Suffixes: -ful, -less, -ness, -ment, -ous
You learn to add the suffixes -ful, -less, -ness, -ment and -ous.
How to do the test
- Read the meaning.
- Choose the suffix: -ful or -ous for full of, -less for without, -ness or -ment for a noun.
- Add it to the end of the word and check the spelling.
A worked example
Type the new word. Add a suffix to "fame" to make a word that means "full of fame": ___
- The suffix -ous goes at the end of fame.
- The suffix -ous means full of.
- Drop the e from fame before adding -ous.
- The word is famous.
More examples
Type the new word. Add a suffix to "fear" to make a word that means "without fear": ___
- The suffix -less goes at the end of fear.
- The suffix -less means without.
- The word is fearless.
Type the new word. Add a suffix to "danger" to make a word that means "full of danger": ___
- The suffix -ous goes at the end of danger.
- The suffix -ous means full of.
- The word is dangerous.
Try it yourself
Type the new word.
Add a suffix to "fear" to make a word that means "without fear": ___
Type the new word.
Add a suffix to "move" to make a word that means "the act of moving": ___
Watch out
You leave the spelling of the base word as it is, as in happyness.
Check the join. After a consonant, y changes to i before -ness, and a final e is dropped before -ous.
Tips
- Read the meaning first. Without means -less, full of means -ful.
Why it works
A suffix goes at the end of a word and changes its meaning. -ful and -ous mean full of, -less means without, and -ness and -ment make a noun from another word.