English Language Arts
Grade 3
15 min
Determine the meaning of a word with -ly or -ness
Determine the meaning of a word with -ly or -ness
What you'll learn
- Identify at least 8 out of 10 words that use the suffixes -ly or -ness from a given list.
- Explain how adding -ly to an adjective usually changes it into an adverb and how adding -ness to an adjective usually changes it into a noun, providing at least two examples of each.
- Apply the meaning of words ending in -ly or -ness to correctly complete 5 out of 6 fill-in-the-blank sentences.
- Create two original sentences, each using a different word ending in either -ly or -ness correctly, demonstrating understanding of the word's meaning.
Tutorial Preview
1
Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Identify the suffixes -ly and -ness at the end of a word.
Define the meaning of the suffix -ly as 'in a certain way'.
Define the meaning of the suffix -ness as 'the state of being'.
Explain how adding -ly or -ness changes a base word's meaning and part of speech.
Determine the meaning of an unknown word by breaking it down into its base word and suffix.
Correctly use words ending in -ly and -ness in their own sentences.
Have you ever noticed how some words have special endings that change what they mean? 🤔 Let's become word detectives and solve the mystery of -ly and -ness!
In this lesson, we will learn about two special word endings called suffixes: -ly and -ness. Learning about these suffixes will help you understand bigg...
2
Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
SuffixA word part added to the end of a word that changes its meaning.In the word 'quickly', the suffix is '-ly'.
Base WordThe main part of a word that has its own meaning. It's the word you have before you add a suffix.In the word 'kindness', the base word is 'kind'.
AdjectiveA word that describes a person, place, or thing (a noun).The 'happy' dog wagged its tail. 'Happy' describes the dog.
AdverbA word that describes an action (a verb). It often tells *how* something is done.The dog wagged its tail 'happily'. 'Happily' tells how the dog wagged.
NounA word for a person, place, thing, or idea.Her 'happiness' was easy to see. 'Happiness' is an idea or feeling.
Suff...
3
Key Rules & Conventions
The -ly Rule
Base Word (Adjective) + -ly = Adverb
Add -ly to an adjective to describe *how* an action is done. For example, to change 'quick' (an adjective) to describe how someone runs, you add -ly to make 'quickly'.
The -ness Rule
Base Word (Adjective) + -ness = Noun
Add -ness to an adjective to turn it into a noun that names a quality or feeling. For example, to talk about the idea of being 'happy', you add -ness to make 'happiness'.
The 'Y to I' Spelling Rule
If the base word ends in 'y', change the 'y' to an 'i' before adding -ly or -ness.
This is a spelling rule for words like 'happy' or 'silly'. 'Happy' becomes 'happily' and 'happiness&#...
4 more steps in this tutorial
Sign up free to access the complete tutorial with worked examples and practice.
Sign Up Free to ContinueSample Practice Questions
Challenging
Read the two sentences:
1. The *calmness* of the post office on a Sunday was peaceful.
2. The clerk *calmly* sorted the letters into the correct boxes.
How is the meaning of 'calm' different in the two sentences because of the suffixes?
A.In sentence 1, it's a feeling; in sentence 2, it's an action.
B.In sentence 1, it's a state of being; in sentence 2, it's the way an action is done.
C.In sentence 1, it's the way an action is done; in sentence 2, it's a state of being.
D.The meaning is exactly the same in both sentences.
Challenging
Imagine a new word, 'zippiness,' is used to describe a new mail delivery drone. Read the sentence: 'The *zippiness* of the new drone meant packages arrived in minutes.' Based on the suffix '-ness,' what does *zippiness* most likely mean?
A.drone that is zippy.
B.To move in a zippy way.
C.The quality of being fast and energetic (zippy).
D.The sound a drone makes.
Challenging
Read the sentence: 'The mail carrier showed great ______ when delivering the heavy package.' Which word would NOT fit correctly in the blank?
A.carefulness
B.slowness
C.strengthness
D.kindness
Want to practice and check your answers?
Sign up to access all questions with instant feedback, explanations, and progress tracking.
Start Practicing FreeMore from Addresses
English Language Arts for other grades
Frequently asked questions
What grade level is "Determine the meaning of a word with -ly or -ness"?
Determine the meaning of a word with -ly or -ness is a Grade 3 English Language Arts lesson on ExcelOS.
What will I learn in Determine the meaning of a word with -ly or -ness?
You'll be able to: Identify at least 8 out of 10 words that use the suffixes -ly or -ness from a given list; Explain how adding -ly to an adjective usually changes it into an adverb and how adding -ness to an adjective usually changes it into a….
Is "Determine the meaning of a word with -ly or -ness" free to practice?
Yes. You can read the tutorial preview for free, and signing up for a free ExcelOS account unlocks the full tutorial and all practice questions with instant feedback.
How many practice questions are included with Determine the meaning of a word with -ly or -ness?
This lesson includes 25 practice questions across multiple difficulty levels, each with instant feedback and explanations.