Adding Suffixes to Base Words (-y, -ly)
Basics on the topic Adding Suffixes to Base Words (-y, -ly)
Adding Suffixes to Words
Sometimes we want to change something about a word. We may need a plural or to change the part of speech or to talk about opposites. We can use affixes to do this.
Affixes are letters or groups of letters that we add to base words to make these changes. There are two types of affixes:
Prefixes: You put them at the front of words. Here are some examples.
| Prefix | Base word | New word |
|---|---|---|
| un- | friendly | unfriendly |
| pre- | heat | preheat |
| re- | do | redo |
Suffixes: You add them to the end of words. Here are some examples.
| Suffix | Base word | New word |
|---|---|---|
| -s | dog | dogs |
| -ed | walk | walked |
| -er | jump | jumper |
There are other kinds of suffixes you can add to base words. Today, we will be learning about the suffixes -y and -ly. The suffix -y usually changes nouns into adjectives. The suffix -ly usually changes adjectives into adverbs. Below you can find rules for adding suffixes to base words in 3rd grade.
Adding Suffixes -y & -ly to Base Words (-y, -ly)
Just like people, words have families too: these are groups of related words. The most important family member is the root word. You can also call this the base word. We can make related words by adding prefixes and suffixes to words. In this article, you’ll learn about adding -y and -ly to base words to make new words. You often do this when you want to change the type of word, for example from a noun to an adjective, or an adjective to an adverb.
This article will teach you the adding suffixes rules, so you’ll know all about adding suffixes to base words in the 3rd grade. You’ll learn the rules for doubling consonants, dropping letters, adding letters, and swapping letters.
Adding Suffixes – Rules
Here are the rules for the suffix -y:
- If the noun is a CVC word, double the last letter and add -y.
- If the noun ends in a consonant then -e, drop the -e, and add -y.
- If the noun does not end in an -e, or is not a CVC word, just add the -y.
Here are the rules for the suffix -ly:
- If the adjective ends with -y, swap the -y for an -i, and add -ly.
- If the adjective ends with -le, drop the -le and add -ly.
- If the adjective does not end with -y or -le, just add -ly.
Rules for the Suffix -y
You usually add -y to a noun (for example wind) to make an adjective (for example windy).
| Base word | Rule | New word |
|---|---|---|
| fun | For consonant-vowel-consonant (CVC) words, double the last letter and add -y | funny |
| nut | For consonant-vowel-consonant (CVC) words, double the last letter and add -y | nutty |
| bag | For consonant-vowel-consonant (CVC) words, double the last letter and add -y | baggy |
| ice | For nouns that end in a consonant then -e, drop the -e and add -y | icy |
| ease | For nouns that end in a consonant then -e, drop the -e and add -y | easy |
| stone | For nouns that end in a consonant then -e, drop the -e and add -y | stony |
| dust | For nouns that don’t end in an -e, or are not CVC words, just add -y | dusty |
| leaf | For nouns that don’t end in an -e, or are not CVC words, just add -y | leafy |
| sugar | For nouns that don’t end in an -e, or are not CVC words, just add -y | sugary |
Rules for the Suffix -ly
You usually add -ly to an adjective (for example slow) to make an adverb (for example slowly).
| Base word | Rule | New word |
|---|---|---|
| happy | For adjectives that end with -y, swap the -y for an -i, and add -ly. | happily |
| pretty | For adjectives that end with -y, swap the -y for an -i, and add -ly. | prettily |
| angry | For adjectives that end with -y, swap the -y for an -i, and add -ly. | angrily |
| probable | For adjectives that end with -le, drop the -le and add -ly. | probably |
| capable | For adjectives that end with -le, drop the -le and add -ly. | capably |
| sensible | For adjectives that end with -le, drop the -le and add -ly. | sensibly |
| eager | For adjectives that don’t end with -y or -le, just add -ly. | eagerly |
| sad | For adjectives that don’t end with -y or -le, just add -ly. | sadly |
| loud | For adjectives that don’t end with -y or -le, just add -ly. | loudly |
Adding Suffixes to Base Words – Summary
Now you know that a suffix is a letter or group of letters that is added onto the end of a base word.
- You can add an -y to the end of nouns to make adjectives.
- You can add an -ly to the end of adjectives to make adverbs.
Need a worksheet for the third grade to practice how to add suffixes to root words? You’ll find an adding suffixes to root words worksheet for 3rd grade after watching the video.
Transcript Adding Suffixes to Base Words (-y, -ly)
"Hey, it's wind! Look at that person going by quick!" "I think you meant it's windy, look at that person going by quickly." "You forgot your suffixes." "My what, now?" Let's help Pip learn all about suffixes by adding suffixes to base words. Suffixes are word parts that are added to the end of base, or root, words that can change the word meaning. Today, we will be learning about the suffixes -y and -ly. First, let's look at the different rules for the suffix, -y. The suffix -y usually changes nouns into adjectives. Here is the first rule: If the noun is a CVC word, double the last letter and add -y. For example, FOG is a CVC word, so double the -g, and add -y, to make the adjective, foggy. What about the noun, run? Run is also a CVC word, so double the -n and add -y, to make the adjective runny. Here is the next rule: If the noun ends in a consonant then -e, drop the -e and add -y. For example, breeze has a consonant then -e, so drop the -e and add -y, to make the adjective breezy. What about the noun, cheese? Cheese has a consonant then -e, so drop the -e and add -y, to make the adjective cheesy. Here is the final rule for the suffix -y: If the noun does not end in an -e, or is not a CVC word, just add the -y. Wind does not end in an -e, and is not a CVC word, so add y to the end, to make the adjective windy. What about the noun, cloud? Cloud does not end in an -e, and is not a CVC word, so add -y to the end, to make the word cloudy. Now, let's look at the suffix -ly. The suffix -ly usually changes adjectives into adverbs. Here is the first rule: If the adjective ends with -y, swap the -y for an -i, and add -ly. Merry ends with -y, so swap the -y for an -i and add -ly, to make the adverb merrily. What about the adjective, day? Day ends with a -y so swap the -y for an -i, and add -ly, to make the adverb daily. Here is the next rule: If the adjective ends with -le, drop the -le and add -ly. Terrible ends with -le, so drop the -le, and add -ly, to make the adverb terribly. What about the adjective, wobble? Wobble ends with -le so drop the -le, and add -ly, to make the adverb wobbly. Here is the final rule for the suffix -ly; If the adjective does not end with -y or -le, just add -ly. Quick ends in neither -y or -le. so just add -ly, to make the adverb quickly. What about the adjective, quiet? Quiet ends in neither -y or -le so just add -ly, to make the adverb quietly. While Koko and Pip finish up in the coffee shop, let's review! The suffix -y usually changes nouns into adjectives. The suffix -ly usually changes adjectives into adverbs. Here are the rules for the suffix -y. Here are the rules for the suffix -ly. It seems Dundee has been standing in this WINDY weather all this time. Maybe they're quietly people watching from outside the coffee shop!
Adding Suffixes to Base Words (-y, -ly) exercise
-
Add a suffix to the CVC word.
HintsOnly one choice is correct.
When adding suffixes to CVC words, double the last consonant and add -y.
Example: yum becomes yummy.Solution- When adding suffixes to CVC words, double the last consonant and add -y.
- Fog becomes foggy.
-
Which words do you use the suffix -y?
HintsWhen a word has a consonant, followed by the letter e on the end, we drop the e and replace it with the suffix -y.
Example: noise becomes noisy.
SolutionWhen a word has a consonant, followed by the letter e on the end, we drop the e and replace it with the suffix -y.
Cheese becomes cheesy and breeze becomes breezy. -
Add the suffix -ly.
HintsWhen an adjective ends in le, in order to add the suffix -ly, change the le to -ly.
Example: Terrible becomes terribly.
Wobble becomes wobbly.SolutionWhen an adjective ends in le, in order to add the suffix -ly, change the le to -ly.
- Cuddle becomes cuddly.
- Bubble becomes bubbly.
- Prickle becomes prickly.
- Crumble becomes crumbly.
-
Determine which suffix to use.
HintsWhen a word has a consonant, followed by the letter e on the end, we drop the e and replace it with the suffix -y.
Example: Noise becomes noisy.When an adjective ends in le, in order to add the suffix -ly, change the le to -ly.
Example: Terrible becomes terribly.
Wobble becomes wobbly.Solution- Gentle and docile both end with the letters le, so this is swapped for the -ly suffix.
Docile becomes docily.- Price and smoke both end with a consonant, and then the letter e, so the e is swapped for the -y suffix.
Smoke becomes smoky. -
Add the suffix -ly.
HintsLook for the root word to make a match.
Example: Secondary and secondarily. The root word is second.When an adjective ends in a y, change the y into an i, then add -ly. Example: Sleepy becomes sleepily.
Easy becomes easily.SolutionWhen an adjective ends in a y, change the y into an i, then add -ly.*
- Greasy becomes greasily.
- Tidy becomes tidily.
- Guilty becomes guiltily.
- Mighty becomes mightily.
-
Complete the word with -y or -ly.
HintsWhen adding suffixes to CVC words, double the last consonant and add -y.
Example: yum becomes yummy.When an adjective ends in a y, change the y into an i, then add -ly. Example: Sleepy becomes sleepily.
Easy becomes easily.When an adjective ends in le, in order to add the suffix -ly, change the le to -ly.
Example: Terrible becomes terribly.
Wobble becomes wobbly.When a word has a consonant, followed by the letter e on the end, we drop the e and replace it with the suffix -y.
Example: Noise becomes noisy.Solution- Bag is a CVC word, so double the g and add -y. Bag becomes baggy.
- Bone ends in a consonant and then e, so drop the e and add -y. Bone becomes bony.
- Happy ends in a y, so change the y to an i and add -ly. Happy becomes happily.
- Flexible ends in le, so drop the le and change for -ly. Flexible becomes flexibly.
