Common Suffixes
You've learned about roots and prefixes. Now let's learn about suffixes - word parts added to the END of words. Suffixes can change what type of word it is or add new meaning!
What is a Suffix?
A Suffix Goes at the End!
A suffix is a group of letters added to the END of a word. While prefixes go at the beginning, suffixes go at the end!
| Suffix | Meaning | Example Words |
|---|---|---|
| -ful | full of | helpful, careful, joyful |
| -less | without | helpless, careless, fearless |
| -er | one who does / more | teacher, faster, helper |
| -est | most | fastest, tallest, smartest |
| -ly | in a way | quickly, slowly, happily |
| -ness | state of being | happiness, kindness, darkness |
| -able/-ible | can be done | readable, washable, visible |
| -tion/-sion | act or state of | action, creation, decision |
Practice Questions
Use your knowledge of suffixes to answer these questions!
1. The suffix "-ful" means "full of." What does "joyful" mean?
A) Without joy
B) Full of joy
C) Joy again
D) Before joy
Answer
B) - Joyful = joy + ful (full of) = full of joy, or very happy.
2. The suffix "-less" means "without." What does "fearless" mean?
A) Full of fear
B) Fear again
C) Without fear
D) Very afraid
Answer
C) - Fearless = fear + less (without) = without fear, or brave.
3. If "-er" means "one who does," what is a "teacher"?
A) Something you teach
B) One who teaches
C) A place to teach
D) Teaching again
Answer
B) - Teacher = teach + er (one who does) = one who teaches.
4. The suffix "-ly" turns words into adverbs (how something is done). What does "quickly" mean?
A) Without quickness
B) Full of quickness
C) In a quick way
D) The most quick
Answer
C) - Quickly = quick + ly = in a quick way, or done fast.
5. The suffix "-ness" means "state of being." What does "kindness" mean?
A) Without being kind
B) The state of being kind
C) One who is kind
D) More kind
Answer
B) - Kindness = kind + ness (state of being) = the state of being kind.
6. If "-able" means "can be done," what does "washable" mean?
A) Cannot be washed
B) Washed before
C) Can be washed
D) One who washes
Answer
C) - Washable = wash + able (can be done) = can be washed.
7. The suffix "-est" means "most." What does "tallest" mean?
A) Without being tall
B) More tall
C) The most tall
D) One who is tall
Answer
C) - Tallest = tall + est (most) = the most tall of all.
8. If "care" + "less" = "careless," what does careless mean?
A) Full of care
B) Without care
C) More careful
D) One who cares
Answer
B) - Careless = care + less (without) = without care, or not being careful.
9. The word "happily" has the suffix "-ly." It tells us:
A) The most happy
B) Without happiness
C) In a happy way
D) Full of happiness
Answer
C) - Happily = happy + ly = in a happy way, describing how something is done.
10. Compare "helpful" and "helpless." What is the difference?
A) They mean the same thing
B) Helpful means full of help; helpless means without help
C) Helpful means without help; helpless means full of help
D) Both mean "one who helps"
Answer
B) - Helpful = full of help (able to help). Helpless = without help (unable to help or get help). The suffixes "-ful" and "-less" are opposites!