Suffixes
Master the word endings that change meaning and function
What Are Suffixes?
Suffixes are word parts added to the end of base words to change their meaning, grammatical function, or part of speech. They are essential tools for building vocabulary and understanding word relationships.
Learning common suffixes helps you decode unfamiliar words and understand how English words are formed and transformed.
Common Suffixes
Noun Suffixes
- -tion - action, creation, education
- -ness - happiness, kindness, darkness
- -ment - development, government, achievement
- -er - teacher, writer, runner
- -ity - ability, reality, creativity
Adjective Suffixes
- -ful - beautiful, helpful, powerful
- -less - hopeless, fearless, endless
- -able - comfortable, readable, lovable
- -ous - dangerous, famous, nervous
- -al - national, personal, musical
Verb Suffixes
- -ize - organize, realize, modernize
- -en - strengthen, lengthen, brighten
- -ate - create, celebrate, communicate
- -ify - simplify, clarify, beautify
- -ish - finish, establish, accomplish
Adverb Suffixes
- -ly - quickly, happily, carefully
- -ward - forward, backward, upward
- -wise - clockwise, otherwise, likewise
- -ways - sideways, lengthways, crossways
- -time - sometime, anytime, daytime
How Suffixes Work
Changing Parts of Speech
Suffixes can transform words from one part of speech to another:
- • happy (adjective) + -ness = happiness (noun)
- • quick (adjective) + -ly = quickly (adverb)
- • teach (verb) + -er = teacher (noun)
- • beauty (noun) + -ful = beautiful (adjective)
Adding Meaning
Suffixes add specific meanings to base words:
- • -less means "without" (fearless = without fear)
- • -ful means "full of" (hopeful = full of hope)
- • -able means "capable of" (readable = capable of being read)
- • -ish means "somewhat" (reddish = somewhat red)
Interactive Quizzes
Quiz 1: Identify the Suffix
Question: What suffix is in "happiness" and what does it do?
Show Answer
The suffix is -ness. It changes the adjective "happy" into the noun "happiness," meaning "the state of being happy."
Quiz 2: Create New Words
Question: Add the suffix -able to "read" and explain what the new word means.
Show Answer
Adding -able to "read" creates readable, which means "capable of being read" or "easy to read."
Quiz 3: Suffix Meanings
Question: What does the suffix -less mean? Give three examples.
Show Answer
The suffix -less means "without." Examples: fearless (without fear), hopeless (without hope), endless (without end).
Quiz 4: Part of Speech Changes
Question: How does the suffix -ly change the word "quick"?
Show Answer
The suffix -ly changes "quick" from an adjective (describing a noun) to an adverb (describing a verb). Quick becomes quickly, as in "She runs quickly."
Notes Section
Spelling Changes: Sometimes adding a suffix requires spelling changes in the base word (e.g., "happy" becomes "happily" with a "y" to "i" change).
Multiple Suffixes: Words can have multiple suffixes (e.g., "beautifully" has both -ful and -ly).
Origin: Many English suffixes come from Latin, Greek, or Old English, which is why they appear in so many words.
Pro Tip
When you see an unfamiliar word, look for familiar suffixes first. They often give you clues about the word's meaning and function in a sentence.