Decoding Words

with Suffixes

RHOZANE JANE P. JUMALON

Tiaong Elementary School
Tiaong, Guiguinto, Bulacan

Lets Learn This

A suffix is a syllable
added at the end of a
rootword. This suffix
changes the meaning of
the word.

Lets Try This

A. The suffix able means capable of. For
example, a wire that is bendable can bend.
Directions: Add able to the words below. (If a
word ends in a silent e, you may need to
drop the e before adding the suffix beginning
with a vowel.)
break ___
notice ____
reason ____
B. The suffixes en and ize mean to make or
cause to be. Add en to the words below.
bright ________
hard ________ sharp ________

B. The suffixes en and ize mean to make or cause

to be. Add en to the words below.
bright ________
hard ________ sharp ________
C. Add ize to the words below.
modern ____
tender _____
sterile
______
D. The suffix ist means one who does something.
Add ist to the words below.
type ____
violin ____
perfection ____
E. The suffix ous means having the quality of. Add
ous to the words below.
marvel ____
nerve _____
courage _____

Lets Study This

Read the paragraph. Study the underlined

words.
The praying mantis is another garden
friend. The praying mantises are not only
harmless but they are also helpful. They
eat insects that harm garden plants. They
also eat flies and mosquitoes. With their
two legs which are large and provided with
spines, they strike their prey. Then they
hold the insect securely and bring it to their
mouth.

Lets Study This

Answer the questions.
1. How do praying mantises help us?
2. Is it good to kill them? Why?
Study the words taken from the
paragraph.
harmless
helpful
What is added at the end of each word?
What do we call these syllables?

Lets Study This

A suffix as a word part added to the end
of a word to change its meaning.
The suffix ant and ent mean a person or
thing that does something.
The suffix less means without; ative
means having the nature of or relating
to; ive means having or tending to be .

Other Suffixes and their meanings

- ward = toward one side
- ish = somewhat; like
- ive = having the power of
- ic = condition of
- ness = condition of
- let = small
- able = able to do
- ment = act of
- al = act of

Look at the Table

Root Word

Suffix

New Word

sleep

less

sleepless

imagine

ative

imaginative

talk

ative

talkative

impress

ive

impressive

act

ive

active

class

ic

classic

boy

ish

boyish

excite

ment

excitement

joy

ful

joyful

Read this sentence: Note the suffixes used.

1. Ben is a graceful dancer.
2. My teacher is strict.
3. The roads going to Baguio are
dangerous.
4. My son wants to be a scientist.
5. The missionary was assigned to Africa.

Lets Do This
Identify the correct meaning of the underlined
word in each sentence. Encircle the letter that
carries your answer.
1. The children enjoy writing scripts of playlets.
a. funny games c. short plays
b. long stories d. a and b
2. A destructive earthquake struck Luzon on
July 16, 1990, causing a great loss of lives
and properties.
a. ruinous or damaging
b. strong and lengthy
c. strong and frightening
d. right for the purpose

Lets Do This
3. Before drinking river water you should
purify it because it may be polluted.
a. cleanse
b. clearness
c. fineness
d. correctness
4. Mariz is a creative individual.
a. original and artistic b. believable
c. public
d. interior
5. Maritas sister is boyish in her manner of
dressing.
a. playful
b. a little boy
c. similar to a boy
d. all of the

Lets Do More
From the choices in the parenthesis, pick the
proper suffix to complete the underlined word.
1. She was trying to be care _____ with the
fragile glassware. ( -ful, -ing, -full )
2. Mother tried to make their stay enjoy ______.
( -ment, -able, -ful )
3. Poor manage ________ resulted in the
bankruptcy of their business.
( -ment,
-erial, -ness)
4. We go to Baguio during summer to enjoy the
cool______ of the mountain air.( -ity, -ation,
-ness )
5. The players were discouraged because the

Lets Remember
What are suffixes?
Suffixes are syllables added at
the end of a word or the base form
of a word.
Example. graceful grace is the base
form while ful is the suffix.
You make another word when you
add a suffix at the end of a word.

 A suffix also changes the part of a

speech of a word. A verb can be a
noun.
Example. teach + er =
teacher
(verb) (suffix) (noun)
We can also make nouns into
adjective. Example. joy + ful =
joyful
(noun) (suffix) (adjective)
An adjective can also be an adverb
by adding the suffix ly.
Example. joyful = joyfully

Lets Test Ourselves

Read the following phrases carefully then
look for their meanings in the word bank
below. Encircle the suffix in each word.
Ex. place of entry entrance.
1. out of breath ___________.
2. state of being excited ____________.
3. great surprise __________.
4. deep in thoughts ____________.
5. act of being comforted ____________.
6. made of wood ____________.
Word Bank
entrance
comfortable

thoughtful
excitement

breathless
wooden

Lets Enrich Ourselves

Combine each root word and suffix to
make a new word. The first one is done for
you.
Root Word
Suffix
New Word
1. observe ant
observant
Start here:
2. differ
ent
____________
3. contest
ant
____________
4. sleep
less
____________
5.
imagine
ative
____________
6. talk
ative ____________
7. impress
ive
____________