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What is a suffix?

A suffix is a letter or group of letters that goes on the end of a word and changes the word's meaning.

Sometimes they also change the original word's spelling.

When adding a suffix you might have to double the last letter. For example, when adding -ed to 'drop', you need to double the 'p'.

drop → dropped

Some suffixes have specific uses.

Adding -ing can change a noun into a verb.

garden → gardening

While -ed can put a verb in the past tense.

jump → jumped

Watch: Using the suffixes -ed and -ing

Activity 1

Use the following words to fill in the gaps in the sentences below. The first one has been done for you.

• playing
• played
• sitting
• moved
• danced

1. My friend is sitting next to my parents.

2. I _ _ _ _ _ _ a game with my friends earlier.

3. I was _ _ _ _ _ _ outside earlier because it was sunny.

4. Last night I _ _ _ _ _ _ to a new song.

5. My family _ _ _ _ _ _ house last week.

Activity 2

First, read the words below.

• skipping
• skipped
• working
• worked
• painting

• painted
• looking
• looked
• dropping
• dropped

Now choose one word and write a sentence using that word. For example:

I painted a picture of a sunflower.

Try to do three sentences.

Don’t forget your capital letter to start the sentence and full stop, exclamation mark or question mark at the end.

Activity 3

1. Choose one of the root words below and add either -ing or -ed to give it a new meaning.

• wish
• sort
• lean
• watch

For example, ‘wish’ could become ‘wished’ or ‘wishing’.

2. Now write a sentence using your new word correctly. For example:

When I blew out the candles, I wished for a new bike.

3. Can you do this with one more word?