What Are Suffixes? Word Endings Explained

What You'll Learn

• A suffix is a small letter group added to the END of a word that changes its meaning
• Suffixes are like word accessories — snap one on and the word means something new
• -ful means "full of" (playful = full of play)
• -less means "without" (careless = without care)
• -er means "a person who does" or "more" (teacher = one who teaches; bigger = more big)
• -ly turns a word into an action-describing word (quickly = doing it in a quick way)
• -ness turns a word into a feeling or state (happiness = the state of being happy)

Words to Know

Suffix

A small letter group added to the END of a word to change its meaning

"Careful" has the suffix "-ful."

-ful

Means "full of"

"Playful" means full of play.

-less

Means "without"

"Careless" means without care.

-er

Means "a person who does" or "more"

"Teacher" is one who teaches. "Bigger" means more big.

-ly

Turns a describing word into a how-you-do-it word

"Quickly" means doing it in a quick way.

-ness

Turns a describing word into a feeling or state

"Happiness" is the state of being happy.

Check What You Learned

Fun Facts

• A suffix is a group of letters added to the END of a base word that changes its meaning

  Source: CCSS / grammar references

• The suffix -ful means "full of" — careful means full of care, playful means full of play

  Source: Merriam-Webster / grammar textbooks

• The suffix -less means "without" — careless means without care, fearless means without fear

  Source: Merriam-Webster / grammar textbooks

• The suffix -er can mean "a person who does" (teacher = one who teaches) or "more" (bigger = more big)

  Source: CCSS / grammar textbooks

• The suffix -ly turns an adjective into an adverb — quickly = doing it in a quick way

  Source: grammar textbooks

• The suffix -ness turns an adjective into a noun meaning a state or quality — happiness = the state of being happy

  Source: grammar textbooks