Spelling list: Examples of suffixes

In this list, we will look at how different suffixes change the meaning of the base word help. Suffixes are letters or groups of letters added to the end of a word that create new words with different meanings. For example, when we add -s to make helps, it means someone who provides assistance.

Next, we have helping, which describes the act of giving support or assistance. The word helped refers to someone who has received help, such as an injured hiker being helped to safety. Additionally, we see helper, which refers to a person who assists others.

We can also describe qualities related to help. For instance, helpful describes someone who likes to offer support, while helpless refers to a person who feels unable to help themselves. Other suffixes like helpfully and helpfulness express how help is given and its quality. Finally, helplessness describes the feeling of being unable to help, highlighting the emotional side of this word family. By looking at these examples, you can see how suffixes add to our vocabulary and make communication clearer.

helps	Jack helps his sister to put on her coat.
helping	I don't mind helping you. *
helped	The injured hiker was helped to safety.
helper	Jane volunteered to be a helper.
helpful	It can be helpful to massage your feet when they are tired. *
helpless	The sailors were helpless in the stormy weather.
helpfully	She helpfully fixed the fault on my computer.
helpfulness	Your helpfulness will be rewarded later.
helplessness	I understand your feelings of helplessness at this sad time.