Suffixes Worksheet (Circling Part 1) - Students identify words with common suffixes by circling the correct word in each group.

Let’s go through each question step by step.

The task is to circle the word that has a suffix from this list:
er, or, ness, ment, ion, ist, ance, or ence

We’ll look at each group and pick the one with a suffix from that list.

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1. roof, roofs, roofing
→ “roofs” = plural (no suffix from list)
→ “roofing” = ends in “ing” — not on our list
→ Wait — none of these have a suffix from the list? But we must choose one.
Actually, “roofing” ends in “ing”, which is NOT on the list.
But let’s double-check the instructions: “Common suffixes include: er, or, ness, ment, ion, ist, ance, or ence.”
So “ing” is not included. Hmm. Maybe this is tricky.
Wait — perhaps “roofing” is meant to be chosen? But it doesn’t match.
Actually, looking again — maybe there’s an error? Or maybe I’m missing something.
Hold on — let’s check other questions first and come back.

Actually, let’s re-read the example:
Example A: starving, starvation, starve → Answer: starvation (because “-ation” is like “-ion”)
So “ion” is on the list — so “starvation” works.

Back to #1:
None of “roof”, “roofs”, “roofing” have er/or/ness/ment/ion/ist/ance/ence.
But “roofing” ends in “ing” — not on list.
Wait — maybe the worksheet expects us to pick the one that *looks* like it has a suffix?
Or perhaps I made a mistake.

Actually — let’s look at #2:

2. celebrates, cheer, celebration
→ “celebrates” = verb form, no suffix from list
→ “cheer” = base word
→ “celebration” = ends in “-ation” → which contains “ion” → YES! “ion” is on the list.
So answer: celebration

Okay, so for #1 — maybe “roofing” is not correct. Let’s think:
Is there any word here with “er”, “or”, etc.? No.
But wait — “roofs” is just plural.
Perhaps the worksheet has a trick? Or maybe I need to pick the one that is derived?
Actually — let’s look at #3:

3. artist, arts, art
→ “artist” = ends in “-ist” → YES! “ist” is on the list.
So answer: artist

4. brilliant, smart, brilliance
→ “brilliance” = ends in “-ance” → YES! “ance” is on the list.
Answer: brilliance

5. exciting, excited, excitable
→ “exciting” = “-ing” — not on list
→ “excited” = “-ed” — not on list
→ “excitable” = “-able” — not on list
Wait — none? But “excitable” might be considered? No, “able” is not on the list.
Hmm. This is odd.
Wait — maybe “exciting” is not, but “excited” isn’t either.
Actually — perhaps the worksheet intends “excitable” because it’s derived? But suffix must be from list.
Let’s skip and come back.

6. absence, absent, tardy
→ “absence” = ends in “-ence” → YES! “ence” is on the list.
Answer: absence

7. big, bigger, large
→ “bigger” = comparative, “-er” → YES! “er” is on the list.
Answer: bigger

8. fertile, fertilization, grow
→ “fertilization” = ends in “-tion” → which includes “ion” → YES!
Answer: fertilization

9. back, straight, backward
→ “backward” = ends in “-ward” — not on list
Wait — “backward” has “-ward”, not in list.
But “back” and “straight” are base words.
Hmm. None? But “backward” might be considered? No.
Wait — perhaps “backward” is not correct.
Actually — let’s check: “backward” ends in “-ward” — not in {er, or, ness, ment, ion, ist, ance, ence}
So maybe this is a trick? Or perhaps I misread.

Wait — “backward” — is “-ward” considered? No, not on list.
But let’s see #10:

10. telephone, phone, cell
→ None have suffixes from list. “phone” is short for telephone, but no suffix.
This is strange.

Wait — perhaps I need to reconsider. Maybe some words have hidden suffixes?

Let’s go back to #1:
“roofing” — if we consider “-ing” as a suffix, but it’s not on the list.
The list is specific: er, or, ness, ment, ion, ist, ance, ence.

So for #1 — none qualify? But that can’t be.
Wait — perhaps “roofs” is plural, but “roofing” is a gerund — still not matching.

Actually — let’s look at the example again:
Example: starving, starvation, starve → answer: starvation (because of “-ation” ≈ “-ion”)

So they accept “-ation” as containing “ion”.

Similarly, “-tion” contains “ion”.

So for #1 — “roofing” ends in “-ing” — not related.

But wait — is there a word like “roofer”? Not here.

Perhaps the worksheet has errors? Or maybe I’m missing something.

Let’s try #11:

11. move, movement, going
→ “movement” = ends in “-ment” → YES! “ment” is on the list.
Answer: movement

12. badly, bad, worse
→ “badly” = ends in “-ly” — not on list
→ “worse” = comparative, but not “-er” exactly? “worse” is irregular.
No suffix from list.
Hmm.

13. prevent, stop, preventable
→ “preventable” = ends in “-able” — not on list
Wait — “prevent” has no suffix.
But “preventable” — “-able” is not in the list.
Unless... “-able” is sometimes grouped, but the list is specific.

Wait — perhaps “preventable” is not correct.
But let’s see: “prevent” + “able” — “able” not in list.

14. serve, servant, served
→ “servant” = ends in “-ant” — not on list?
“ant” is not er/or/ness/ment/ion/ist/ance/ence.
“served” = “-ed” — not on list.
“serve” = base.

This is problematic.

Wait — let’s re-examine the list: “er, or, ness, ment, ion, ist, ance, or ence”

For #14: “servant” — is “-ant” considered? No, not in list.
But “servant” comes from “serve” + “-ant”, and “-ant” is a suffix, but not in the given list.

Perhaps the worksheet expects “servant” because it’s derived? But the instruction says “suffix from the list”.

Let’s go back to #5: “exciting, excited, excitable”
“excitable” — “-able” not in list.
But “excited” — “-ed” not in list.
“exciting” — “-ing” not in list.

None seem to fit.

Wait — perhaps I made a mistake in #1.

Another thought: maybe “roofing” is not, but let’s look at #9: “backward” — “-ward” not in list.

Perhaps the worksheet has a different intention.

Let’s list all answers based on what fits the suffix list:

1. None? But must choose. Perhaps “roofing” is intended, even though “ing” not on list? Unlikely.

Wait — let’s check online or standard knowledge.

Actually, upon second thought, for #1: “roofing” — if we consider that “-ing” is a suffix, but it’s not in the provided list. The list is explicit.

Perhaps the student is to circle the word that has ANY suffix, but the directions say “with the suffix” and then list common ones including those eight.

But in the example, they used “starvation” for “ion”.

So let’s assume that for words ending in “-tion”, “-sion”, etc., they count as “ion”.

Similarly, “-ance” and “-ence” are separate.

Now for #1: “roofing” — “-ing” is not related to any of the eight.

But let’s look at #10: “telephone, phone, cell” — no suffixes.

This is confusing.

Perhaps I need to select the word that is most likely to have a suffix from the list, even if not perfect.

But let’s try a different approach. Let’s go through each and see which one clearly has a suffix from the list.

1. roof, roofs, roofing — none have er/or/ness/ment/ion/ist/ance/ence.
But “roofing” has “ing” — not in list.
However, in some contexts, “-ing” is considered, but the list doesn't include it.
Perhaps this is a mistake, or perhaps “roofs” is plural, but “roofing” is the only derived form.
I think we have to skip or assume “roofing” is not correct.

Wait — let’s look at #13: “prevent, stop, preventable”
“preventable” — “-able” not in list.
But “prevent” has no suffix.
However, “preventable” might be considered to have “-able”, but not in list.

Perhaps for #13, “preventable” is not, but let’s see #14: “servant” — “-ant” not in list.

I recall that “-ant” is a suffix, but not in the given list.

Let’s list the correct ones first:

2. celebration — “ion” ✓
3. artist — “ist” ✓
4. brilliance — “ance” ✓
6. absence — “ence” ✓
7. bigger — “er” ✓
8. fertilization — “ion” ✓
11. movement — “ment” ✓

That’s 7 out of 14.

Now for the others:

1. ?
5. ?
9. ?
10. ?
12. ?
13. ?
14. ?

For #5: “exciting, excited, excitable” — none have the suffixes.
But “excitable” — if we consider “-able” as similar to “-ible”, but not in list.
Perhaps “excited” is not, but let’s see if “exciting” could be — no.

Another idea: perhaps “excitable” is meant to be chosen because it’s derived, but the suffix must be from the list.

Let’s check #12: “badly, bad, worse” — “badly” has “-ly”, not in list. “worse” is irregular comparative.

#13: “preventable” — “-able” not in list.

#14: “servant” — “-ant” not in list.

#9: “backward” — “-ward” not in list.

#10: “telephone” — no suffix.

#1: “roofing” — “-ing” not in list.

Perhaps the worksheet has a typo, or perhaps I need to choose the word that is most likely.

But let’s think about #1 again. Is there a word like “roofer”? Not here.

Perhaps “roofs” is not, but “roofing” is the only one with a suffix, even if not in the list.

But the directions say "with the suffix" and then list common ones, implying to choose from those.

In the example, they chose "starvation" for "ion", so they are strict.

For #5, "excitable" — if we consider that "able" is not in the list, but perhaps "excited" is not either.

Wait — let's look at #13: "preventable" — "able" is not in the list, but "prevent" is the base.

Another thought: for #14, "servant" — "ant" is not in the list, but "serve" is base.

Perhaps for #14, "served" has "ed", not in list.

I think there might be a mistake in my initial approach.

Let’s read the directions again: "Circle the word with the suffix in each group of words below. Common suffixes include: er, or, ness, ment, ion, ist, ance, or ence."

It says "include", not "only", so perhaps other suffixes are allowed, but the common ones are listed.

But in the example, they used "starvation" for "ion", so they are using the list as a guide.

For #1, "roofing" has "ing", which is a suffix, but not in the list.

Perhaps the student is to circle the word that has a suffix, and the list is just examples.

But the directions say "with the suffix" and then list common ones, so likely to choose from those.

Let’s try to find for each group which one has one of the eight suffixes.

1. roof, roofs, roofing — none have er/or/ness/ment/ion/ist/ance/ence.
But "roofing" has "ing" — not in list.
However, "roofs" is plural, which is a suffix, but "s" is not in the list.
So perhaps no correct answer, but that can't be.

Wait — let's consider "roofing" as having "ing", and since "ing" is a common suffix, but the list doesn't include it, so probably not.

Perhaps for #1, it's "roofing" by elimination, but I doubt it.

Let’s look at #9: "back, straight, backward" — "backward" has "ward", not in list.

#10: "telephone, phone, cell" — "telephone" has "phone", but no suffix from list.

I think I need to accept that for some, the answer is the one with a suffix even if not in the list, but that contradicts the example.

Another idea: for #5, "excitable" — if we consider that "able" is similar to "ible", but not in list.

Perhaps "excited" is not, but let's see the word "exciting" — no.

Let’s search for words that end with the suffixes.

For #12: "badly" — "ly" not in list.

Perhaps "worse" is not.

I recall that in some worksheets, they include "ly" or "ed", but here the list is specific.

Let’s list the answers as per the suffix list:

1. None — but must choose. Perhaps "roofing" is intended, as it is the only derived form.

But let's check online or standard answer.

Since I can't, let's assume that for #1, "roofing" is not correct, but perhaps "roofs" is plural, and "s" is a suffix, but not in list.

I think there might be a mistake in the worksheet or my understanding.

Let’s try #13: "prevent, stop, preventable" — "preventable" has "able", not in list, but "prevent" is base.

However, "preventable" might be considered to have "able", and "able" is a suffix, but not in the given list.

Perhaps for #14, "servant" has "ant", and "ant" is a suffix, but not in list.

Let’s look at #5 again: "exciting, excited, excitable" — "excitable" ends with "able", and "able" is a suffix, but not in the list of eight.

But in the list, "ence" and "ance" are there, but "able" is not.

Perhaps the student is to circle the word that has a suffix, and the list is just for reference.

But the example shows "starvation" for "ion", so they are using the list.

For #1, let's say "roofing" is not, but perhaps "roofs" is not either.

Another thought: in #1, "roofing" can be seen as "roof" + "ing", and "ing" is a suffix, and although not in the list, it is common, so perhaps it's accepted.

But the directions say "common suffixes include" and list those eight, so likely to choose from those.

Let’s count how many have the suffixes:

2. celebration - ion ✓
3. artist - ist ✓
4. brilliance - ance ✓
6. absence - ence ✓
7. bigger - er ✓
8. fertilization - ion ✓
11. movement - ment ✓

That's 7.

For the remaining 7, let's see if any have the suffixes.

1. ?
5. ?
9. ?
10. ?
12. ?
13. ?
14. ?

For #14: "servant" - if we consider "ant" as part of "ance" or something, but no.

"servant" ends with "ant", not "ance".

"ance" is like "importance", "ance" is a suffix.

"ant" is different.

Perhaps for #14, "served" has "ed", not in list.

Let’s consider #13: "preventable" - "able" not in list.

But "prevent" has no suffix.

Perhaps "preventable" is not, but let's see if "prevent" can be seen as having no suffix, "stop" no, "preventable" has "able".

I think I need to conclude that for some, the answer is the word with the suffix even if not in the list, but that's not consistent.

Let’s look at #5: "exciting, excited, excitable" — "excitable" might be chosen because it's the only one with a suffix, and "able" is a suffix, and perhaps it's included in "common suffixes" even if not listed.

But the list is explicit.

Another idea: for #1, "roofing" — if we consider that "ing" is not in the list, but "roofs" is plural, and "s" is a suffix, but not in list.

Perhaps the correct answer for #1 is "roofing" as it is the only one with a suffix.

Similarly for #9, "backward" has "ward", which is a suffix.

But the directions say "with the suffix" and then list common ones, so likely to choose from those eight.

Let’s try to see if any of the remaining have the suffixes.

For #10: "telephone" - "phone" is not a suffix; "telephone" is from "tele" + "phone", but "phone" is not a suffix in this context.

"cell" is base.

So no.

For #12: "badly" - "ly" is a suffix, but not in list.

" worse" - no suffix.

For #13: "preventable" - "able" is a suffix.

For #14: "servant" - "ant" is a suffix.

For #1: "roofing" - "ing" is a suffix.

For #5: "excitable" - "able" is a suffix.

For #9: "backward" - "ward" is a suffix.

So perhaps the worksheet intends for the student to circle the word that has a suffix, and the list is just examples of common ones, but not exhaustive.

In that case, for each group, circle the word that is derived with a suffix.

So:

1. roofing (suffix "ing")
2. celebration (suffix "ion")
3. artist (suffix "ist")
4. brilliance (suffix "ance")
5. excitable (suffix "able") — but "able" not in list, but let's say it's accepted.
6. absence (suffix "ence")
7. bigger (suffix "er")
8. fertilization (suffix "ion")
9. backward (suffix "ward")
10. telephone (suffix "phone"? but "phone" is not a suffix; "telephone" is a compound word. "phone" is a root. So perhaps no suffix. But "telephone" has "tele" and "phone", neither is a suffix in this context. So maybe "telephone" is not, but "phone" is short for it. This is messy.
11. movement (suffix "ment")
12. badly (suffix "ly")
13. preventable (suffix "able")
14. servant (suffix "ant")

But for #10, "telephone" — if we consider "phone" as a suffix, but it's not; it's a root.

Perhaps for #10, none have a suffix, but "telephone" is the only derived form.

I think for consistency, since the example used "starvation" for "ion", and "ion" is in the list, we should only choose words with suffixes from the list.

So for the groups where no word has a suffix from the list, perhaps it's a trick, but that can't be.

Let’s double-check #1: is "roofing" considered to have "ing", and "ing" is not in the list, so not.

But let's look at the word "roofs" — "s" is a suffix for plural, but not in list.

Perhaps for #1, the answer is "roofing" as it is the only one with a suffix, and the list is not exclusive.

I recall that in some curricula, they teach that "ing" is a suffix, and it's common, so perhaps it's included.

To resolve this, let's assume that the student is to circle the word that has a suffix, and the list is for guidance, but not limiting.

In that case, for each group, circle the word that is not the base form.

So:

1. roofing (derived from roof)
2. celebration (derived from celebrate)
3. artist (derived from art)
4. brilliance (derived from brilliant)
5. excitable (derived from excite)
6. absence (derived from absent)
7. bigger (derived from big)
8. fertilization (derived from fertile)
9. backward (derived from back)
10. telephone (derived from tele + phone, but "phone" is not a suffix; however, "telephone" is a word, and "phone" is a root, so perhaps "telephone" is the answer as it is the full form)
11. movement (derived from move)
12. badly (derived from bad)
13. preventable (derived from prevent)
14. servant (derived from serve)

For #10, "telephone" is the full word, "phone" is short for it, "cell" is unrelated, so "telephone" might be chosen.

For #12, "badly" is derived from "bad" with "ly".

For #13, "preventable" with "able".

For #14, "servant" with "ant".

So perhaps the answers are:

1. roofing
2. celebration
3. artist
4. brilliance
5. excitable
6. absence
7. bigger
8. fertilization
9. backward
10. telephone
11. movement
12. badly
13. preventable
14. servant

But for #5, "excitable" has "able", which is not in the list, but it's a suffix.

Similarly for others.

Since the example used "starvation" for "ion", and "ion" is in the list, for consistency, we should only choose words with suffixes from the list.

So for #5, none have er/or/ness/ment/ion/ist/ance/ence, so perhaps it's a mistake.

Let’s check if "excitable" can be seen as having "ible", but "ible" is not in the list.

"ence" and "ance" are there, but "able" is not.

Perhaps for #5, the answer is "excited" , but "ed" not in list.

I think I need to go with the initial 7 and for the others, choose the word with the suffix even if not in the list.

But to match the format, let's provide the answers as per the suffix list where possible, and for others, the derived word.

Perhaps for #1, "roofing" is not, but let's see the word "roofs" — if we consider "s" as a suffix, but not in list.

I found a better way: let's look for words that end with the exact suffixes.

For #1: no word ends with er, or, ness, ment, ion, ist, ance, ence.

For #5: no.

For #9: "backward" ends with "ward", not in list.

For #10: no.

For #12: "badly" ends with "ly", not in list.

For #13: "preventable" ends with "able", not in list.

For #14: "servant" ends with "ant", not in list.

So only 7 have the suffixes from the list.

But that can't be for a worksheet.

Unless for #1, "roofing" is considered to have "ing", and "ing" is a common suffix, so perhaps it's included in "common suffixes" even if not listed.

In many educational contexts, "ing" is taught as a suffix.

So perhaps the list is not exhaustive, and "ing" is acceptable.

Similarly, "ly", "ed", "able", "ant", "ward" are suffixes.

So for the sake of completing the task, I'll circle the word that has a suffix, and for the list, it's just examples.

So final answers:

1. roofing
2. celebration
3. artist
4. brilliance
5. excitable
6. absence
7. bigger
8. fertilization
9. backward
10. telephone (since "phone" is not a suffix, but "telephone" is the full word, and "cell" is unrelated, so "telephone" might be chosen as it is the only one with a prefix or something, but not. Perhaps "telephone" has "phone" as a root, so no suffix. But "phone" is a word, so "telephone" is derived. I think "telephone" is the answer as it is the only one that is not a simple word; "phone" is short for it, "cell" is different. So "telephone" )
11. movement
12. badly
13. preventable
14. servant

For #10, "telephone" is the best choice.

So let's write the answers.

But to be precise, for the ones with suffixes from the list, we have:

2,3,4,6,7,8,11

For the others, we'll choose the derived word.

So:

1. roofing
2. celebration
3. artist
4. brilliance
5. excitable
6. absence
7. bigger
8. fertilization
9. backward
10. telephone
11. movement
12. badly
13. preventable
14. servant

Now for the final answer, since the user wants the solution, I'll list them.

But the response should be the final answer as the circled words.

Since it's a worksheet, the final answer is the list of words to circle.

So for each number, the word to circle.

Let me write it clearly.

After careful consideration, here are the words to circle for each group:

1. roofing
2. celebration
3. artist
4. brilliance
5. excitable
6. absence
7. bigger
8. fertilization
9. backward
10. telephone
11. movement
12. badly
13. preventable
14. servant

This assumes that the student is to circle the word that has a suffix, and the list of common suffixes is for guidance, not limitation.

If we must stick strictly to the list, then for groups 1,5,9,10,12,13,14, there are no words with the listed suffixes, but that would be incorrect for a worksheet.

Given the example, I think this is acceptable.

So the final answer is the list above.

For the response, since the user wants the final answer, I'll provide it as the circled words.

But in the context, perhaps just list the words.

Since the instruction is to circle, but for text, we can list them.

So for the Final Answer section, I'll put the words.

But let's confirm with a standard approach.

Upon second thought, in many similar worksheets, for #1, "roofing" is chosen because "ing" is a suffix, and it's common.

Similarly for others.

So I think it's fine.

Final Answer:
1. roofing
2. celebration
3. artist
4. brilliance
5. excitable
6. absence
7. bigger
8. fertilization
9. backward
10. telephone
11. movement
12. badly
13. preventable
14. servant