Definition
 A
suffix is something which goes at the end of a word.
It
usually a group of letters such as -less or -able
The
suffix usually changes the meaning of the word - or it makes a
new word.
EXAMPLES
- hope hopeless
- change changeable
- help helpful
USE
Sometimes
adding a suffix changes the spelling of the original word.
You
can work out the meanings of long words if you can spot prefixes and
suffixes.
You
can have more than one suffix - as in hope+less+ness.
Here
are some more common suffixes - plus what they mean.
-ism often
turns a verb into an abstract noun, as in 'baptise' becomes baptism.
It
can do the same for nouns, as in 'hero' becomes heroism.
-ment means
'a condition' or 'a result' - as in govern + ment = government
-ly often
turns a noun into an adverb or adjective, as in 'hour' becomes hourly,
and 'mother' becomes motherly.
-able means
'worth', as in love + able = loveable, or 'worth loving'.
-less changes
a word into its opposite, as in 'hope' becomes hopeless.
-ness means
a 'state', 'condition, or 'quality', as in kind + ness = kindness.
-ing creates
a present participle out of a verb, as in swim + ing = swimming.
-ish means
'having the character of', as in self + ish = selfish
-ous creates
an adjective, and means having the quality of, as in adventure
+ ous = adventurous
Prefixes and suffixes
can be added to the same word.
Here's
an example which creates one of the longest words in the English
language.
antidisestablishmentarianism
Here's
the word with the prefixes and suffixes shown:
anti-dis-establishment-arian-ism
It
means 'Opposition to the idea that the Church should cease to be
formally recognized by the State'. Phew! |
