Grammar - Suffixes

Beverly Schmitt 1997-2002, all rights reserved

Many of us that attended government school were not taught that suffixes or word endings will frequently give a clue as to what part of speech a word may belong (e.g., noun, verb, adjective, adverb). Yet, this is a relatively simple way in which to easily recognize what part of speech a word may belong. Week #2 Briefly review, via flashcards, noun/verb definitions, noun/verb tests, and suffixes from Week #1. Adjectives Definition: Explain to your young scholar(s) that an adjective is a word that describes a noun (i.e., person, place, thing, or idea). You may want to look under Adjectives on the Simple Grammar Games to begin to introduce this new concept. Adjective Test: Sound like a siren while saying, "Red Alert ! Red Alert ! Red Alert !" The Adjective Test is very simple. It is a fill-in-the-blank sentence. Fill in the blank with a word and makes sense. The Adjective Red Alert ! Test is ... Adjective Test: Very ________________ You are very _______________________. It is very __________________________. Examples: Very attractive. Very popular. Very happy. Very clever. Very careful. Very sentimental. Very interesting. Examples: You are very pretty. You are very smart. You are very energetic. You are very flexible. You are very strong. You are very talented. Examples: It is very cloudy. It is very rainy. It is very windy. It is very snowy. It is very beautiful. It is very annoying.

- able adjective suffix e.g., breakable, acceptable, excusable, endurable, lovable, reliable, enjoyable, laughable - less adjective suffix e.g., painless, merciless, faithless, careless, hairless, lawless, thoughtless, needless, comfortless - ful adjective suffix e.g., painful, powerful, useful, pitiful, merciful, grateful, faithful, joyful, meaningful, resentful - ity noun suffix e.g., actuality, reality, individuality, eventuality, electricity, publicity, potentality, gravity, assurity

Beverly Schmitt 1997-2002, all rights reserved

Need a Quick Review ? Adjective Game Anytime that your child pulls out paint or crayons / color pencils to color, look at the child conspiratorially. Hunch over and in a LOUD whisper state, "Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh ... don't tell anybody that I told you, but did you know that colors are adjectives !?! Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh ... if anybody finds out I told you, they will get mad ! Shhhhhhhhhhhh!!" In the same fashion, anytime your child plays with numbers, whether it be a toy clock, skip counting, etc. look at the child conspiratorially. Hunch over and in a LOUD whisper state, "Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh ... don't tell anybody that I told you, but did you know that numbers are adjectives !?! Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh ... if anybody finds out I told you, they will get mad! Shhhhhhhhhhhh!!" Do the above two adjective reminders a LOT as children learn from the repetitive, fun nature of things (if they did not, Nintendo, sports teams/companies, and entertainers would have been out of business a long time ago!)

Beverly Schmitt 1997-2002, all rights reserved

Flashcards: Cut on the solid lines and fold on the dotted line. Front Back

Adjective (Definition)
Beverly Schmitt 1997-2002

a word that describes a noun (i.e., person, place, thing, or idea)

Very _____; You are very ______; It is very ___________.

Adjective Test

e.g., Very attractive; Very popular; Very happy; You are very energetic. You are very flexible. You are very strong. It is very cloudy. It is very rainy.

Beverly Schmitt 1997-2002

Beverly Schmitt 1997-2002, all rights reserved

Flashcards: Cut on the solid lines and fold on the dotted line. Front Back

Adjective Suffix - able e.g., breakable, acceptable, excusable, endurable, lovable, reliable, enjoyable, laughable

Beverly Schmitt 1997-2002

Adjective Suffix - less e.g., painless, merciless, faithless, careless, hairless, lawless, thoughtless, needless, comfortless

Beverly Schmitt 1997-2002

Adjective Suffix - ful e.g., painful, powerful, useful, pitiful, merciful, grateful, faithful, joyful, meaningful, resentful

Beverly Schmitt 1997-2002

noun suffix - ity e.g., actuality, reality, individuality, eventuality, electricity, publicity, potentality, gravity,assurity

Beverly Schmitt 1997-2002

Beverly Schmitt 1997-2002, all rights reserved

Week #2 - Suffix Test

Beverly Schmitt 1997-2002, all rights reserved

Directions: Circle the correct part of speech 1. breakable

noun verb adjective adverb

12. individuality
noun verb adjective adverb

2. painless
noun verb adjective adverb

13. endurable
noun verb adjective adverb

3. painful
noun verb adjective adverb

14. careless
noun verb adjective adverb

4. actuality
noun verb adjective adverb

15. pitiful
noun verb adjective adverb

5. acceptable
noun verb adjective adverb

16. eventuality
noun verb adjective adverb

6. merciless
noun verb adjective adverb

17. lovable
noun verb adjective adverb

7. powerful
noun verb adjective adverb

18. hairless
noun verb adjective adverb

8. reality
noun verb adjective adverb

19. merciful
noun verb adjective adverb

9. excusable
noun verb adjective adverb

20. electricity
noun verb adjective adverb

10. faithless
noun verb adjective adverb

11. useful
noun verb adjective adverb

Week #2 - Suffix Test

Beverly Schmitt 1997-2002, all rights reserved

Answers 1. adjective 2. adjective 3. adjective 4. noun 5. adjective 6. adjective 7. adjective 8. noun 9. adjective 10. adjective 11. adjective 12. noun 13. adjective 14. adjective 15. adjective 16. noun 17. adjective 18. adjective 19. adjective 20. noun

Week #2 - Suffix Cumulative Test

Beverly Schmitt 1997-2002, all rights reserved

Directions: Circle the correct part of speech

1. delusion noun verb adjective adverb

11. covetousness noun verb adjective adverb

2. involvement noun verb adjective adverb

12. neglected noun verb adjective adverb

3. selfishness noun verb adjective adverb

13. enjoyable noun verb adjective adverb

4. neglected noun verb adjective adverb

14. thoughtless noun verb adjective adverb

5. reliable noun verb adjective adverb

15. faithful noun verb adjective adverb

6. lawless noun verb adjective adverb

16. explosion noun verb adjective adverb

7. grateful noun verb adjective adverb

17. fulfillment noun verb adjective adverb

8. publicity noun verb adjective adverb

18. seriousness noun verb adjective adverb

9. humiliation noun verb adjective adverb

19. irritated noun verb adjective adverb

10. argument noun verb adjective adverb

20. inspiration noun verb adjective adverb

Week #2 - Suffix Cumulative Test Answers

Beverly Schmitt 1997-2002, all rights reserved

Answers 1. noun 2. noun 3. noun 4. verb 5. adjective 6. adjective 7. adjective 8. noun 9. noun 10. noun 11. noun 12. verb 13. adjective 14. adjective 15. adjective 16. noun 17. noun 18. noun 19. verb 20. noun