How to Learn New Words

Strategies for Building Vocabulary

UNIT 6: LEARN ABOUT SUFFIXES

You have already learned that a prefix is

(1) a group of letters
(2) added to the beginning of a word
(3) to change the word’s meaning.

Now you are ready to learn what a suffix is.

1. A suffix is also a group of letters that has its own meaning.

-Er is a suffix. -Er means “a person who.”

2. A suffix is added to the end of a word.

teach + er = teacher

3. A suffix changes the meaning of a word.

Teach means “to help someone learn.” A teacher is “a person who teaches, or helps someone learn.”

Activity 1. Look at the words in the Word Box. Then study each picture. Figure out the kind of work each person does. Write your answer on the line nearest each picture.

Word Box

builder painter trainer dancer driver

Answer: A. builder; В. painter; С. trainer; D. driver; E. dancer

The Suffix -ful

Another suffix is -ful. -Ful means “filled with.”

Example:

Wonder means “a feeling of surprise.”
Wonderful means “filled with surprise or wonder.”
The circus was wonderful.

Activity 2. All the words in the Word Box end with the suffix -ful. First study the words. Next read each paragraph. Then finish each paragraph with a word from the Word Box.

Word Box

harmful colorful wasteful careful cheerful

1. Juan has a cheery smile. He is always happy. Juan is a ______ boy.
2. Most snakes cause no harm. But others give off a poison when they bite. Learn the kinds of snakes that can be __________.
3. Gina plays with many toys. She takes good care of them. Gina is very __________________ about putting them away in her toy box.
4. Al never finishes his lunch. He wastes a lot of food. Throwing away good food is ___________.
5. Mary’s painting was very bright. She used many colors. Mary painted a ___________ picture.

Answer: 1. cheerful; 2. harmful; 3. careful; 4. wasteful; 5. colorful

Activity 3. Write the correct -ful word for each meaning below.

1. filled with wonder ___________
2. filled with cheer ___________
3. filled with harm ___________
4. filled with care ___________
5. filled with waste ___________

Answer: 1. wonderful; 2. cheerful; 3. harmful; 4. careful; 5. wasteful

Jack-in-the-Box’s rule number 6
for learning words: Learn the meanings of -er and -ful. Remember how -er and -ful
change word meanings.

Suffix Crossword Puzzle Number 1

Activity 4. Read the word meanings below the crossword puzzle. Next think of a word you have learned that goes with each meaning. Then write each word in the puzzle. Be sure to follow the numbers across and down. The letters in the puzzle will help you.

Across:

2. filled with wonder
4. a person who paints
5. a person who dances
7. filled with color
9. filled with harm
11. filled with cheer

Down:

1. a person who trains animals
2. filled with waste
3. filled with care
5. a person who drives
6. a person who builds
8. a person who works with jewels
10. a person who teaches

Answer:

Across: 2. wonderful; 4. painter; 5. dancer; 7. colorful; 9. harmful; 11. cheerful

Down: 1. trainer; 2. wasteful; 3. careful; 5. driver; 6. builder; 8. jeweler; 10. teacher

Compiled by Erin Bouma

to be continued