Upper Primary English Quizzes Suffixes like Ure, Ency and Wise

Upper Primary School English Quiz - Vocabulary 20 - Suffixes 2 (Questions)

Prefixes and suffixes are vital components of the English language. While a prefix is a group of letters that is added to a word before a base word to form a new word, the suffix is a group of letters that is added after a base word to form a new word.

There are dozens of suffixes that can be used along with base or root words to give us new words. Generally, suffixes have some meaning associated to the grouping of letters and these meanings have an influence on the new word formed.

Lioness is a word formed by adding the suffix ess to lion. The suffix ess denotes the female form so a lioness is a female lion. Some other words formed with the same suffix are heiress (a female heir) and actress (a female actor).

[readmore]Another example would be the word athletic which is formed by adding etic to the word athlete with some modification. The suffix etic means in relation to or to do with, so athletic means to do with athletes. Some other words formed with the same suffix are poetic (relating to poetry) and prophetic (relating to prophecy).

Different suffixes can be added to the same word to form different words with variations in meanings. For instance, Argued, Arguer, Argues, Arguably and Argument are all words formed by using different suffixes with the same word, argue.

Among the single letter suffixes the letter Y is often used and it means made up of. Suffixes give us the flexibility of using root words in their different avatars to help us to express ourselves better. Constant use of words with different suffixes would enlarge our vocabulary and give us a wider choice of words to communicate more effectively. Take the quiz that follows and learn about the different suffixes that are in use and their meanings.

Choose the words that form new words with the suffix 'ant'.

[ ]	Applies, serves
[ ]	Drives, craves
[ ]	Strives, braves
[ ]	Grieves, thieves

Choose the words that form new words with the suffix 'arian'.

[ ]	Bravery, twine
[ ]	Estuary, lifeline
[ ]	Contrary, hairline
[ ]	Library, discipline

Choose the words that form new words with the suffix 'fy'.

[ ]	Curiosity, bemuse
[ ]	Identity, false
[ ]	Festivity, realise
[ ]	Liability, expertise

Choose the words that form new words with the suffix 'y'.

[ ]	Slain, daze
[ ]	Train, amaze
[ ]	Grain, sleaze
[ ]	Drain, graze

Choose the words that form new words with the suffix 'ency'.

[ ]	Accident, augment
[ ]	Segment, serpent
[ ]	Recipient, enforcement
[ ]	Emerge, resident

Choose the words that form new words with the suffix 'ure'.

[ ]	Legislate, candidate
[ ]	Translate, affiliate
[ ]	Bifurcate, coagulate
[ ]	Desperate, situate

Choose the words that form new words with the suffix 'wise'.

[ ]	Granny, shake
[ ]	Tyranny, partake
[ ]	Penny, like
[ ]	Nanny, bake

Choose the words that form new words with the suffix 'let'.

[ ]	Hook, beef
[ ]	Book, leaf
[ ]	Cook, reef
[ ]	Rook, loaf

Choose the words that form new words with the suffix 'ious'.

[ ]	Veracity, justice
[ ]	Laxity, chalice
[ ]	Paucity, valise
[ ]	Audacity, malice

10.

Choose the words that form new words with the suffix 'ist'.

[ ]	Loyal, national
[ ]	Royal, positional
[ ]	Portrayal, educational
[ ]	Betrayal, optional

Upper Primary School English Quiz - Vocabulary 20 - Suffixes 2 (Answers)

Choose the words that form new words with the suffix 'ant'.

[x]	Applies, serves
[ ]	Drives, craves
[ ]	Strives, braves
[ ]	Grieves, thieves

'Applicant' and 'servant' are the new words formed. The suffix 'ant' means 'a person who does', so an 'applicant' is one who applies and a 'servant' is one who serves

Choose the words that form new words with the suffix 'arian'.

[ ]	Bravery, twine
[ ]	Estuary, lifeline
[ ]	Contrary, hairline
[x]	Library, discipline

'Librarian' and 'disciplinarian' are the new words formed. The suffix 'arian' means 'a person who is associated with'

Choose the words that form new words with the suffix 'fy'.

[ ]	Curiosity, bemuse
[x]	Identity, false
[ ]	Festivity, realise
[ ]	Liability, expertise

'Identify' and 'falsify' are the new words formed. The suffix 'fy' means 'cause', so to 'identify' is to cause to find someone or something's identity and to 'falsify' is to cause a falsehood, such as fake documents or just lies

Choose the words that form new words with the suffix 'y'.

[ ]	Slain, daze
[ ]	Train, amaze
[x]	Grain, sleaze
[ ]	Drain, graze

'Grainy' and 'sleazy' are the new words formed. The suffix 'y' means 'made up of'

Choose the words that form new words with the suffix 'ency'.

[ ]	Accident, augment
[ ]	Segment, serpent
[ ]	Recipient, enforcement
[x]	Emerge, resident

'Emergency' and 'residency' are the new words. The suffix 'ency' means 'a state or a condition', so an 'emergency' is a condition that has suddenly emerged and a 'residency' is the state of residing

Choose the words that form new words with the suffix 'ure'.

[x]	Legislate, candidate
[ ]	Translate, affiliate
[ ]	Bifurcate, coagulate
[ ]	Desperate, situate

'Legislature' and 'candidature' are the new words. The suffix 'ure' means condition

Choose the words that form new words with the suffix 'wise'.

[ ]	Granny, shake
[ ]	Tyranny, partake
[x]	Penny, like
[ ]	Nanny, bake

'Pennywise' and 'likewise' are the new words. The suffix 'wise' means 'in which direction or way', so 'pennywise' means in the way of saving pennies and 'likewise' means 'in a like or similar way'

Choose the words that form new words with the suffix 'let'.

[ ]	Hook, beef
[x]	Book, leaf
[ ]	Cook, reef
[ ]	Rook, loaf

'Booklet' and 'leaflet' are the new words. The suffix 'let' means 'a smaller variation or version of'

Choose the words that form new words with the suffix 'ious'.

[ ]	Veracity, justice
[ ]	Laxity, chalice
[ ]	Paucity, valise
[x]	Audacity, malice

'Audacious' and 'malicious' are the new words formed. The suffix 'ious' means 'to possess the quality of', so 'audacious' means 'to have audacity or boldness' and 'malicious' means 'to have malice' or 'to be cruel'

10.

Choose the words that form new words with the suffix 'ist'.

[x]	Loyal, national
[ ]	Royal, positional
[ ]	Portrayal, educational
[ ]	Betrayal, optional

'Loyalist' and 'nationalist' are the new words. The suffix 'ist' means 'a person or a person who does a specialist act or has specialist beliefs'. 'Royalist' also works. A 'royalist' is one who supports having a monarch