Find the Suffix worksheet for identifying suffixes in words, ideal for language learning.

Let's solve the problem step by step.

Understanding the Task

The goal is to circle the word in each line that contains a suffix.
A suffix is a group of letters added to the end of a base word to change its meaning or grammatical function (e.g., turning a verb into an adjective or noun).

We need to look at each line and identify which word has a suffix (like -er, -est, -ly, -ful, -less, -ing, etc.).

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Step-by-Step Analysis

We’ll go through each line:

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1. rubber calm cry asking
- *rubber*: "rub" + "er" → "er" is a suffix (often makes a noun from a verb)
- *calm*: no suffix
- *cry*: no suffix
- *asking*: "ask" + "ing" → "ing" is a suffix (present participle)

But the instruction says: circle the word that contains a suffix — so both rubber and asking have suffixes.
But since we are to circle only one per line, we must pick the best one.

Wait — let’s check if there’s only one correct answer per line.

Looking closely, "asking" ends in -ing, which is a clear suffix.
"rubber" ends in -er, which is also a suffix. But sometimes "-er" can be part of a root word.

But in this context, both are valid. However, let's see what’s expected.

Actually, "asking" is more clearly a verb with a suffix (-ing), while "rubber" is a noun formed from "rub" + "er", which is also a suffix.

But let’s keep going — maybe we’ll see a pattern.

Wait — perhaps the question wants us to find any word with a suffix, and circle it.

So for now, both "rubber" and "asking" have suffixes.

But let’s assume only one per line is intended.

Let’s examine further.

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But actually, let's just identify which word in each line has a suffix.

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Line-by-Line Analysis

1. rubber – "rub" + "er" → suffix -er
asking – "ask" + "ing" → suffix -ing
→ Both have suffixes, but likely "asking" is the intended answer because "-ing" is a common suffix used in verbs.

But wait — the word "rubber" is a noun made from a verb ("rub") with suffix "-er" → yes, suffix.

So two words have suffixes? That might be possible.

But the directions say: “Circle the word in each line that contains a suffix.” (singular)

So probably only one per line.

Let’s check all lines carefully.

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2. ease mitten driver dry
- *ease*: no suffix
- *mitten*: "mitt" + "en"? Not really — "mitten" is a base word, not derived with suffix
- *driver*: "drive" + "r" → suffix -er
- *dry*: no suffix
→ driver has suffix -er

3. try illness paper base
- *try*: no suffix
- *illness*: "ill" + "ness" → suffix -ness (makes a noun)
- *paper*: "paper" is base, or "pap" + "er"? Possibly, but "paper" is often considered base
- *base*: no suffix
→ illness has suffix -ness

4. alter rude happier buy
- *alter*: no suffix
- *rude*: no suffix
- *happier*: "happy" + "er" → suffix -er (comparative)
- *buy*: no suffix
→ happier has suffix -er

5. make hopeful anger guy
- *make*: no suffix
- *hopeful*: "hope" + "ful" → suffix -ful (means "full of")
- *anger*: no suffix
- *guy*: no suffix
→ hopeful has suffix -ful

6. cloudy fry watch amber
- *cloudy*: "cloud" + "y" → suffix -y (adjective form)
- *fry*: no suffix
- *watch*: no suffix
- *amber*: no suffix
→ cloudy has suffix -y

7. her sit lifelike my
- *her*: no suffix
- *sit*: no suffix
- *lifelike*: "life" + "like" → suffix -like
- *my*: no suffix
→ lifelike has suffix -like

8. selfish cheer joke rye
- *selfish*: "self" + "ish" → suffix -ish (means "having the quality of")
- *cheer*: no suffix
- *joke*: no suffix
- *rye*: no suffix
→ selfish has suffix -ish

9. kneel wry active steer
- *kneel*: no suffix
- *wry*: no suffix
- *active*: "act" + "ive" → suffix -ive (adjective-forming)
- *steer*: no suffix
→ active has suffix -ive

10. near foot lovely silly
- *near*: no suffix
- *foot*: no suffix
- *lovely*: "love" + "ly" → suffix -ly (adverb or adjective)
- *silly*: "silly" is base, but "silly" = "sill" + "y"? Yes, but "silly" is a base word
Actually, "lovely" has suffix -ly
"silly" ends in -y, but "silly" is a base word — not derived like "cloudy"

Wait: "lovely" = love + ly → -ly is a suffix

"silly" = base word

So lovely has suffix -ly

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Now let’s compile the answers:

| Line | Word with Suffix | Suffix |
|------|------------------|--------|
| 1 | asking | -ing |
| 2 | driver | -er |
| 3 | illness | -ness |
| 4 | happier | -er |
| 5 | hopeful | -ful |
| 6 | cloudy | -y |
| 7 | lifelike | -like |
| 8 | selfish | -ish |
| 9 | active | -ive |
|10 | lovely | -ly |

But wait — back to line 1:
- rubber → has suffix -er
- asking → has suffix -ing

Which one should we circle?

Possibly asking is better because -ing is a clear suffix indicating present participle.

But rubber also has -er, which is a suffix.

However, in many educational contexts, -ing is more clearly a suffix than -er when it comes to forming verbs.

But -er is also a suffix.

But let’s consider: "rubber" is a noun, formed from "rub" + "er" → "er" means "one who does something" → suffix.

So both are valid.

But the worksheet may expect asking because it’s more obviously a suffix.

Alternatively, maybe rubber is not considered to have a suffix here?

Wait — let’s double-check.

In some curricula, "rubber" is taught as having the suffix -er, especially in grade-level suffix lessons.

But "asking" is clearly a verb ending in -ing, which is a standard suffix.

But let’s look at the other lines — they are all very clear.

For line 1, "asking" is the only word that clearly ends in a suffix that changes the word class (from "ask" to "asking" — verb to present participle).

"Rubber" is a noun, but "rub" is a verb, and "rubber" is a person who rubs — so it's a noun formed with suffix.

But perhaps both are acceptable.

But since the directions say "the word", singular, we must pick one.

Let’s see: In line 1, "asking" is the most obvious suffix.

Also, "rubber" might be seen as a compound or base word in some contexts.

But I think "asking" is safer.

Wait — let’s look at line 1 again:
- rubber
- calm
- cry
- asking

Only asking ends in -ing, which is a suffix.

"Rubber" ends in -er, which is also a suffix.

But perhaps the teacher expects asking.

But let’s compare to line 2: driver — clearly -er suffix.

So -er is accepted.

Thus, both rubber and asking have suffixes.

But since we can only circle one, and asking is more clearly a suffix in action (as a verb form), I’ll go with asking.

But let’s check online or standard curriculum.

In many 2nd-grade worksheets, "asking" is used as an example of -ing suffix.

Similarly, "driver" is -er.

So likely, asking is the intended answer.

But rubber also has -er.

Wait — "rubber" is a noun, but it’s not a person — it’s a thing. So maybe not a typical -er suffix.

Actually, "rubber" refers to a person who rubs? Or material?

"Rubber" can mean a person who rubs (rare), or the material.

But in modern usage, "rubber" is a material, not a person.

So "rubber" may not be formed with -er.

But historically, "rubber" comes from "to rub" + "-er", meaning "one who rubs".

But today, it's used as a material.

So perhaps "rubber" is not considered to have a suffix in this context.

Whereas "asking" is clearly "ask" + "ing" — a verb form.

So asking is the better choice.

Similarly, in line 4, happier = "happy" + "er" → suffix.

So -er is accepted.

But rubber may not be considered.

So final decision: asking has suffix -ing.

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✔ Final Answers:

1. asking
2. driver
3. illness
4. happier
5. hopeful
6. cloudy
7. lifelike
8. selfish
9. active
10. lovely

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✔ Explanation:

Each circled word contains a suffix:
- asking → -ing (present participle)
- driver → -er (agent noun)
- illness → -ness (noun-forming)
- happier → -er (comparative adverb/adjective)
- hopeful → -ful (adjective-forming)
- cloudy → -y (adjective-forming)
- lifelike → -like (adjective-forming)
- selfish → -ish (adjective-forming)
- active → -ive (adjective-forming)
- lovely → -ly (adjective/adverb-forming)

These suffixes help identify the word type and add meaning.

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🟩 Answer Key:

1. asking
2. driver
3. illness
4. happier
5. hopeful
6. cloudy
7. lifelike
8. selfish
9. active
10. lovely

✔ Circle these words on the worksheet.