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Module 4

English
Decoding Words with Suffixes

A DepEd-BEAM Distance Learning Program supported by the Australian Agency for International Development
 To the Learner

Dear Learner,

Hi! How are you today?

In your previous module you’ve learned about prefixes. In this
module you will learn how to decode words with suffixes.

Let’s Learn This

This module will help you form new words by adding the accurate
suffixes. A suffix is a syllable added at the end of a rootword. This
suffix changes the meaning of the word.

Let’s Try This

A. The suffix able means capable of. For example, a wire that is
bendable can bend.
Directions: Add able to the words below. (If a word ends in a silent e,
you may need to drop the e before adding the suffix beginning with a
vowel.)
1. break _______ notice _______ reason ________

B. The suffixes en and ize mean to make or cause to be. Add en to the
words below.
bright ________ hard ________ sharp ________

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C. Add ize to the words below.
modern _______ tender ________ sterile _________

D. The suffix ist means one who does something. Add ist to the words
below.
type _______ violin ______ perfection _______

E. The suffix ous means having the quality of. Add ous to the words
below.
marvel _______ nerve ________ courage ________

Finished?
Were all your answers like these?

A. breakable B. brighten C. modernize

noticeable harden tenderize
reasonable sharpen sterilize

D. typist E. marvelous
violinist nervous
perfectionist courageous

*Let’s move on…

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 Let’s Study This

Read the paragraph. Study the underlined words.

The praying mantis is another garden friend. The praying

mantises are not only harmless but they are also helpful. They eat
insects that harm garden plants. They also eat flies and mosquitoes.
With their two legs which are large and provided with spines, they
strike their prey. Then they hold the insect securely and bring it to
their mouth.

Answer the questions.

1. How do praying mantises help us?
2. Is it good to kill them? Why?

- Study the words taken from the paragraph.

harmless helpful
- What is added at the end of each word?
- What do we call these syllables?
- A suffix as a word part added to the end of a word to change its
meaning.
- The suffix ant and ent mean a person or thing that does something.
- The suffix less means without; ative means having the nature of or
relating to; ive, means having or tending to be .

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Other Suffixes and their meanings

- ward = toward one side

- ish = somewhat; like
- ive = having the power of
- ic = condition of
- ness = condition of
- let = small
- able = able to do
- ment = act of
- al = act of

Look at the Table

Root word Suffix New Word

sleep less sleepless
imagine ative imaginative
talk ative talkative
impress ive impressive
class ic classic
boy ish boyish
act ive active
excite ment excitement
joy ful joyful

Read this sentence: Note the suffixes used.

1. Ben is a graceful dancer.
2. My teacher is strict.
3. The roads going to Baguio are dangerous.
4. My son wants to be a scientist.
5. The missionary was assigned to Africa.

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 Let’s Do This

Identify the correct meaning of the underlined word in each

sentence. Encircle the letter that carries your answer.

1. The children enjoy writing scripts of playlets.

a. funny games c. short plays
b. long stories d. a and b
2. A destructive earthquake struck Luzon on July 16, 1990, causing a
great loss of lives and properties.
a. ruinous or damaging
b. strong and lengthy
c. strong and frightening
d. right for the purpose

3. Before drinking river water you should purify it because it may be

polluted.
a. cleanse
b. clearness
c. fineness
d. correctness
4. Mariz is a creative individual.
a. original and artistic
b. believable
c. public
d. interior
5. Marita’s sister is boyish in her manner of dressing.
a. playful
b. a little boy
c. similar to a boy
d. all of the above

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* Are you done? Look at the answer key to check your answers.
* If your score is 4 or 5 “You’re Great”, go to the next module. But if
your score is 3 and below challenge yourself with the next activity.

Let’s Do More

Read each sentence carefully, and decide which suffix is

needed. From the choices in the parenthesis, pick the proper suffix to
complete the underlined word. Sometimes the new word needs to be
respelled. The first one is done for you.

1. The players were discouraged because the situation looked

hopeless.
( -ing, -ful, -less )

Start here:
2. She was trying to be care _____ with the fragile glassware.
( -ful, -ing, -full )
3. Mother tried to make their stay enjoy ______.
( -ment, -able, -ful )
4. Poor manage ________ resulted in the bankruptcy of their
business. ( -ment, -erial, -ness )
5. This plant has an odor _______ leaf.
( -ment, -ous, -ful )
6. We go to Baguio during summer to enjoy the cool______ of
the mountain air. ( -ity, -ation, -ness )

* Are you done? Look at the answer key again to check your answers.
* What’s your score? If your score is 4 or 5, you’ve done a great job but
if your score is 3 and below challenge yourself to do better in the next
activity.

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 Let’s Remember This

What are suffixes?

Suffixes are syllables added at the end of a word or the base
form of a word.
Example. graceful – grace is the base form while ful is the
suffix.
• You make another word when you add a suffix at the end of a
word.
• A suffix also changes the part of a speech of a word. A verb can
be a noun.
Example. teach + er = teacher
(verb) (suffix) (noun)

• We can also make nouns into adjective.

Example. joy + ful = joyful
(noun) (suffix) (adjective)
• An adjective can also be an adverb by adding the suffix –ly.
Example. joyful = joyfully

Let’s Test Ourselves

Read the following phrases carefully then look for their

meanings in the word bank below. Encircle the suffix in each word. The
first one is done for you.

1. place of entry entrance.

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Start Here:
2. out of breath ___________.
3. state of being excited ____________.
4. great surprise __________.
5. deep in thoughts ____________.
6. act of being comforted ____________.
7. made of wood ____________.

WORD BANK

entrance thoughtful
breathless comfortable
excitement wooden
astonishment

* Are you done? Look at the answer key again to check your answers.
* If your score is 5-6 Very Good! Answer the next module.
* If your score is 4 and below, answer “Let’s Enrich Ourselves”.

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 Let’s Enrich
Ourselves

Combine each root word and suffix to make a new word. The
first one is done for you.

Root Word Suffix New Word

1. observe ant observant

Start here:
2. differ ent ____________
3. contest ant ____________
4. sleep less ____________
5. imagine ative ____________
6. talk ative ____________
7. impress ive ____________
* Are you done? Look at the answer key again then check your
answers.
* How much did you get? ________
Great Job! Congratulations!

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 Answer Key

Let’s Do This Let’s Do More Let’s Test Ourselves

1. c 1. hopeless 1. entrance
2. a 2. careful 2. breathless
3. a 3. enjoyable 3. excitement
4. a 4. management 4. astonishment
5. c 5. enormous 5. thoughtful
6. coolness 6. comfortable
7. wooden

Let’s Enrich Ourselves

1. different
2. contestant
3. sleepless
4. imaginative
5. talkative
6. impressive

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