BGC SenegalExpand Your Word Power: Understanding Suffixes and How to Use Them
The suffix is a powerful tool for changing the meaning of a word. By adding a suffix to the end of a word, it can help to create a new word from it.
For example, adding “-ness” to the end of the word “happy” creates the word “happiness.” This changes the word from an adjective to a noun, giving it a meaning of “the quality or state of being happy.” Other suffixes can also be used to transform the original word, such as “-ment” which creates the word “enjoyment” from the word “enjoy.”
When used correctly, adding a suffix to the end of a word can help to make any sentence more descriptive and sophisticated. Take for example the sentence “I am very happy”. Adding the suffix “-ly” to the end of “happy” changes the sentence to “I am very happily” - a more descriptive phrase to emphasize the degree of happiness. Using a convincing suffix can therefore help to give your sentence depth and emphasis.
The suffix is a powerful tool in the English language. Whether you are trying to create a new word or emphasize the original, understanding how suffixes operate and when to use them can help to unlock your full potential as a wordsmith. So don’t be afraid to get creative – experiment with suffixes to create the words and sentences that you desire! Improve Your Vocabulary With Suffixes
As non-native English speakers, one of the most effective ways to enhance our vocabulary is by familiarizing ourselves with different word endings, also known as suffixes. Suffixes are letters or groups of letters that are added to the end of a base word, resulting in a new word with a different meaning. By learning common suffixes, we can expand our vocabulary and better understand the meaning of words we encounter.
1. -ful: This suffix is used to indicate that something is full or contains a lot of a particular quality. For example, adding -ful to the word “beauty” creates “beautiful,” which means having a lot of beauty. By learning this suffix, we can easily form words like “grateful,” “cheerful,” or “useful.”
2. -less: When attached to a word, -less implies the absence or lack of a particular quality. For instance, adding -less to the word “fear” creates ”fearless,” meaning without fear. By understanding this suffix, we can easily comprehend words like “sleepless,” “careless,” or “endless.”
3. -ment: This suffix is used to create nouns from verbs, indicating an action, process, or result. For example, adding -ment to the verb “enjoy” creates “enjoyment,” denoting the act or state of enjoying something. By learning this suffix, we can effortlessly form words like “movement,” “development,” or “management.”
4. -able/-ible: These suffixes are added to verbs or nouns to form adjectives that indicate the ability or possibility of an action. For instance, adding -able to the verb “read” creates “readable,” meaning capable of being read. By mastering these suffixes, we can easily grasp words like “flexible,” ”reliable,” or “convertible.”
5. -ness: When added to an adjective or a noun, -ness creates a noun that represents a state or quality. For example, adding -ness to the adjective “kind” creates ”kindness,” denoting the state of being kind. By understanding this suffix, we can effortlessly comprehend words like “happiness,” “sadness,” or “hardness.”
6. -ize/-ise: These suffixes are used to form verbs from nouns or adjectives, indicating the act or process of doing something. For instance, adding -ize to the noun “modern” creates “modernize,” meaning to make something more modern. By mastering these suffixes, we can easily grasp words like “apologize,” ”visualize,” or “maximize.”
7. -er: When added to a verb, -er creates a noun that specifies a person or thing performing the action. For example, adding -er to the verb “teach” creates “teacher,” referring to a person who teaches. By learning this suffix, we can effortlessly form words like ”writer,” “singer,” or “learner.”
Remember, suffixes play a vital role in expanding our vocabulary and comprehending various words in English. By practicing with different suffixes and understanding their meanings, we can easily decipher new words and improve our overall English language skills. So, explore the fascinating world of suffixes and watch your vocabulary flourish!
Learning about suffixes is a great way to harness the power of language and make your writing more precise and sophisticated. They can be tricky to learn, but by understandingsuffixes, you can confidently create words that strengthen your writing and make a true impact with your readers. Take a moment to expand your word power and explore the world ofsuffixes today.