If you’re looking to enhance your vocabulary with spellbinding suffixes, look no further! Here are five must-know suffixes that will spice up your vocabulary arsenal:
-ation: This suffix is used to form nouns that signify action or process. Examples include “decontamination,” “transformation,” and “preparation.”
-ment: This suffix means ”the result of,” and is often used to create nouns from verbs. Examples include “enrollment,” “achievement,” and “heightenment.”
-fy: Use this suffix to impart an action onto a noun. Examples include “electrify,” “solidify,” and “magnify.”
-ous: This suffix is used to describe nouns that possess a certain quality or trait. Examples include “courageous,” ”famous,” and “famousous.”
-icity: This suffix is often used to describe states or properties. Examples include “electricity,” ”density,” and “trafficity. Improve Your Vocabulary With Suffixes
As non-native English speakers, one of the most effective ways to expand your vocabulary is by learning and understanding suffixes. Suffixes are small word parts that are added to the end of a base word, altering its meaning and creating new words. By familiarizing yourself with common suffixes, you can decode unfamiliar words more easily and enhance your overall comprehension.
Here are some commonly used suffixes and their meanings to help you improve your vocabulary:
1. -able/ible: This suffix means “capable of” or “worthy of.” For example, “comfortable” means able to provide comfort, and “visible” means able to be seen.
2. -ful: Adding this suffix to a noun makes it an adjective indicating “full of” or “abounding in.” For instance, ”beautiful” means full of beauty, and “grateful” implies being full of gratitude.
3. -less: This suffix indicates the absence or lack of something. For instance, “fearless” means without fear, and “endless” means having no end.
4. -ment: Adding this suffix changes a verb into a noun, often denoting an action, state, or result. For example, “movement” refers to the act of moving, and “development” indicates the process of developing.
5. -ness: This suffix transforms an adjective into a noun and denotes a state or quality. For instance, ”kindness” refers to the state or quality of being kind, and “happiness” indicates the state of being happy.
6. -tion/sion: Adding these suffixes to a verb changes it into a noun and often refers to an act or process. For example, “education” refers to the act of educating, and “decision” indicates the process of deciding.
7. -ance/ence: Similar to the -tion/sion suffixes, these suffixes change verbs into nouns and often denote a state or quality. For instance, “importance” refers to the state or quality of being important, and “confidence” indicates the state of being confident.
8. -er/or: These suffixes are added to a noun to create a new noun denoting a person or thing that performs a specific action. For example, ”teacher” refers to a person who teaches, and ”actor” indicates a person who acts.
By learning and incorporating these suffixes into your vocabulary, you can expand your word bank and better comprehend the meaning of unfamiliar words. Practice using them in sentences to reinforce your understanding and improve your overall English skills.
There are numerous resources available online and in books that provide extensive lists of words with various suffixes. Take advantage of these materials to dive deeper into the world of suffixes and their applications.
Remember, building vocabulary takes time and practice. Consistently exposing yourself to new words and learning their meanings will greatly enhance your English language proficiency. So, embrace the power of suffixes and watch your vocabulary flourish!
Enhancing your vocabulary is an important part of becoming a better writer and being able to express yourself. With the knowledge of these powerful suffixes, writing will become easier and more enjoyable. So get out your pen or laptop, and start unlocking the potential of powerful words with spellbinding suffixes!