English Language Arts
Grade 3
15 min
Sort words with shared suffixes by part of speech
Sort words with shared suffixes by part of speech
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Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Identify the suffix and root word in a given word.
Define noun, adjective, and adverb in their own words.
Recognize that a suffix can give a clue about a word's part of speech.
Explain how suffixes like '-ful', '-ly', and '-ness' change a word's meaning and job.
Sort a list of words with a shared suffix into categories based on their part of speech.
Use a word in a sentence to help determine its part of speech.
Have you ever noticed how words like 'helpful' and 'playful' seem like they are in the same family? 🤔 Let's become word detectives and uncover the secret endings that give them their special jobs!
In this lesson, we will learn about suffixes, which are special endings we add to word...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
SuffixA letter or group of letters added to the end of a word to change its meaning or its job.In the word 'colorful', the suffix is '-ful'.
Root WordThe main part of a word that has a meaning of its own. A suffix is added to the root word.In the word 'colorful', the root word is 'color'.
Part of SpeechA category that tells us the 'job' a word does in a sentence.Nouns, verbs, and adjectives are all parts of speech.
NounA word that names a person, place, thing, or idea.The word 'kindness' is a noun. It names an idea.
AdjectiveA word that describes a noun. It tells us more about a person, place, or thing.The word 'careful' is an adjective. You can be a 'careful' person.
AdverbA word that de...
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Key Rules & Conventions
The Adjective Suffix: '-ful'
Adding '-ful' to a root word often turns it into an adjective.
The suffix '-ful' means 'full of'. Use these words to describe nouns. For example, a 'helpful' friend is a friend who is 'full of help'.
The Noun Suffix: '-ness'
Adding '-ness' to a root word often turns it into a noun.
The suffix '-ness' means 'the state of being'. Use these words to name a feeling or quality. For example, 'happiness' is 'the state of being happy'.
The Adverb Suffix: '-ly'
Adding '-ly' to a root word often turns it into an adverb.
The suffix '-ly' often tells us 'how' an action is done. For example, to...
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Sign Up Free to ContinueSample Practice Questions
Challenging
A writer wants to describe a character who acts with courage. The writer changes the noun 'courage' into an adjective and an adverb. Which sentence correctly uses both new forms?
A.The courage hero acted with courageous.
B.The courageous hero acted courageously.
C.The courageously hero was full of courageous.
D.The hero was courage and acted with courageous.
Challenging
Read the rule: 'The suffix -en can turn a noun or an adjective into a verb meaning 'to make'.' Which sentence shows a word that was changed using this rule?
A.The wooden spoon was in the kitchen.
B.He opened the gift with excitement.
C.The baker will sweeten the frosting with sugar.
D.Ten birds sat on the power line.
Challenging
Which statement about suffixes and parts of speech is MOST accurate?
A.All words that end in -ly are adverbs.
B.The suffix -er always creates a noun that is a person.
C.Adding a suffix to a word never changes its meaning, only its part of speech.
D.Suffixes like -ful, -less, and -able usually create adjectives that describe nouns.
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