buzz
Children place a hand on their throat and say each word. If the ending buzzes, it's 'zher' and -sure; if it doesn't, it's 'cher' and -ture. Then they sort a set of word cards using the test.
Spelling voice
Model saying long words in deliberate syllables, then ask pupils to do the same before writing: fur-ni-ture, sig-na-ture, ad-ven-ture. Partners check that every syllable has a written match.
Is there a root?
Give pupils a mixed list of -ture and -cher words. They test each one: can they find a root word ending in ch? Teacher passes, picture doesn't. This explains why -cher is rare.
Word bank writing
Pupils write a short adventure using at least five words from the list: treasure, adventure, creature, pressure, measure. Using words in their own writing is the real test.
Try it: five quick questions
SATs-style questions to use as a starter or a quick check. Tap to see each answer.
Which is correct? creacher / creature
Show answer
creature
Which is correct? treasure / treature
Show answer
treasure: it makes a 'zher' sound.
Spell the word: the amount you measure on a thermometer
Show answer
temperature
Fill the gap: The diver felt the water pre___ on her ears.
Show answer
pressure
Why is teacher spelt -cher, not -ture?
Show answer
It's the root word teach with -er added.
Free worksheets for this topic
Printable A4 PDFs with answers. Free to use in class or at home.
