This lesson teaches how these suffixes change the meanings and uses of base words.  Notice that some base words have spelling changes before adding the suffix. 

Adding -ness creates nouns out of adjectives and suggests a "state of being". 

ADJECTIVE: That bolt is loose.

NOUN: The looseness of that bolt needs to be fixed.)

Adding -ful creates adjectives meaning  "full of" or "having".

He was thankful (full of thanks) for his friend's help.

Adding -less creates adjectives meaning "without".

The marathon runners were breathless (without breath) at the finish line.

Combination of suffixes - sometimes two suffixes are added - (see if you can figure out the meaning of these words)

CATEGORIES: -NESS          -FUL          -LESS          combination of suffixes

looseness - delightful - breathless - thoughtlessness - massiveness - disgraceful - scoreless - tactlessness - flawlessness - thoughtless - bountiful - attentiveness - politeness - insightful - flawless - fanciful - friendliness -emptiness - tactful - tactless - rigorousness - respectful - fruitless - priceless ("Priceless" literally means "without price".  However, throughout time the meaing of "priceless" has changed to mean "so valuable that you cannot put a price on it".)