Teach Word Building with Derivational Suffix Worksheets

Do your students understand that adding a suffix to a word not only changes its meaning, but also its grammatical function? If not, then it’s time to teach them about derivational suffixes!

Derivational suffixes are powerful tools that change the meaning of a base word and often its grammatical category, e.g. transforming a verb into a noun, a noun into an adjective, or an adjective into a verb. This 9-page worksheet pack has been created by our team to teach these different types of derivational suffixes to your students. Through a variety of engaging activity sheets, students will learn how different types of derivational suffixes can transform words, building word awareness while also developing key reading, writing and spelling skills.

The derivational changes featured in this worksheet pack include:

• Verbs into nouns (perform → performance)
• Verbs into adjectives (attract → attractive)
• Adjectives into nouns (warm → warmth)
• Nouns into adjectives (danger → dangerous)
• Nouns into verbs (bath → bathe)
• Adjectives into verbs (modern → modernise)

This resource downloads as a black-and-white PDF or editable Google Slides file. The download also includes an answer key to make marking the worksheets fast and easy. 

Flexible Ways to Teach Derivational Suffixes

These derivational suffixes worksheets have been designed by our expert teachers to fit seamlessly into your teaching routine. Whether you’re looking for whole-class activities, small-group practice or independent work, they adapt easily to a range of teaching needs.

Here are some suggestions for integrating this resource into your literacy program:

• Concept Introduction – Project one of the worksheets onto your smartboard. Use it to model how derivational suffixes can transform the meaning and grammatical category of base words, providing guided practice before students try it on their own.
• Differentiate Learning – Assign simpler, more common transformations to less confident students (e.g. run → runner) and more complex ones to more advanced learners (e.g. modern → modernise).
• Reinforce Spelling Rules – While working on the activities, take the opportunity to highlight how suffixes can affect spelling changes (e.g. dropping final letters or doubling consonants).
• Assess Learning – Use one of the mixed derivational suffixes worksheets at the end of the pack as a homework task, review activity or assessment tool to check student understanding. 

Download  to Explore Examples of Derivational Suffixes

Use the Download button above to access your preferred version of this resource. (Note: You will be prompted to make a copy of the Google Slides template on your personal drive before accessing it.)

As this resource contains answers, you may wish to print one copy only, then remove the answer sheet before making further copies.

For sustainability purposes, please consider printing this worksheet pack double-sided.

This resource was created by Kaylyn Chupp, a teacher and Teach Starter collaborator.

Complement This Derivational Suffixes Worksheet Pack

If you’re looking for more resources to enhance your students’ morphological knowledge, you’ve come to the right place! Click below to explore more teacher-created gems to complement your English planning.

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