Prof.
Virginia Benítez
• Word element that is placed after the root.
• It changes the word's meaning as well as
its function (use).
SUFFIXES
We normally use suffixes to change a word to a different part of speech:
employ (verb) + er = employer (noun). Sometimes a suffix produces a
change in meaning: neighbor + hood = neighborhood.
We use the following suffixes to make nouns:
Form use examples
Verb+er forms a noun that describes sb’s teach – teacher
Verb+or occupation, or what sb does act – actor
Verb+er forms a noun that describes what work – worker
something does
Verb/noun+ee forms a noun that describes employ – employee
what sb does, or who sb is
Form use examples
Verb/noun+ing forms a noun that describes draw – drawing
an example or act
Noun+eer forms a noun that says what mountain – mountaineer
activity somebody does
Noun/verb/adj+ist forms a noun that expresses violin – violinist
sb’s belief or occupation Buddha – Buddhist
Adjective+ity forms an abstract noun lexible – flexibility
Adjective+ness forms an abstract noun happy – happiness
Noun+hood forms an abstract noun brother – brotherhood
Noun+ship forms an abstract noun friend – friendship
Form Use Examples
Adjective+bility forms an abstract noun reliable – reliability
Verb+ance,ence forms an abstract noun admit – admittance
Verb+ment forms an abstract noun achieve – achievement
Verb+(a)tion, forms an abstract noun form – formation
(i)tion or sion produce - production
omit – omission
SUFFIXES THAT FORM ADJECTIVES
Word Suffix Example
Noun+al season+al seasonal
Noun+ive act+ive active
Noun+ous danger+ous dangerous
Noun+ful care+ful careful
Noun+less care+less careless
LESS COMMON NOUN AND ADJECTIVE SUFFIXES
Noun suffix example
Ure close – closure press – pressure
Y discover – discovery honest – honesty
Cy fluent – fluency tend – tendency
Dom free – freedom king - kingdom
Adjective suffix example
Cal geography – geographical history – historical
en deep – deepen broad – broaden
SUFFIXES THAT FORM VERBS
Suffix Example
-ate gradu + ate graduate
-ed at + tain + ed attained
-en moist + en moisten
-er, -or pond + er ponder
clam + or clamor
-ify spec + ify specify
-ing de + pict + ing depicting
-ize fant + as + ize fantasize
-ure con + ject + ure conjecture
SUFFIXES THAT FORM ADVERBS
Suffix Example
-fold four + fold fourfold
-ly flu + ent + ly fluently
-ward home + ward homeward
-wise time + wise timewise
EXCERCISES
Using the suffixes below, change the words in bold to complete these
sentences: -ally, -ment, -ify, -ous, -ward, -able, -ish
READABLE
1. Simpler language would make this report more _______________. READ
2. What do people in your country eat ________________
TRADITIONALLY at Christmas?
TRADITION
BROWNISH colour. BROWN
3. When I mixed all the paints together, I got a ___________
SIMPLIFY
5. I think you should __________ these instructions-they are too
complicated. SIMPLE
6. Passing your driving test was quite an _________________
ACHIEVEMENT . ACHIEVE
POISONOUS
8. Don't eat those berries-they are ______________________ . POISON
9. Travel ________________
NORTHWARD for about eight miles until you reach a junction.
NORTH
•A person who believes in the political theories of
analyst
Karl Marx is a
actor
•A person who studies financial information is an
•A person who donates his/her kidney when patriotism
he/she dies is a donor
•The person to whom a letter is sent is the
Marxist
•Money given to charity is a
donation
•A person who uses violence to achieve political
change is a addressee
•A person who performs in a theatre is an alteration
•A person who is learning to do a job is
terrorist
•A change made to something is an
•A deep love of one’s country is known as trainee
