Adding Suffixes to Words

 

Seven Rules for Adding Suffixes 

  1. Don’t change the spelling of the root word when you add the suffix ly to any word that doesn’t end in Y.

Examples:      sincere + ly = sincerely

                        Beautiful + ly = beautifully

Exceptions:    true + ly = truly

                        Whole + ly = wholly

  1. Don’t change the spelling of the root word when you add the suffix ness to any word that does not end in the letter Y.

Examples:      kind + ness = kindness

                        Rough + ness = roughness

  1. Keep the silent e at the end of a word when you add a suffix that begins with a consonant (like ment, ful, and ly)

Examples:      arrange + ment = arrangement

                        Peace + ful = peaceful

                        Sincere + ly = sincerely

Exceptions     acknowledge + ment = acknowledgment

                        Judge + ment = judgment

                        True + ly = truly

                        Whole + ly = wholly

  1. Drop the silent e at the end of a word when you add a suffix that begins with a vowel (such as ed, ing, ous, ably, al, and y)

Examples       hope + ing = hoping

                        Shine + y = shiny

                        Fortune + ate = fortunate

                        Dose + age = dosage

                        Nature + al = natural

                        Fame + ous = famous

Exceptions     noticeable and courageous

  1. Double the final consonant when the word is just one syllable, the last two letters are one vowel + one consonant, and you add a suffix that begins with a vowel (such as ing, ed, est, al, y, etc.)

Examples:      swim, swimming, swimmer

                        Drag, dragging, dragged

                        Hot, hotter, hottest

                        Rob, robbing, robber

  1. Change the y to I before adding the suffix when you add the suffixes ness, age, or ly to any word that ends in the letter y.

Examples:      busy + ness = business

                        Lonely + ness = loneliness

                        Marry + age = marriage

                        Happy + ness = happiness

                        Day + ly = daily

  1. Add ful, not full, when you add the suffix full to any word.

Examples:      thought + ful = thoughtful

                        Cheer + ful = cheerful

 

Taken from Scholastic Writer's Desk Reference - Ultimate guide to Punctuation, Grammar, Writing, Spelling, Letter Writing, And much more

Links about Suffixes

Sadlier Oxford Student Activity Centre - Suffix Practice Page

BBC's Skillswise Suffixes Page This page has information about suffixes, a quiz to practice, and a "Printable" worksheet if you need more practice.

The Word List Blocktionary/Wordscape Prefixes and Suffixes Page - Choose a suffix (or prefix) and this page will build a list of words using that suffix.

The Bayshore Elementary School from Manatee County Florida has a nice page all about what a suffix is.

Gallaudet University - English Works - Suffixes to Know - I know you are only in grade five, but this site has lots of good information about suffixes.

A Grade 5 Suffix Page - I'm not even sure where this one is from, but it has a good definition and some good examples.

Dummys.com - Meeting the Most Often Used Suffixes - Well, no one will be able to call you a "Dummy" if you have done all these pages. You will be a Suffix Expert!

 

 

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