Superlatives Suffixes –able, -ful, -ous Grade 4 lesson 14 Superlatives Suffixes –able, -ful, -ous

Superlatives Vowel Suffix –est = the most Superlatives are words we use to compare 3 or more items to show which one is the most….above and beyond the others. Prefix SUPER = Above; Beyond (Superman) We use vowel suffix –est to show the superlative form: fastest, thinnest, happiest. Vowel Suffix –est = the most

Adding Vowel Suffixes Example: thin + est = thinnest When you add a vowel suffix to a base word, you MUST know if the final syllable of the base word has a short or long vowel sound. DOUBLING RULE: When you hear a base word with a short vowel sound, double the final consonant before adding the vowel suffix. Example: thin + est = thinnest He is the thinnest of all the boys in the class.

“JUST ADD” VOWEL SUFFIX When we have a base word, and we add a VOWEL suffix…we check the last 3 letters of the base word. IF we have 2 consonants in the FINAL position of the base word, we can “JUST ADD” the vowel suffix! swift + est = swiftest fast + est = fastest IF we have a vowel team in the last 3 letters of the base word, we can “JUST ADD” the vowel suffix! (digraph / dipthong ow and ou count as a vowel team!) slow + est = slowest

Changing Rule We know that a SUFFIX is a VOWEL SUFFIX if the FIRST letter of the suffix is a vowel. -ing, -er, -est When you add a vowel suffix to a base word with vowel Y in the final position, you must change the Y to i before adding the suffix unless the suffix begins with the letter i. Base Word: happy + est = happiest Today is the happiest I have ever seen her!

Vowel Suffix -able = able to Key Words: likeable, loveable (Changes a verb to an adjective)

Vowel Suffix - ous = having or full of Key Words: famous, nervous (Changes a noun to an adjective)

-ful = full of; amount needed to fill Keywords: hopeful, helpful Consonant Suffix -ful = full of; amount needed to fill Keywords: hopeful, helpful Usually an adjective

SPELLING WORDS gloomiest fastest thinnest heaviest swiftest slimmest fanciest lightest happiest slowest shiniest oddest nervous careful likeable perilous delightful loveable beautiful disagreeable