Letters added at the end of a root word to change its meaning Suffixes: Letters added at the end of a root word to change its meaning

-ible likely to be Ex. edible divisible flexible _______________

-or Someone who does Ex. inventor exterminator commentator _______________

-ful full of Ex. beautiful harmful colorful _______________

-less without Ex. senseless speechless emotionless ________________

-ian a person who is an expert in Ex. beautician technician musician ________________

-ly how something is; in a ________ way Ex. carefully quickly happily ________________

Let’s Practice If flex means “bend,” then flexible means: likely to be bent a person who bends Without being bent full of bending

Answer The answer is a because the suffix “ible” means likely to be. flex = bend flexible = likely to be bent

Let’s Practice If certain means “sure,” then certainly means: likely to be sure a person who is sure in a sure way full of sureness

Answer The answer is c because the suffix “ly” means how something is. certain = sure certainly = in a sure way

Let’s Practice If pain means “hurt,” then painful means: likely to be hurt a person who is hurt in a hurt way full of hurt

The answer is d because the suffix “ful” means full of. pain = hurt painful = full of hurt

-able able to Ex. manageable breakable huggable ________________

-ness state of being Ex. happiness calmness sadness ________________

-ist Someone who does or believes in Ex. dentist violinist scientist ________________

-ment result of, act of Ex. enjoyment environment government ________________

-ious like, full of Ex. vivacious luxurious furious ________________

-tion act of Ex. concentration protection graduation ________________

-sion act of Ex. tension progression confusion ________________

Let’s Practice If transport means “to move,” then transportable means: able to move from one place to another a person who moves in a moveable way full of moving

Answer The answer is a because the suffix “able” means able to. transport = move transportable = able to move

Let’s Practice Hairstylist probably means: full of hair a person who styles hair in a stylish way full of hair and style

Answer The answer is b because the suffix “ist” means someone who does. Hairstylist = Someone who styles hair

Let’s Practice If content means “happy,” then contentment means: able to be happy a person who is happy full of happiness the act of being happy

Answer The answer is d because the suffix “ment” means the act of. content = happy contentment = the act of being happy

In conclusion Suffixes are letters added at the end of a root word to change its meaning. Knowing what suffixes mean will help you better understand the meaning of unknown words.

You are now on your way to becoming a suffix expert! Congratulations You are now on your way to becoming a suffix expert!

This Suffix PPT was created by: Cristina de Cardenas 2012