Discover the power of suffixes and unlock the potential of your vocabulary!
Adding suffixes to words changes them from one version to another, giving you a vast arsenal of words to use in your writing. From the small and subtle to the bold and distinct, each suffix brings a slight character alteration to the word it’s attached to.
By understanding the different suffixes and learning how to add them to words, you can expand your word arsenal and take your writing to the next level.
Some common suffixes you should familiarize yourself with include –ly, –ing, –ment, –ful, –ness, –ity, and –able. The effects that these suffixes can have range from changing a noun into an adjective, verb, or adverb, to turning a regular verb into a more specific action or emotion.
For instance, adding -ing to the word ‘listen’ turns it from an object into an action. This same concept applies across many other words as well, allowing you to find more specific, unique words to express what your writing needs.
For a more dramatic alteration, try adding one of the more intense suffixes, like –able or –ness. The suffix –able can change almost any word into its own adjective, while the suffix –ness turns adjectives into abstract nouns.
Combining these suffixes with words you already know can bring about a whole new level of detail to your writing.
Unlock the power of suffixes and expand your word arsenal today! Improving your vocabulary is an important aspect of learning English. Developing your vocabulary will improve your ability to communicate with others and enhance your comprehension skills. One of the best ways to build your lexicon is to understand how suffixes change the meaning of words.
Understanding the meaning of suffixes can help you to better understand the words you encounter. A suffix is a letter or group of letters added to the end of a word to change its meaning. Suffixes can change a word from noun to adjective, from verb to adverb, and so forth.
Take the root word “teach” for example. Adding the suffix “-er” changes teach to teacher. “Listen” plus the suffix “-able” changes it to the adjective “listenable”. The suffix “-ment” added to “govern” forms “government”.
To help you better understand how suffixes work, here’s a basic list of some common suffixes and their meanings:
• -er : indicates the doer or performer of an action (teacher, painter).
• -ment : indicates the action or result of an action (arrangement, agreement).
• -ness : indicates a quality or state (kindness, happiness).
• -ation : indicates the action or result of an action (reproduction, exploration).
• -able : indicates capability, or the quality of being (readable, movable).
• -ly : indicates a manner relating to something (quietly, happily).
Now that you understand the basics, it’s time to start expanding your vocabulary by practicing with suffixes! Start by looking at a vocabulary list and picking out root words. Then, try adding suffixes to those words to see how the meaning changes. You can also practice forming meaningful sentences with the new words.
Learning English with suffixes can be fun and challenging. If you stick to a regular practice regime, you’ll soon experience an increase in your overall English proficiency. Good luck!
Now that you’ve read up on how to unlock the power of suffixes, you can expand your word arsenal with confidence. Learning about the potential of suffixes can open up a whole new world of possibilities for your written communication, and you can finally express more of your ideas, both in spoken and written language. Step into the world of suffixes and discover the potential it can offer.