BGC SenegalBuilding your English lexicon with word suffixes is an excellent way to express yourself in the English language. With Suffixes you can add a variety of meanings to existing words, allowing you to express yourself in new ways.
Let’s start with some of the classic suffixes. Adding ‘-ize’ to the end of a word will turn it into a verb. For example, adding ‘-ize’ to the word ‘organize’ will give you ‘organize’. This new word is a verb and describes the action ‘to organize’.
When you add ‘-ly’ to the end of a word, you create an adverb. For example, adding ‘-ly’ to the word ‘happy’ will give you ‘happily’. This new word is an adverb and describes how something is done.
By adding ‘-er’ to the end of a word you can create a comparator. For example, adding ‘-er’ to the word ‘big’ will give you ‘Bigger’. This new word is used to compare two sizes.
Adding ‘-ment’ to the end of a word makes a noun. For example, adding ‘-ment’ to the word ‘enjoy’ will give you ‘enjoyment’. This new word is a noun which describes something that can be enjoyed.
There are a wide variety of suffixes which can be used to create different parts of speech. Experiment with the various suffixes and watch your English lexicon grow! Are you trying to find ways to improve your vocabulary in a meaningful and effective way? If so, consider focusing on suffixes and how they can help you learn new words.
A suffix is a letter or a group of letters that is added to the end of a word to change its meaning. For example, the suffix “-ful” is added to the word “help” to create the new word “helpful.”
By understanding the different types of suffixes and their meanings, you can use them to figure out the meaning of new words and add them to your vocabulary. To help you get started, here are some of the most common suffixes and their meanings:
-able: is often used to make descriptive adjectives that describe the ability to do something. For example, “readable” means something that can be read.
-er: is used to compare two words. For example, “stronger” means something that is stronger than something else.
-ful: is used to make an adjective that describes something that is full of something. For example, “beautiful” means something that is full of beauty.
-ish: is used to make a noun more vague or unspecified. For example, “somethingish” means something that is vaguely like something else.
-ly: is used to make an adverb that describes the manner in which something is done. For example, “carefully” means something that is done carefully.
-ment: is used to make a noun that describes an action or process. For example, “treatment” describes the action of treating something.
-ness: is used to make an abstract noun that describes a quality or state of being. For example, “happiness” describes the state of being happy.
-tion: is used to make a noun derived from a verb that describes the action of doing something. For example, “communication” describes the action of communicating.
-y: is used to make an adjective that describes a quality. For example, “lucky” describes the quality of being lucky.
By taking the time to learn about the various suffixes and their meanings, you can add new words and concepts to your vocabulary in a meaningful and effective way. What’s more, by understanding suffixes, you’ll be better equipped to deduce the meanings of words you may stumble upon as you continue to learn about the English language.
By understanding the common word suffixes used in the English language, you’ve armed yourself with the tools you need to make your vocabulary go further. With the knowledge of how to play with suffixes, you’ll soon find yourself creating words out of thin air! Now that you’re armed and ready to go, challenge yourself and see how many new words you can craft. Make up your own suffixes if you can’t find the one you’re looking for — anything goes in English lexicon and the creative possibilities are practically endless!