Suffix : Suffix for Class 3 English

The suffix definition and its usage and types are introduced in this chapter. Students will learn about vowel and consonant suffixes, common mistakes made while using suffixes and exceptions to their rules.

In this learning concept, the students will study:

• Uses of suffixes.
• Give a suffix word list.
• Using rules, the correct suffix spelling.

The class 3 English students are taught this concept using examples, illustrations, and concept maps. Self-assess your learning by attempting to solve the two printable chapter-based worksheets given at the end of the page.
Download the worksheets and check the solutions for the concept, prefix suffix, provided in the PDF format.

Suffix Definition :

• A suffix is a word component that is placed at the end of the main word. Some of the popular suffixes include ing, ed, ish, es, able, est, etc.
• A suffix often changes a word into a new part of speech. For example, when a suffix is added to a noun, a verb, or adjective, it changes the word into a noun.

Examples:

• child (a noun) is changed to childish (an adjective).
• act (a verb) is changed to actor (a noun).

Types of Suffixes:

a. Consonant Suffixes:These suffixes start with a consonant.

Examples:

1. ness – happiness
2. less – careless
3. ment – movement
4. ful – peaceful

b. Vowel Suffixes:These suffixes start with a vowel.

Examples:

1. ing - hopping
2. es - leaves
3. ed - raced
4. ish - reddish
5. age - package

 

     a. To the main word, directly add a consonant suffix.

         Example: Truth + ful = truthful

     b. Change the ‘y’ to an ‘i’ before adding the suffix, if the main word ends in a single ‘y’.

         Example: dizzy + ness = dizziness

 

2. Rules for Vowel Suffixes:

      a. Before adding a vowel suffix, check the main word. Add the vowel suffix if the main word ends in two consonants.

          Example: Add + ing = Adding

      b. Double the final consonant prior to adding the vowel suffix if the main word has a                         syllable, a vowel, and a final consonant.

          Example: Spin + ing = Spinning

      c. Omit the E before adding a vowel suffix. If the main word ends in a silent ‘e’, drop the ‘e’               before adding the vowel suffix.

          Example: Die + ed= Died

      d. Keep the final ‘e’. There are some words where the final ‘e’ stays with a word when a                   suffix is added. When the main word ends in the letters ‘ge’ or ‘ce’, and the suffix begins               with the letters ‘a’ or ‘o’, the final ‘e’ must be kept.

          Examples: i) courage + -ous = courageous 

 

                             ii) change + -able = changeable

 

      e. Keep the ‘e’ at the end of the word if it ends in ‘ye’ or ‘ye’.

          Examples: i) see + -ing = seeing

                             ii) agree + -ing = agreeing

       f. Keep the ‘e’ if using the suffix -ly.

           Examples: i) love + -ly = lovely

                              ii) rare + -ly=rarely

      g. For certain words ‘y’ must be kept at the end of a word when adding a suffix.

           Example: enjoy + -ed = enjoyed

      h. Keep the ‘y’ if the suffix starts with the letter ‘i’. There cannot be two ‘i’s’ in a word.

          Examples: i) worry + -ing = worrying

                             ii) carry + -ing = carrying

Mistakes

1. If a suffix ‘ful’ is added to a word it will have only one L and not two.

    Examples:

1. care+ful=careful

         care+full=carefull

     b. success+ful=successful

         success+full=successfull

The word full has the letter ‘l’ repeated twice, but the suffix ‘ful’ has only one ‘l’.

Exceptions

1. The doubling rule is not applicable to words that ends in ‘w’, ‘x’ or ‘y’.

Examples:

2. There are a few words with which the ‘e’ has to be kept even if a vowel suffix is added. These words need to be memorized as they are exceptions.

Examples:

like + -able = likeable

size + -able = sizeable

3. Exceptions for ‘y’ to ‘i' rule. The letters ‘y’ do not change to ‘i’ instead ‘y’ is kept when the new word is formed.

Example:

boy + -hood = boyhood