Which suffixes come first?

The five with pictures built in: -ful, -less, -er, -ly, and -y. They attach to words 2nd graders already know (help, care, run, slow, mud) and each has one clear meaning. That transparency is what makes them the standard starting set.

What's the difference between -ful and -less?

They're opposites bolted onto the same base. Hopeful is full of hope; hopeless is without it. Kids enjoy flipping words back and forth, and the pair teaches the bigger idea that the ending carries real meaning.

2nd grade suffixes

2nd grade suffixes worksheets

A suffix is a word part attached to the end of a base word. Second graders start with the friendly five: -ful (full of), -less (without), -er (a person who), -ly (in that way), and -y (like or covered with).

Free printable PDF worksheet, aligned to Common Core L.2.4.c.

Each print is a different sheet with its own answer key. You don't need to sign up.

The kind of sentences you'll get

Circle the letter of the word with the correct suffix.

The fastest gets the blue ribbon. runner · runless · runful
Answer: runner
The jam jar needs a rinse. stickful · sticky · stickless
The baby waved from the stroller. happiness · happily · happiful

Every print pulls a new set of sentences at this level, so a make-up test or a second sibling gets a different mix.

What's on a 2nd grade sheet

2nd grade sheets draw from 60 sentences, 8 to a page. All 60 are on 3rd grade sheets too, along with 60 more. 3rd grade sheets print 10 to a page.

Some of the answers:

colorfuljoyfulteacherwindysnowyhopelesspowerfulleakyproudlyfearless

Choose the word. Circle the letter of the word with the correct suffix. 8 questions per page.

Every version prints on US Letter or A4, with its answer key on the last page.

How to teach this

Anchor each suffix to one plain meaning and one example your child owns: -ful is full of (a joyful baby), -less is without (a treeless desert), -er is the person who does it (a baker bakes). Then flip it: say a definition ("a person who paints") and let them build the word.

Watch for: -ful and -less are opposites on the same base: hopeful means full of hope, hopeless means without it. A suffix can change a word's job in the sentence: teach is an action, teacher is a person.

Common questions about 2nd grade suffixes

Which suffixes come first?: The five with pictures built in: -ful, -less, -er, -ly, and -y. They attach to words 2nd graders already know (help, care, run, slow, mud) and each has one clear meaning. That transparency is what makes them the standard starting set.
What's the difference between -ful and -less?: They're opposites bolted onto the same base. Hopeful is full of hope; hopeless is without it. Kids enjoy flipping words back and forth, and the pair teaches the bigger idea that the ending carries real meaning.

Related worksheets

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Aligned to Common Core L.2.4.c. Reviewed by the One more sheet team. Content version 241, updated August 2026.

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