English Language Arts
Grade 3
15 min
Determine the meaning of a word with a suffix: review
Determine the meaning of a word with a suffix: review
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Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Identify the suffix in a given word.
Define the meaning of common suffixes like -ful, -less, -ly, and -er.
Explain how a suffix changes the meaning of a base word.
Break down a word into its base word and suffix.
Use the meaning of a base word and a suffix to determine the meaning of a new word.
Use words with suffixes correctly in a sentence.
Have you ever noticed how 'play' can become 'playful' or 'player'? Let's be word detectives and find out how! 🕵️♀️
We will review what suffixes are and how these special word endings change a word's meaning. Learning about suffixes is like having a secret code to unlock bigger and more interesting words when you read and write.
Real-World Applications
Reading new storybo...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
Base WordThe main part of a word that has its own meaning. It can stand all by itself.In the word 'helpful', the base word is 'help'.
SuffixA word part added to the END of a base word that changes the word's meaning.In the word 'helpful', the suffix is '-ful'.
Suffix: -fulThis suffix means 'full of'.The word 'joyful' means 'full of joy'.
Suffix: -lessThis suffix means 'without'.The word 'fearless' means 'without fear'.
Suffix: -lyThis suffix changes a word to describe how something is done. It often means 'in a __ way'.The word 'slowly' means 'in a slow way'.
Suffix: -erThis suffix can mean 'a person who does something'.A &#...
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Key Rules & Conventions
The Word Detective Formula
Base Word + Suffix = New Word
To understand a new word, first find the base word you already know. Then, look at the suffix that was added to the end to change it.
The Meaning-Maker Formula
Meaning of Base Word + Meaning of Suffix = Meaning of New Word
Think about what the base word means. Then, think about what the suffix means. Add those two ideas together to figure out the new word's meaning.
Watch for Spelling Changes
Sometimes you have to drop a letter or double a letter before adding a suffix.
When adding a suffix to a word that ends in 'e' (like 'bake'), you often drop the 'e' to make 'baker'. For short words like 'run', you double the last letter to make 'runner'.
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Sign Up Free to ContinueSample Practice Questions
Challenging
Read the sentence: 'The new toy was very breakish.' Even though 'breakish' is not a real word, what does the suffix '-ish' probably mean here?
A.sort of or somewhat
B.will not ever
C.a person who
D.the most
Challenging
A story says: 'The day was gray and hopeless. The rain was endless.' How do the suffixes in 'hopeless' and 'endless' make the reader feel?
A.Happy and excited
B.Sad and gloomy
C.Confused and curious
D.Angry and frustrated
Challenging
Which sentence has a mistake in how the suffix is used?
A.The powerful lion roared loudly.
B.The kitten was playful and cute.
C.Her sadness was clear to everyone.
D.He was the most helpy person I know.
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