| Suffix | Meaning | Changes … |
|---|---|---|
| -ment | act or process | a verb (pay) to a noun (payment) |
| -ness | state of | an adjective (kind) to a noun (kindness) |
| -y | having the quality of | a noun (dirt) into an adjective (dirty) |
A suffix changes the meaning of a base word and how the word is used in a sentence. For example, the word grit is a noun that means “a tiny piece of sand or stone.” If you want to describe something that feels like sand, you could add the suffix -y and make the adjective gritty. Sometimes you need to change the spelling of the base word when you add a suffix.
| base word | suffix | |||
| grit | + | -y | = | gritty |
Define Words Work with a partner. Cover the suffix in each word below. Tell the meanings of the base word and the suffix, using the chart above. Discuss how the suffix changes the base word. Use the word in a sentence to tell about the selection “Earthquake.”
1. equipment
2. kindness
3. forgiveness
4. foggy
5. thirsty
SOCIALSCIENCE
1 Research Earthquake Safety How can families prepare for an earthquake? Use magazines, books, or the Internet to find out.
Find out about earthquake preparedness.
Internet InsideNG.com2 Write a Safety Article Give an explanation of how to prepare for an earthquake. Write a list of steps that people can follow to stay safe at home if an earthquake happens. Put the steps in order.
3 Read the Article Read your article to the class. Ask your listeners to name one thing they learned from your explanation.
For safety, a water heater should be attached to the wall properly.