Suffixes

A suffix is one or more letters added at the end of a base word to make a new word.

The new word formed usually becomes a different word class from the original base word. For example, with the use of a suffix, a verb can be changed to an adjective or a noun. Similarly, an adjective or a noun can be changed to an adverb by the use of a suffix.

Common Suffixes in English

Noun Suffixes

Suffixes
Meaning

Example
-mentforming abstract nounentertainment, management, improvement
-istone whotourist, journalist, novelist
-ismbelief, doctrinesocialism, journalism, baptism
-sion, -tionquality or statediscussion, manipulation, generation
-shipquality or state, position heldleadership, membership, partnership
-domstate of beingstardom, martyrdom
-nessquality or stategreatness, willingness, madness
-ity, -tyquality ofcuriousity, honesty, majesty
-ance, -encestate or qualityimportance, assistance, brilliance
-acystate or qualitylegacy,accuracy, democracy
-alact or process ofsurvival, denial, removal
-er, -orone whoinstructor, operator, investor

Verb Suffixes

SuffixesMeaningExample
-ize, -isebecomenormalize,advertise, baptize
-enbecomestraighten, weaken, worsen
-atebecomeformulate, congratulate, activate
-ify, -fymake or becomeclarify, identify, certify

Adverb Suffixes

SuffixesMeaningExample
-wardin a certain directionupward, westward, wayward
-lyin what manner
something is
being done
greatly, loudly, highly
-wisein relation tolikewise, edgewise, crosswise

Adjective Suffixes

SuffixesMeaningExample
-ivehaving the nature
or cetain
quality of
active, aggressive, protective
-able, -ibleable to be done
or
able to be used
enjoyable, lovable, adaptable
-lesswithoutfearless, useless, worthless
-fulfull of a certain
quality
careful, joyful, painful
-ishhaving the quality
or similar to a
certain quality
foolish, bookish, yellowish
-ic, -icalpertaining todramatic, organic,historical
-ious,
-ous
characterized byreligious, famous, joyous
-esqueto show likenesscarnivalesque, picturesque, statuesque
-alrelated to a
certain thing
annual, cultural, spiritual
-yhaving the characteristics
of something
smelly, airy, dirty

Tips:

The spelling of the new word may be changed when adding a suffix.

a. For words with only one consonant and a short vowel sound, double the last consonant before the suffix.

base wordwith suffix
dropdropping
bigbigger
fat fatter

b. For words ending in two consonants, the suffix is usually added as is.

base wordwith suffix
jumpjumper
insistinsisted

c. For words ending in a consonant followed by a ‘y‘, we remove the ‘y‘ and replace it with an ‘i‘ before adding the suffix.

base wordwith suffix
beautybeautiful
angryangrier
sillysillier
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