Studying Suffixes
What Is a Suffix?
A suffix is a string of letters added to the end of a word. Suffixes change or add to the meaning of the word.
Some suffixes can be added without changing the root word: climb + ing = climbing �slow + ly = slowly �pain + ful = painful | To add a suffix to a word ending in ‘y’, you need to change the 'y' to an ‘i’: happy + ly = happily �copy + ed = copied �beauty + ful = beautiful |
Remove the ‘e’ from the end of a word to add a suffix starting with a vowel: have + ing = having �fame + ous = famous �create + ion = creation | Double the last consonant before adding a suffix to some one-syllable words: run + ing = running �hot + er = hotter �shop + ed = shopped |
Fill in each box below by adding the correct word, suffix or definition.
-ing
Present Tense
=
(write definition here)
= hosting =
(write definition here)
+ ing = catching =
(write definition here)
=
(write definition here)
= swimming =
(write definition here)
+ ing = putting =
(write definition here)
Choose the right spelling for each of these words once the suffix ‘-ing’ has been added by moving it to the box provided.
-ing
Present Tense
laughing
stoping
shoveing
watching
seeing
missing
swiming
wasteing
toneing
hearing
lauging
stopping
shovving
watchhing
seiing
mising
swimming
wastting
tonning
hearring
laughhing
stopeing
shoving
watcheing
seeying
miseing
swimeing
wasting
toning
heareing
Read each sentence. Add ‘-ing’ to the word and type the new word into the space.
-ing
Present Tense
in the morning.
run
beg
board.
dive
bob
his guitar.
tune
for food.
in the wind.
-ed
Past Tense
Fill in each box below by adding the correct word, suffix or definition.
=
(write definition here)
= shifted =
(write definition here)
+ ed = waited =
(write definition here)
=
(write definition here)
= clapped =
(write definition here)
+ ed = closed =
(write definition here)
Choose the right spelling for each of these words once the suffix ‘-ed’ has been added by moving it to the box provided.
bullyed
dryed
envyed
hoped
baked
closed
danced
taped
washed
tryed
bulled
dryyed
enved
hopped
bakd
clossed
dancced
tapped
washhed
tryyed
bullied
dried
envied
hoppied
bakied
closied
dancied
tapied
washied
tried
-ed
Past Tense
Read each sentence. Add ‘-ed’ to the word and type the new word into the space.
-ed
Past Tense
in the morning.
shower
beg
all night.
dance
love
all night.
cry
me to let him play.
going to the park with my friends.
-er
The suffix '-er' compares one thing to another (e.g. bigger). It is also used to describe someone or something that does the action described by the verb (e.g. reader).
Fill in each box below by adding the correct word, suffix or definition.
=
(write definition here)
= nicer =
(write definition here)
+ er = waiter =
(write definition here)
=
(write definition here)
= later =
(write definition here)
+ er = dryer =
(write definition here)
Choose the right spelling for each of these words once the suffix ‘-er’ has been added by moving it to the box provided.
-er
The suffix '-er' compares one thing to another (e.g. bigger). It is also used to describe someone or something that does the action described by the verb (e.g. reader).
angryer
bumpyer
nicer
paler
wiser
earlyer
foggyer
hairyer
scruber
crazyer
angrer
bumper
niceer
paleer
wisser
earler
fogger
hairer
scrubber
crazer
angrier
bumpier
nicier
palier
wisier
earlier
foggier
hairier
scrubier
crazier
Read each sentence. Add ‘-er’ to the word and type the new word into the space.
-er
The suffix '-er' compares one thing to another (e.g. bigger). It is also used to describe someone or something that does the action described by the verb (e.g. reader).
room.
big
smart
than normal.
crazy
late
than us.
loud
than me.
today than I was yesterday.
-est
The suffix '-est' (meaning most) is added to an adjective and compares one thing to another (e.g. biggest).
Fill in each box below by adding the correct word, suffix or definition.
=
(write definition here)
= fittest =
(write definition here)
+ est = glummest =
(write definition here)
=
(write definition here)
= nicest =
(write definition here)
+ est = prettiest =
(write definition here)
Choose the right spelling for each of these words once the suffix ‘-est’ has been added by moving it to the box provided.
prettyest
nicest
widest
crazyest
earlyest
easyest
fluffyest
friendlyest
noisyest
scaryest
prettest
niceest
wideest
crazest
earlest
easest
fluffest
friendlest
noisest
scarest
prettiest
niceiest
widiest
craziest
earliest
easiest
fluffiest
friendliest
noisiest
scariest
-est
The suffix '-est' (meaning most) is added to an adjective and compares one thing to another (e.g. biggest).
Read each sentence. Add ‘-est’ to the word and type the new word into the space.
-est
room.
big
smart
today.
crazy
late
in the street.
loud
in our family.
today.
The suffix '-est' (meaning most) is added to an adjective and compares one thing to another (e.g. biggest).
-ness
The suffix '-ness' can be added to an adjective to mean a state or quality (e.g. happiness).
Fill in each box below by adding the correct word, suffix or definition.
=
(write definition here)
= smoothness =
(write definition here)
+ ness = stubbornness =
(write definition here)
=
(write definition here)
= directness =
(write definition here)
+ ness = bumpiness =
(write definition here)
Choose the right spelling for each of these words once the suffix ‘-ness’ has been added by moving it to the box provided.
happyness
brightness
gloomyness
illness
sadness
blackness
uglyness
politeness
sillyness
lateness
happiness
brighttness
gloominess
illeness
sadeness
blackeness
ugliness
politness
silliness
latness
happness
brighness
gloomness
ilness
saddness
blacness
uglness
polittness
sillness
lattness
-ness
The suffix '-ness' can be added to an adjective to mean a state or quality (e.g. happiness).
Read each sentence. Add ‘-ness’ to the word and type the new word into the space.
-ness
of night scares me.
dark
fit
is chocolate.
weak
silly
is important to me.
happy
.
in class.
The suffix '-ness' can be added to an adjective to mean a state or quality (e.g. happiness).
-ful
The suffix '-ful' can mean full of (e.g. thankful) or notable for (e.g. skilful).
Fill in each box below by adding the correct word, suffix or definition.
=
(write definition here)
= forceful =
(write definition here)
+ ful = delightful =
(write definition here)
=
(write definition here)
= resourceful =
(write definition here)
+ ful = shameful =
(write definition here)
Choose the right spelling for each of these words once the suffix ‘-ful’ has been added by moving it to the box provided.
thoughtful
minddful
doubteful
hoppful
feareful
helppful
colourrful
harmeful
painful
powerrful
thoughful
mindful
doubttful
hopeful
fearrful
helpful
colourful
harmmful
painnful
powerful
thoughttful
mindeful
doubtful
hopful
fearful
helpeful
coloureful
harmful
paineful
powereful
-ful
The suffix '-ful' can mean full of (e.g. thankful) or notable for (e.g. skilful).
Read each sentence. Add ‘-ful’ to the word and type the new word into the space.
-ful
today.
beauty
help
.
colour
tear
with my baby sister.
care
in class.
watching my sister sing.
The suffix '-ful' can mean full of (e.g. thankful) or notable for (e.g. skilful).
-ly, -ily
The suffixes '-ly' and '-ily' can be added to an adjective to create an adverb meaning in a certain manner.
Fill in each box below by adding the correct word, suffix or definition.
=
(write definition here)
= proudly =
(write definition here)
+ ly = badly =
(write definition here)
=
(write definition here)
= lazily =
(write definition here)
+ ly = angrily =
(write definition here)
Choose the right spelling for each of these words once the suffix'-il' or '-ily' has been added by moving it to the box provided.
suddenly
dangerously
quietly
loudly
wildly
angryly
thoughtfully
fearfully
creatively
shyly
suddennly
dangeroussly
quiettly
loudely
wilddly
angrly
thoughtfuly
fearfuly
creativly
shyyly
suddenely
dangerousely
quietely
louddly
wildely
angrily
thoughtfulely
fearfulely
creativvly
shly
-ly, -ily
The suffixes '-ly' and '-ily' can be added to an adjective to create an adverb meaning in a certain manner.
Read each sentence. Add '-ly' or '-ily-' to the word and type the new word into the space.
behind my mum.
shy
quiet
avoided getting tackled.
narrow
happy
at me when I got my certificate.
proud
.
singing.
-ly, -ily
The suffixes '-ly' and '-ily' can be added to an adjective to create an adverb meaning in a certain manner.
-ous
The suffix '-ous’ can mean full of (e.g. joyous).
Fill in each box below by adding the correct word, suffix or definition.
=
(write definition here)
= mountainous =
(write definition here)
+ ous = glory =
(write definition here)
=
(write definition here)
= famous =
(write definition here)
+ ous = nervous =
(write definition here)
Choose the right spelling for each of these words once the suffix '-ous' has been added by moving it to the box provided.
hazardous
riotous
perilous
victoryous
mysteryous
carnivoreous
herbivoreous
adventureous
momentous
outrageous
hazarddous
riottous
perillous
victorious
mysterious
carnivorous
herbivorous
adventurrous
momenttous
outragous
hazardeous
rioteous
perileous
victorieous
mysterieous
carnivorrous
herbivorrous
adventurous
momenteous
outraggous
-ous
The suffix '-ous’ can mean full of (e.g. joyous).
Read each sentence. Add ‘-ous’ to the word and type the new word into the space.
-ous
.
adventure
danger
about starting at a new school.
nerve
victory
cleaning stuff in the garage.
poison
.
this weekend.
The suffix '-ous’ can mean full of (e.g. joyous).
Additional Suffix Rules
Remove an ‘s’ from words that end in ‘ss’ before adding the suffix -sion: agress + sion = agression express + sion = expression confess + sion = confession | Remove the ‘de’ from the end of words before adding the suffix -sion and the ‘te’ from the ends of words before adding the suffix -tion: collide + sion = collision institute + tion = institution persuade + sion = persuasion |
Remove the ‘t’ from words ending in ‘mit’ and replace it with an ‘s’ before adding the suffix -sion: admit + sion = admission permit + sion = permission transmit + sion = transmission | Remove the ‘d’ from the end of a word before adding the suffix -sion: apprehend + sion = apprehension expand + sion = expansion suspend + sion = suspension |
-sion
The suffix '-sion' can be added to verbs to create abstract nouns meaning the state of (e.g. confusion).
Fill in each box below by adding the correct word, suffix or definition.
=
(write definition here)
= conclusion =
(write definition here)
+ sion = explosion =
(write definition here)
=
(write definition here)
= invasion =
(write definition here)
+ sion = impress =
(write definition here)
Choose the right spelling for each of these words once the suffix ‘-sion’ has been added by moving it to the box provided.
possession
possesstion
possesion
expression
expresion
expresionn
permitsion
permision
permission
dividesion
division
divission
omitsion
omision
omission
concludesion
conclusion
conclussion
-sion
The suffix '-sion' can be added to verbs to create abstract nouns meaning the state of (e.g. confusion).
Read each sentence. Add ‘-sion’ to the word and type the new word into the space.
-sion
.
comprehend
collide
.
possess
discuss
.
impress
.
.
The suffix '-sion' can be added to verbs to create abstract nouns meaning the state of (e.g. confusion).
-tion
The suffix '-tion' can also be added to verbs to create nouns meaning the action of (e.g.rotation) or the result of (e.g. election).
Fill in each box below by adding the correct word, suffix or definition.
=
(write definition here)
= equation =
(write definition here)
+ tion = exertion =
(write definition here)
=
(write definition here)
= fixation =
(write definition here)
+ tion = ignition =
(write definition here)
Choose the right spelling for each of these words once the suffix ‘-tion’ has been added by moving it to the box provided.
createtion
radiatetion
indicatetion
ventilatetion
devotetion
election
exertion
injection
collection
operatetion
creation
radiation
indication
ventilation
devotion
election
exerttion
injecttion
collecttion
operation
creattion
radiattion
indicattion
ventillation
devottion
electtion
exerction
injecction
colection
operattion
-tion
The suffix '-tion' can also be added to verbs to create nouns meaning the action of (e.g.rotation) or the result of (e.g. election).
-tion
Read each sentence. Add ‘-tion’ to the word and type the new word into the space.
“.
object
accelerate
.
infect
protect
from the building.
evict
of a car increases its speed.
.
The suffix '-tion' can also be added to verbs to create nouns meaning the action of (e.g.rotation) or the result of (e.g. election).