Suffixes: Understanding Their Meanings and Uses

Suffixes are affixes that are added to the end of a word to modify its meaning or function. They play a crucial role in adapting words to fit different contexts and are divided into various categories based on their function and changes they bring to the word. Let's explore the most common suffixes and their usage in English.

Suffixes in Adjectives

An adjective is a word that describes a noun or pronoun, and suffixes like -ful, -able/-ible, -al, -ary, -ious/-ous, and -less are commonly used to form adjectives by adding qualities and characteristics to the root word.

Suffixes for Changing Word Class

Suffixes can change the word class of a word, such as changing an adjective to an adverb by adding -ly, as in 'happy' becoming 'happily'. They can also turn adjectives into comparative and superlative forms, like 'faster' and 'fastest' from the root word 'fast'.

Moreover, suffixes have the power to indicate plurality and tense. For example, the word 'dogs' is the plural form of the singular noun 'dog', while 'played' is the past tense of the verb 'play'.

Examples of Suffixes

Happy - Happily
Smart - Smarter/Smartest

The above are just a few examples of how suffixes change the grammatical properties and word class of root words. Let's further explore this with examples of suffixes used with nouns, adjectives, verbs, and adverbs.

Suffixes in Nouns

Nouns are words that name people, places, things, or concepts, and suffixes like -ist, -acy, -ism, -sion/-tion, -ship, -ness, -ity, -dom, and -ment are commonly used to form nouns with different meanings and functions.

For instance, the suffix -ist is used to indicate one who practices something, as in dentist, optometrist, and florist. Similarly, the suffix -acy denotes the quality or state of being, as in privacy, delicacy, and legacy.

Note that sometimes, the spelling of the word may need to be altered before adding a suffix. For example, the adjective 'responsible' becomes the noun 'responsibility' by dropping the 'e' before adding '-ity'.

Suffixes Showing Plurality

One of the essential functions of suffixes is to indicate plurality. For example:

There was one balloon in the room.

There were two balloons in the room.

The suffix '-s' is used to show the plural form of 'balloon' in the second sentence.

Suffixes for Agreement

The suffix '-s' is not only used to indicate plural form but also to indicate agreement. In Standard English, the suffix -s or -es is added to the base form of a regular verb when using the third person. For example:

I wait - She waits
I watch - He watches

Suffixes in Adjectives

Adjectives are words that describe the features or qualities of nouns. They can describe color, size, quantity, and more, and suffixes like -ly, -er, and -est are commonly used to make comparative and superlative forms of adjectives.

For instance, 'fast' becomes 'faster' and 'fastest' by adding the suffixes -er and -est, respectively, which change the meaning and intensity of the word.

Now that you have a better understanding of suffixes, you can use them to expand your vocabulary and create more diverse sentences. Remember to always pay attention to the spelling of root words when adding suffixes for optimum grammatical correctness.

Understanding the Importance of Suffixes in English

Words in the English language can be transformed into various forms by adding suffixes. These are word endings that change the meaning and function of the base word. By doing so, suffixes can help create new words and provide more information about the action, state, or quality being described.

Suffixes in Nouns

Nouns are words that describe people, places, things, or ideas. The most common suffixes used to form nouns are -ful, -able/-ible, -al, -ary, -ious/-ous, and -less.

• -ful: full of something
• -able/-ible: capable of being
• -al: pertaining to
• -ary: relating to or indicating a state or condition
• -ious/-ous: possessing the quality of
• -less: without something

For instance, adding -ful to the noun 'wonder' results in the adjective 'wonderful', meaning full of wonder. On the other hand, adding -less to the noun 'fear' creates 'fearless', indicating a lack of fear.

Suffixes in Verbs

Verbs express an action or state of being in a sentence. Common suffixes used to form verbs include -en, -ed, -ing, -ise/ize, and -ate.

• -en: to become
• -ed: indicates past tense
• -ing: indicates present or ongoing action
• -ise/ize: to cause or become
• -ate: to become or be full of

For example, by adding -en to the verb 'soft', it becomes 'soften', meaning to become soft. Similarly, -ed changes the verb 'laugh' into 'laughed', indicating past tense, while -ing changes it to 'laughing', indicating present tense.

Suffixes in Adverbs

Adverbs modify or provide more detail about verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. The most common suffixes used to form adverbs are -ly and -wise.

• -ly: manner in which something occurs
• -wise: in relation to

For instance, the adverb 'suddenly' is formed by adding -ly to the adjective 'sudden', while 'likewise' is formed by adding -wise to the noun 'like'.

Different Types of Suffixes

Suffixes can be divided into two types - derivational and inflectional. While derivational suffixes change the word's meaning or part of speech, inflectional suffixes only alter the word's tense, number, or degree without changing its part of speech.

Inflectional Suffixes

Inflectional suffixes are used to change the word's tense, number, or degree without changing its part of speech. These include -s/-es, -ed, -ing, and -er/-est.

NOUNS:

• -s/-es: indicates plural number
• -en: indicates plural number

VERBS:

• -ed: indicates past tense
• -t: indicates past tense
• -ing: indicates present tense
• -en: indicates past participle

ADJECTIVES/ADVERBS:

• -er: indicates comparative degree
• -est: indicates superlative degree

For example, adding -ed to the verb 'walk' changes it to 'walked', indicating past tense. Similarly, adding -er to the adjective 'fast' changes it to 'faster', indicating a comparative degree.

Thus, understanding suffixes can greatly enhance one's vocabulary and comprehension of the English language. By recognizing the patterns and meanings of different suffixes, it becomes easier to decipher the meaning of words and effectively use them in writing and speech.

Understanding the Role of Suffixes in English

In the English language, suffixes play a crucial role in expanding vocabulary and enhancing language use. These small units of meaning, known as affixes, are bound morphemes that are attached to root words to change their meaning or grammatical function. Let's take a look at some examples of class-changing and class-maintaining suffixes in English.

• Class-changing suffixes:

• -ful (beautiful, bountiful) NOUN → ADJECTIVE
• -ise/ize (realise, visualize) NOUN → VERB
• -tion (situation, justification) VERB → NOUN
• -ment (judgment, punishment) VERB → NOUN
• -ly (stunningly, terrifyingly) ADJECTIVE → ADVERB

• Class-maintaining suffixes:

• -ism (classism, racism) NOUN → NOUN
• -ist (chemist, florist) NOUN → NOUN
• -ess (heiress, seamstress) NOUN → NOUN
• -ology (ideology, methodology) NOUN → NOUN

The Significance of Suffixes in Language

Using suffixes is beneficial for improving language use in various ways. They help expand vocabulary, make sentences more concise, and develop learners' ability to manipulate words and change their grammar and word class. Additionally, suffixes provide vital information about words such as tense, word class, and overall meaning.

Suffix: Key Points to Remember

A suffix is an affix placed at the end of a word to alter its meaning or grammatical function. There are two types of suffixes - derivational and inflectional. Inflectional suffixes alter a word's grammatical properties, while derivational suffixes create new words from the original root word. Suffixes can be categorized as class-changing or class-maintaining and are bound morphemes that must be attached to a root word. Understanding suffixes is necessary for grasping English grammar and effectively using language.