Helping Your Students Grow with Prefix and Suffix Activities

Familiarity with suffixes can be extremely helpful for young readers and writers. Knowing them can help them break down unfamiliar words and determine their meanings, making reading comprehension easier. This knowledge will also expand their vocabulary without requiring them to memorize every new word. Additionally, knowledge of suffixes can also improve students’ writing skills by allowing them to create more precise and nuanced writing. However, it takes a lot of practice to master those skills, and we’re here to help!

What Do the Prefixes “-ty” and “-ity” Mean? Practice with a Suffix Worksheet

The suffixes -ty and -ity are used to form abstract nouns from adjectives or other nouns. The suffix -ty is typically used with adjectives, and when added to the end of a word, it creates a noun that represents the quality or state described by that adjective. For example, adding -ty to the adjective “majestic” results in the noun “majesty,” which refers to the quality of being majestic.

Similarly, the suffix -ity is used to form abstract nouns from adjectives or other nouns, but it is more commonly used with adjectives. This suffix also creates a noun that represents the quality or state described by the original word. For example, adding -ity to the adjective “honest” results in the noun “honesty,” which refers to the quality of being honest.

No-Prep Suffix Worksheets for Kids

Because this resource includes an answer sheet, we recommend you print one copy of the entire file. Then, make photocopies of the blank worksheet for students to complete.  

You can also turn this teaching resource into a sustainable activity! Print a few copies on cardstock and slip them into dry-erase sleeves. Students can record their answers with a dry-erase marker, and then erase and reuse them. 

Additionally, project the worksheet onto a screen and work through it as a class by having students record their answers in their notebooks.

Before You Download

Use the dropdown icon on the Download button to choose between the PDF or Google Slides version of this resource. An answer key is also included with this download.

Get more handy worksheets here!  

Katy Blevins, a teacher in Georgia and Teach Starter collaborator contributed to this resource.

Paired with the right resources, this worksheet will provide a definite boost to your student’s vocabularies. Grab these while you’re here!

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Playing with Prefixes Board Game

Practice building and using words with common prefixes with a fun prefix board game.

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Prefixes and Suffixes Slide Deck

Help your students determine the meanings of prefixes and suffixes with an instructional slide deck.

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Prefixes Interactive Teaching Presentation

Teach your students to correctly identify, define, and spell words that include common prefixes with an interactive teaching presentation.