Common Suffixes and Their Meanings

Front

-ful

Back

full of (e.g., hopeful, joyful)

Tags

CCSS.RF.4.3A

CCSS.RF.5.3A

CCSS.L.3.4B

CCSS.RF.3.3A

CCSS.L.3.4C

Front

-less

Back

without (e.g., hopeless, fearless)

Tags

CCSS.RF.4.3A

CCSS.L.3.4B

CCSS.L.3.4C

CCSS.RF.3.3A

CCSS.RF.3.3B

Front

-ly

Back

in a way (e.g., quickly, softly)

Tags

CCSS.RF.4.3A

CCSS.L.3.4B

CCSS.L.3.4C

CCSS.RF.3.3B

CCSS.RF.5.3A

Front

-er/-or

Back

person who does something (e.g., teacher, actor)

Tags

CCSS.L.1.5A

CCSS.L.1.5B

CCSS.L.K.5A

Front

-est

Back

most (e.g., biggest, fastest)

Tags

CCSS.RF.1.3F

CCSS.L.K.4B

CCSS.L.9-10.4B

CCSS.L.11-12.4B

Front

-ness

Back

state of being (e.g., kindness, darkness)

Tags

CCSS.RF.4.3A

CCSS.RF.3.3A

CCSS.RF.5.3A

CCSS.L.3.4B

CCSS.L.3.4C

Front

-ment

Back

action or process (e.g., enjoyment, movement)

Tags

CCSS.RF.4.3A

CCSS.L.3.4C

CCSS.RF.3.3A

CCSS.RF.3.3B

CCSS.RF.5.3A

Front

-tion/-sion

Back

act or state (e.g., action, tension)

Tags

CCSS.L.3.2E

CCSS.L.2.4B

CCSS.L.2.4C

Front

-able/-ible

Back

capable of (e.g., readable, visible)

Front

-y

Back

characterized by (e.g., sunny, sticky)

Tags

CCSS.HSF.LE.B.5