Suffix -er/-est
The word stronger has the suffix -er. Explain what the suffix means and why we use it instead of saying “more strong.”
"-er" means “more” and is used with shorter adjectives (like strong) instead of using “more.”
What does the suffix -y add to a noun? Give an example using “rain.”
It turns it into an adjective. “Rain” becomes “rainy” — full of or like rain.
What does the prefix un- mean in unhappy? How does it change the word’s meaning?
It means “not” — “unhappy” = not happy.
How does the suffix -ful change the word help? Use both words in a sentence.
“Helpful” means full of help. “She is helpful when I need her.”
Is sunnyer spelled correctly? If not, correct it and explain the spelling rule.
No — it should be “sunnier.” Drop the “y,” add “ier.”
Give two adjectives you can add -est to, and explain how the meaning changes.
Examples: cold → coldest, tall → tallest. “-est” shows the most or highest degree.
Explain why “cloudy” is an adjective and not a noun. What changed about the word?
“Cloudy” describes something (like a sky), which makes it an adjective.
What is the difference between disagree and unagree? Which is correct and why?
“Disagree” is correct. “Unagree” isn’t standard; “dis-” is used for opposing ideas.
What is the difference between joyful and joyless? Use each in context.
Joyful = full of joy; Joyless = without joy. “He felt joyful after winning.” vs. “Her face looked joyless.”
Invent a silly but possible -y word. Explain what noun you started with and what it now means.
Student-generated. E.g., “popcorny” = full of popcorn smell
Create your own -er or -est word using “kind.”
e.g., kinder, kindest
Can you make the word “spice” into a -y word? What does it mean?
Yes: spicy = having a lot of spice or heat.
Why can we say disappear but not unappear? Explain using prefix meaning.
Disappear” means to go away. “Unappear” is not used because “appear” is not reversible.
Why would we describe a firefighter as fearless instead of just brave?
Fearless” shows they don’t feel fear at all — it’s a stronger word.
Is unbig a real word? Why or why not? Create a better word to describe the opposite of “big.”
No. Try “small,” “tiny,” or “little.” “Unbig” isn’t standard.
Create a sentence using both taller and fastest that compares two people.
“Sarah is taller than Ben, but he is the fastest runner.”
Create two -y words and describe what they have in common.
Examples: sticky, smelly — both describe something and mean “full of.”
Think of a school rule. Make up a prefix word that describes breaking it.
Examples: “unquiet” (not quiet), “dishonest” (not telling the truth).
Create your own -less word using a noun. What does it mean?
Student-generated: e.g., “treeless” = without trees.
Think of a superhero or villain name with a prefix or suffix. What does it mean?
Student-generated. E.g., “The Unstoppable” = can’t be stopped.
Which sounds more correct: “funner” or “more fun”? Why do some words not follow the -er rule?
“More fun” is correct. Some adjectives (like fun) don’t take -er because they’re irregular.
Invent a made-up -y word for an imaginary animal. What does it look like?
Student-generated, e.g., “glowy” — an animal that glows in the dark.
Can you think of a real-life situation where someone might be dishonest or unfair? Describe it.
Example: A student cheats on a test = dishonest. Only letting some students play = unfair.
If someone is thoughtful, does it always mean they think a lot? Explain.
Not always — “thoughtful” also means kind and caring, not just full of thoughts.
Choose a base word. Add both a prefix and a suffix (e.g., unhelpful). What does your word mean?
Student-generated. E.g., “unfriendly” = not friendly.