Whats the Suffix? | Printable 3rd Grade Worksheets - Free Printable

You're looking at a suffix worksheet titled “What’s the Suffix?”. The goal is to match each root word on the left with the correct suffix (from the list at the top) to form a new word that matches the meaning given on the right.

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✔ Step-by-step Solution:

First, let’s list the suffixes available from the top of the page:
> -less, -ful, -er, -est, -ward

Now, let’s go line by line and fill in the blanks.

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#### 1. home → ____________ → without a home
→ Add -less → homeless = without a home
✔ Answer: -less

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#### 2. read → ____________ → one who reads
→ Add -er → reader = one who reads
✔ Answer: -er

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#### 3. sad → ____________ → the state of being sad
→ Add -ness? Wait — but -ness isn’t in our suffix list!
Let’s check again — the suffixes are: -less, -ful, -er, -est, -ward

Hmm… none of these directly make “sadness”. But maybe it’s a trick? Let’s look at other options.

Actually — “sad” + “-ness” is correct, but since -ness is not listed, perhaps this is an error? Or maybe we’re missing something.

Wait — let’s read the instruction again:
> “In the blank, write the root word with the correct suffix to make a word that matches the meaning.”

It says “write the root word with the correct suffix”, so maybe we need to add the suffix to the root word and write the full word? But the blank is after the root word, so likely just the suffix.

But none of the given suffixes turn “sad” into “the state of being sad”.

Let’s double-check — maybe it’s “sadder”? No, that’s comparative, not “state”.

Actually — this might be a mistake in the worksheet, or perhaps it’s expecting “sad” + “-ness”, but since it’s not in the list, let’s skip for now and come back.

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#### 4. thank → ____________ → full of thanks
→ Add -ful → thankful = full of thanks
✔ Answer: -ful

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#### 5. merr → ____________ → one who plays merrily
Wait — “merr”? That’s probably a typo. It should be “merry”.

So: merry → add -er → merrier? No — “merry” + “-er” = merrier? Not quite.

Actually, “one who plays merrily” — maybe “merrymaker”? But that’s not using the given suffixes.

Wait — perhaps it’s “merry” + “-er” = “merrier”**? That doesn’t fit.

Alternatively — if it’s “merr” as root, then “merr” + “-er” = “merrier”? Still doesn’t make sense.

This one is confusing. Maybe it’s meant to be “merriment”? But again, not matching suffixes.

Let’s look at the example:
> Example: hope → hopeless → able to be hoped? No — wait, example says:
> “Example: hope _________ able to be hoped” — that doesn’t make sense either.

Wait — the example says:
> “Example: hope _________ able to be hoped” — that’s wrong. It should be “hopeless” = not able to be hoped.

Actually, looking closely — the example is:

> Example: hope _________ able to be hoped — that’s incorrect grammar. Probably meant to say “not able to be hoped” or “without hope”.

So perhaps the worksheet has some errors.

Let’s try to solve based on common knowledge and best fit.

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Back to #3: sad → state of being sad → sadness — but no -ness suffix. So maybe it’s a mistake.

Perhaps it’s “sad” + “-est” = “saddest”? But that’s superlative, not “state”.

Not fitting.

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#### 6. east → ____________ → towards the east
→ Add -ward → eastward = towards the east
✔ Answer: -ward

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#### 7. quick → ____________ → in a quick way
→ Add -ly? But -ly not in list.
Add -er? quicker — comparative, not “in a quick way”.
Add -est? quickest — superlative.
None really fit.

Wait — “in a quick way” = quickly — but again, no -ly.

Maybe it’s “quick” + “-ly”, but not in suffix list.

This is problematic.

Perhaps it’s “quick” + “-er” = “quicker”, but that doesn’t mean “in a quick way”.

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#### 8. tall → ____________ → the most tall
→ Add -est → tallest = the most tall
✔ Answer: -est

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🧩 Re-evaluating Problematic Ones:

Let’s assume the worksheet may have typos or expects creative thinking.

For #3: sad → state of being sad → maybe they want “sadness”, but since -ness not available, perhaps skip or mark as error.

For #5: merr → one who plays merrily → if we assume it’s “merry”, then “merrymaker” is the word, but not using given suffixes. Maybe “merr” + “-er” = “merrier”? Doesn’t fit.

Wait — perhaps it’s “merr” as in “merriment”, but still.

Another idea: maybe “merr” is meant to be “mirth”? Then “mirth” + “-er” = “mirthier”? No.

This is tricky.

For #7: quick → in a quick way → perhaps “quickly”, but again, not in list.

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💡 Best Guess Based on Available Suffixes:

Let’s assign the most logical suffixes even if meanings aren’t perfect.

| # | Root | Suffix | Full Word | Meaning Match? |
|---|--------|--------|---------------|------------------------|
| 1 | home | -less | homeless | ✔ without a home |
| 2 | read | -er | reader | ✔ one who reads |
| 3 | sad | ??? | — | ✘ no good suffix |
| 4 | thank | -ful | thankful | ✔ full of thanks |
| 5 | merr | -er | merrier? | ✘ doesn't fit |
| 6 | east | -ward | eastward | ✔ towards the east |
| 7 | quick | -ly? | quickly | ✘ -ly not available |
| 8 | tall | -est | tallest | ✔ the most tall |

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✔ Final Answers (Best Possible):

Given the constraints, here’s the most reasonable completion:

1. -less
2. -er
3. *(No valid suffix — perhaps worksheet error; if forced, maybe -ness, but not listed)*
4. -ful
5. -er (assuming “merr” → “merrier” or “merry” → “merrymaker” is intended, but weak)
6. -ward
7. -ly (not in list — perhaps omit or mark error)
8. -est

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📝 Recommended Answer Sheet:

Since this appears to be a classroom worksheet, and assuming minor typos, here’s what you should write:

> 1. -less
> 2. -er
> 3. -ness *(even though not listed — it’s the only correct answer)*
> 4. -ful
> 5. -er *(assuming “merry” → “merrymaker” is intended, but technically not correct with given suffixes)*
> 6. -ward
> 7. -ly *(again, not listed — perhaps the worksheet meant “quick” + “-er” for “quicker”, but meaning doesn’t match)*
> 8. -est

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🚫 Conclusion:

The worksheet contains errors or omissions — specifically, -ness and -ly are needed for items 3 and 7, but they are not in the provided suffix list. This may be intentional to test critical thinking, or it may be a flaw in the worksheet design.

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✔ Corrected & Realistic Answers (for submission):

If you must use only the given suffixes (-less, -ful, -er, -est, -ward), then:

1. -less
2. -er
3. *(Leave blank or write “none” — no correct suffix)*
4. -ful
5. -er *(as best guess)*
6. -ward
7. *(Leave blank — no correct suffix)*
8. -est

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🎯 Final Boxed Answer:

```plaintext
1. -less
2. -er
3. (no valid suffix)
4. -ful
5. -er
6. -ward
7. (no valid suffix)
8. -est
```

> Note: Items 3 and 7 cannot be correctly answered with the given suffixes. This is likely an error in the worksheet.

Let me know if you’d like a version with corrected words or printable answer key!