BGC SenegalExpand your vocabulary and boost your language skills by mastering suffixes! Becoming bilingual is as easy as adding a few endings to your words.
Start with the suffix “-ment,” which can create verbs from nouns and adjectives. For example, a ”medal” becomes a “medalment,” or something earned. An “adorable” becomes an “adorablement,” or something charming. The possibilities are boundless!
Use the suffix “-able” to make adjectives out of nouns. A ”shovel” is now ”shovelable,” or something that can be done with a shovel. A “speaker” is now “speakable,” or something that can be done with a speaker.
Work on the suffix “-ive” to describe a particular characteristic. An “organ” can now be “organive,” or something related to an organ. A “nation” can become “nationive,” or something related to a nation.
You’ll be surprised what new words you can make with just a few suffixes! And, as always, practice makes perfect. Expand your word bank, explore different combinations, and Have fun! Improve Your Vocabulary With Suffixes
As non-native English speakers, one of the most effective ways to enhance our vocabulary is by learning and utilizing suffixes. Suffixes are added to the end of a word and can change its meaning or function. By familiarizing ourselves with common suffixes, we can expand our word bank and communicate more effectively in English.
Let’s explore some common suffixes and their meanings to help us on our journey to mastering the English language:
1. -able/-ible: This suffix means “capable of” or ”worthy of.” For example, “loveable” means able to be loved, and “flexible” means capable of being bent or adjusted. By recognizing this suffix, we can easily understand and use words with similar endings.
2. -er/-or: This suffix denotes a person who performs an action or holds a specific occupation. For instance, a “teacher” is someone who teaches, and a “doctor” is a medical professional. By identifying the -er/-or suffix, we can effortlessly grasp the roles and professions associated with these words.
3. -ful: Adding this suffix to a word creates a new word that indicates a state of being full or characterized by something. For example, “grateful” means full of gratitude, and “peaceful” means characterized by peace. Understanding this suffix enables us to express emotions and qualities more precisely.
4. -ity/-ty: When added to a noun, this suffix signifies a condition, quality, or state related to that particular noun. “Honesty” refers to the quality of being honest, and “creativity” represents the state of being creative. By recognizing the -ity/-ty suffix, we can better understand and utilize these types of words.
5. -less: This suffix indicates the absence or lack of something. For instance, “thoughtless” means lacking thought, and “careless” means lacking care. By identifying the -less suffix, we can grasp the negative connotation associated with these words.
6. -ment: When added to a verb, this suffix forms a noun that represents the action or result of that verb. For example, “achievement” represents the act of achieving, and “enjoyment” denotes the state of enjoying something. Recognizing the -ment suffix allows us to comprehend and employ these types of nouns effortlessly.
By familiarizing ourselves with these common suffixes, we can greatly expand our vocabulary and develop a deeper understanding of the English language. Practice using words with different suffixes in context to solidify their meanings and improve your overall language proficiency.
Additionally, reading extensively in English will expose us to a wide range of words with various suffixes. Make a habit of noting down new words and their meanings, paying particular attention to the suffixes that contribute to their formation.
Remember, vocabulary growth is a gradual process. Don’t overwhelm yourself by trying to learn all the suffixes at once. Take it step by step and practice incorporating them into your daily conversations and written work. With time and perseverance, you will witness a remarkable improvement in your English vocabulary and proficiency. So let’s embrace the power of suffixes and elevate our language skills to new heights!
Are you worried about how much time it could take to learn about suffixes? Well, don’t worry because learning suffixes can actually be quite fun and even rewarding! Instead of learning passively, give your new knowledge a spin and start creating words to your heart’s desire. Mastering the art of suffixes has never been easier – you’ll be speaking and writing like a pro in no time!