Suffixes are groups of letters added at the end of a word to change its meaning or grammatical function. In English grammar, suffixes are used to form/produce different parts of speech, such as nouns, adjectives, verbs, and adverbs, and to modify the tense, number, or degree of a word.

Common Suffixes and Their Meanings

1. -er / -or: A person who performs an action
  • Examples:
    • Teacher (a person who teaches)
    • Actor (a person who acts)
    • Painter (a person who paints)
2. -ness: The state or quality of being
  • Examples:
    • Happiness (the state of being happy)
    • Darkness (the state of being dark)
    • Kindness (the quality of being kind)

3. -less: Without, lacking

  • Examples:
    • Homeless (without a home)
    • Careless (lacking care)
    • Fearless (without fear)
4. -ful: Full of, having
  • Examples:
    • Beautiful (full of beauty)
    • Joyful (full of joy)
    • Helpful (full of help)
5. -ly: In a certain manner (used to form adverbs)
  • Examples:
    • Quickly (in a quick manner)
    • Happily (in a happy manner)
    • Quietly (in a quiet manner)
6. -ment: The action or result of
  • Examples:
    • Enjoyment (the result of enjoying)
    • Development (the process of developing)
    • Payment (the action of paying)
7. -ion / -tion / -ation / -ition: The act or process of
  • Examples:
    • Action (the process of acting)
    • Celebration (the act of celebrating)
    • Condition (the state or process of being)
8. -able / -ible: Capable of being
  • Examples:
    • Comfortable (capable of providing comfort)
    • Edible (capable of being eaten)
    • Visible (capable of being seen)
9. -al / -ial: Related to, characterized by
  • Examples:
    • Personal (related to a person)
    • Industrial (related to industry)
    • Social (related to society)
10. -ous / -eous / -ious: Full of, having the qualities of
  • Examples:
    • Dangerous (full of danger)
    • Curious (having a curiosity)
    • Courageous (full of courage)
11. -ive / -ative / -itive: Having the nature of
  • Examples:
    • Creative (having the nature of creating)
    • Talkative (tending to talk a lot)
    • Sensitive (having sensitivity)
12. -ic: Related to, pertaining to
  • Examples:
    • Historic (pertaining to history)
    • Scientific (related to science)
    • Artistic (related to art)
13. -en: To make or become
  • Examples:
    • Strengthen (to make stronger)
    • Brighten (to make brighter)
    • Shorten (to make shorter)

13. -ish: Having the quality of, somewhat

  • Examples:
    • Childish (having the qualities of a child)
    • Foolish (having the qualities of a fool)
    • Yellowish (somewhat yellow)
14. -hood: State, condition, or quality
  • Examples:
    • Childhood (the state of being a child)
    • Brotherhood (the condition of being brothers)
    • Neighborhood (the area around one’s home)
15. -ship: Position held, state, or condition
  • Examples:
    • Leadership (the position of being a leader)
    • Friendship (the state of being friends)
    • Citizenship (the condition of being a citizen)
16. -y: Characterized by, full of
  • Examples:
    • Cloudy (full of clouds)
    • Rainy (full of rain)
    • Healthy (characterized by health)

Usage and Examples

Forming Nouns:

  • Verb + -ment: Achieve → Achievement, Treat → Treatment
  • Adjective + -ness: Kind → Kindness, Happy → Happiness
  • Adjective + -ity: Active → Activity, Able → Ability

Forming Adjectives:

  • Noun + -ful: Beauty → Beautiful, Joy → Joyful
  • Verb + -able: Manage → Manageable, Rely → Reliable
  • Noun + -ous: Danger → Dangerous, Fame → Famous

Forming Verbs:

  • Noun/Adjective + -en: Strength → Strengthen, Wide → Widen
  • Adjective + -ize: Final → Finalize, Modern → Modernize

Forming Adverbs:

  • Adjective + -ly: Quick → Quickly, Careful → Carefully
  • Noun/Adjective + -wise: Clock → Clockwise, Other → Otherwise

Rules for Using Suffixes

1. Spelling Changes:

  • Sometimes, when adding a suffix, the base word may undergo a spelling change.
  • Examples:
    • Happy → Happiness (change "y" to "i")
    • Control → Controllable (double the "l")

2. Silent "e":

  • If a word ends with a silent "e," the "e" is typically omitted before adding a vowel-based suffix.
  • Examples:
    • Love → Lovable (drop the "e")
    • Hope → Hoping (drop the "e")

3. Doubling Consonants:

  • If a word finishes in a consonant-vowel-consonant (CVC) pattern, the final consonant is frequently doubled before adding a suffix beginning with a vowel.
  • Examples:
    • Run → Running (double the "n")
    • Big → Bigger (double the "g")

4. No Change in Base Word:

  • When a suffix is added to a root word, it often remains unchanged.
  • Examples:
    • Hope → Hopeful
    • Clear → Clearly


Practice Activities

1. Suffix Matching: Match the base words with the correct suffixes to form new words.

  • Words: Kind, Hope, Danger, Manage, Friend
  • Suffixes: -ness, -ful, -ous, -able, -ship

2. Complete the Sentences: Add the correct suffix to the base words to complete the sentences.

  • She showed great ________ (kind) to everyone.
  • The solution is not ________ (work) in this situation.
  • He is a very ________ (care) driver.

3. Word Formation: Use the given base words to create new words with suffixes, and then use them in a sentence.

  • Base Words: Happy, Act, Success, Move

Conclusion

Suffixes play a crucial role in English grammar, allowing speakers and writers to modify and expand the meanings of base words. By understanding how to use suffixes, learners can enhance their vocabulary and improve their ability to express nuanced ideas.