Building Your Word Bank: Embellish Your Vocabularyâ with Suffixes
Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you plan to impress someone with âyour âexpansive âŁvocabulary and then realize that your vocabulary bank is running dry? With suffixes, you can unlock a world of words that will certainly enhance âyour word selection! Here is a guide to helpâ you build up your word bank by adding suffixes:
-ize/ise:
This suffix âis most commonly used forâ turning nouns into verbs (e.g. legalize, symbolize).â˘
-ary:
The second most common -ary⤠suffix serves as an adjective (e.g. necessary, obligatory).
-ment:
This suffix mainly serves as â˘a noun âŁdenoting an action (e.g. appointment, agreement).
-tion/sion:
This â˘suffix is â˘generally used to form nouns out of verbs (e.g. narration, recession).
-ance/ence:
This suffix⤠is popularly used to form nouns out of adjectives (e.g. relevance, obedience).
-al:
This suffix is typically⢠used to form adjectives and nouns⢠out of otherâ nouns (e.g. natural, seasonal).
-ism:
This suffix is commonly employed to denote beliefs âand is mostly used to turn nouns into abstract nouns⢠(e.g. tourism, racism).
-ty:
The -ty suffix is â¤employed to form abstract nouns from other words (e.g. irony, âmajority).
Once you â˘become familiar with the various â¤suffixes, âitâs a simple process of trial and error, so⤠get creative and start creating! Improve âYour⣠Vocabulary With Suffixes
As an English⤠learner, expanding your vocabulary isâ crucial in order to effectively communicate and comprehend â¤the language. One effective way to enhance your word power is through the use of suffixes. Suffixes are word parts that are added to the end of a base word, altering its meaning or function.⤠By incorporating suffixes into your studies, you can unlock⣠a whole new world of words and express yourself more precisely.
Oneâ common suffixâ that you may come across is “-ful”. Thisâ suffix is used to indicate fullness, abundance, or possessiveness. For example, adding “-ful”⤠to the word “joy” creates the word ⣔joyful,” meaning full of joy. âSimilarly, attaching “-ful”⢠to the word “help” results in “helpful,” conveying the idea of being beneficial⤠or providing assistance. By grasping the concept⣠of “-ful,” you can easily⢠form new⢠adjectivesâ to describe different qualities or characteristics.
Another useful⤠suffix is “-less.” When added to a base word, “-less” denotes the âabsenceâ or lack of something. âFor instance,⢠by adding “-less”â to the word “hope,” we derive “hopeless,” meaning without hope or feeling despair. Likewise, by attaching “-less” to the word “endless,” we create “endless,”⣠signifying without an end or limitless.â Understanding how âto use “-less” can allow you to âŁexpress negation or absence in an efficient way.
One â˘more common⣠suffix âto familiarize yourself with is “-able.” This suffix is used to form adjectives meaning “capable of” or “having the ability to.” By adding “-able” to a word, you create a new word that â˘suggests possibilityâ or capacity. For example, adding “-able” to the verb “read” âresults in “readable,” conveying the âidea that something is easy or enjoyable to read. Similarly, attaching “-able” to “understand” â¤creates the⤠word “understandable,”⢠meaning something is easy to grasp or comprehend. By âmastering the use of â”-able,” you canâ form adjectives to describe different abilities or potentials.
It is important to note that not all words can have âsuffixes added to them, as some words⤠do not follow specific patterns. However, by learning⤠and practicing with common suffixes, you will become more confident in recognizing and using â˘these âŁword parts effectively.
To further enhance⣠your vocabulary skills, try practicing suffixes âby reading extensively, noting down unfamiliar words with suffixes, and â˘looking âup their meanings.â You can also create flashcards to reinforce your understanding of suffixes⢠and their ârespective⢠meanings. Additionally, incorporating these newâ words in your conversations, writings, and daily activities will â¤solidify â¤your grasp on âŁtheir usage.
Expanding your vocabulary through the â˘use âof suffixes will not only improve your overall language skills but also enhance your abilityâ to express yourself more precisely. So, âtake the initiative, dive into the world of âsuffixes, and âwatch how your word power grows!
Now that you know the power of adding suffixes to your word bank, you can unleash the creativeâ forces within youâ to paint⣠vivid word pictures and put across your message â¤in an eloquent and âauthoritative way. So, âget out there, sign up for a suffix class, and start the journey of discovering how changing âthe ends âŁof words canâ open whole new avenues of comprehension and communication.