What are suffixes?

Suffixes and prefixes make up a group called affixes, which are morphemes added to a base word to
modify its meaning. Suffixes are added to the end of a word, while prefixes are added to the beginning,

In English, the most common prefixes and suffixes are usually one or two syllables long (although the
suffix -ology is three). The suffixes –s and –’s are not even one complete syllable; they simply add
an ess sound to the end of a word.

While both suffixes and prefixes help to expand your vocabulary and writing skills, only suffixes are
used for grammatical purposes, like conjugating verbs or pluralizing nouns.

When to use a suffix

Verb conjugation

Suffixes are used in the conjugation of regular verbs. For example, adding -s or –es to a verb shows
that it’s third person, singular, and present tense. Adding –ed to a verb shows that it’s past tense.

I work downtown.

She works downtown.

They worked downtown.

However, you can’t use suffixes with every verb. For conjugation, irregular verbs usually rely on
unique spellings rather than standard suffixes.

Showing plurality

To create plural nouns , most of the time you add an –s or –es to show that you’re referring to more
than one of a noun.

My cat is all I need. [one cat]

Ten cats are not enough! [more than one cat]

Just like with verbs, be careful with irregular plural nouns that use unique spellings for plurality. For
example, the plural of child is not childs; it’s children.

Showing possession

Possessive nouns show ownership or a direct connection. For most singular nouns, you can show
the possessive case by adding the suffix –’s. Plural nouns that already end in s can add just the
apostrophe (’) to become possessive.

Jacob’s parents

the students’ rooms

Keep in mind that possessive nouns are different from possessive pronouns and adjectives , which
do not use suffixes.

Reflexive pronouns

Reflexive pronouns like myself or themselves use the suffix –self for the singular and –selves for the
plural.

I gave myself a treat.

They pushed themselves as hard as they could.

Comparatives and superlatives

Comparative and superlative adjectives also use suffixes. Comparatives, which compare only two
things, often use the suffix –er; superlatives, which indicate the highest degree of something among
everything in a category, often use the suffix –est.

I’m stronger than my brother, but the strongest in the family is our grandmother.

Not all adjectives use these suffixes. Adjectives of two or more syllables use the
adverbs more and most instead of adding suffixes. If a two-syllable adjective ends in –y, the y is
dropped and the suffixes –ier or -iest are used instead.
Changing word types (parts of speech)

Most of the suffixes in English are used to show parts of speech , or word types. Frequently, you can
add different suffixes to the same base word to change its type. For example, let’s look at different
suffixes added to the adjective quick:

quick [adjective]

quickness [noun]

quicken [verb]

quickly [adverb]

Ordinal numbers

Suffixes are a necessary part of writing ordinal numbers correctly . If you’re showing something’s
position in a series—such as first, second, or third—in informal writing you can add a suffix to the
number instead of spelling it out.

first -> 1st

second -> 2nd

third -> 3rd

Inflectional vs. derivational suffixes

There are two types of suffixes: inflectional and derivational. Don’t let those big words scare you—it’s
actually quite simple.

Inflectional suffixes are used for grammatical purposes. These include all the word endings for verb
conjugation, such as –ing and –ed; the additions for nouns, such as the plural –s; the possessive –’s;
and the reflexive –self and –selves for pronouns. The suffixes for comparative and superlative
adjectives (-er and –est, respectively) also belong to this group.

Derivational suffixes are used to change word types, such as changing a noun to a verb or an adjective
to an adverb. Once you understand derivational suffixes, you’ll often be able to tell a word’s part of
speech by its ending, even if it’s your first time seeing it.
Examples of suffixes in English: Inflectional

Suffixes for regular verb conjugations

-s, -es, -ies

first-person singular for the simple present tense

grows, passes, carries

-ing

for present participles and to create gerunds

going, swimming, sleeping

-ed, -d, -ied

for the simple past tense and past participles

worked, liked, replied

Suffixes for noun and pronoun grammar

-s, -es, -ies

the plural form of regular nouns

chairs, lunches, puppies

-’s,

the possessive form of nouns

school’s, India’s, humanity’s

-self, -selves

creates reflexive pronouns that refer back to the subject

myself, ourselves, oneself

Suffixes for comparative and superlative
-er, -ier

the comparative form of adjectives for comparing two things

harder, faster, stronger

-est, -iest

the superlative form of adjectives for showing the top within a category

biggest, latest, scariest

Examples of suffixes in English: Derivational

Suffixes for verbs

-ate

congratulate, enunciate, regulate

-en

strengthen, brighten, awaken

-ify, -fy

electrify, liquify, testify

-ize (-ise in British English)

demonize, legalize, neutralize

Suffixes for nouns

-acy, -cy

normalcy, privacy, delicacy

-al
betrayal, denial, tribunal

-ance, -ence

ambiance, correspondence, maintenance

-ant

defendant, hydrant, coolant

-er, -or

player, actor, baker

-ism

minimalism, liberalism, capitalism

-ist

artist, colonist, communist

-ity, -ty

rarity, nationality, beauty

-logy, -ology

psychology, biology, terminology

-ment

agreement, merriment, statement

-ness

sweetness, darkness, loveliness

-ship

internship, kinship, citizenship

-tion, -sion, -ation, -ion

animation, extension, suspicion

Suffixes for adjectives
-able, -ible

comfortable, unstoppable, edible

-al

personal, coastal, optimal

-esque

novelesque, picturesque, Kafkaesque

-ful

wonderful, beautiful, colorful

-ic, -ical

basic, atomic, clinical

-ish

stylish, brutish, childish

-ive

creative, progressive, vindictive

-less

harmless, worthless, timeless

-like

catlike, warlike, guitarlike

-ous, -ious

rigorous, various, disastrous

-y

hairy, funny, nerdy

Suffix for adverbs
-ly, -ily

slowly, carefully, happily