Suffixes are a great way to expand your word power and enhance your vocabulary. Here are the five most useful suffixes to add to your repertoire:
-able: This suffix adds the sense of “capable of being.” Examples include “eatable,” “drinkable,” and ”usable.”
-ive: This suffix creates adjectives that convey a quality or result in an action. Examples include “affective,” “exclusive,” and “inventive.”
-tion: This suffix turns a verb into a noun that represents the action of the verb. Examples include “nutrition,” “conversation,” and “examination.”
-ance: This suffix creates a noun that describes a condition or condition of being. Examples include “resistance,” “recognizance,” and “conformance.”
-er: This suffix creates a noun indicating a person who performs an action or performs a job. Examples include “reader,” “teacher,” and “actor. Improve Your Vocabulary With Suffixes
If you want to enhance your English vocabulary and communicate more effectively, learning suffixes is an excellent way to achieve that. Suffixes are letter patterns added to the end of a word to change or add meaning. This article will introduce you to some common suffixes and provide examples to help you understand their usage.
1. -ful: This suffix is used to express a quality or state of being. For instance, adding “-ful” to the word “care” creates “careful,” meaning cautious or attentive. Similarly, ”hopeful” describes someone who is optimistic or full of hope.
2. -less: When you add “-less” to a word, it negates the original meaning and suggests the absence or lack of something. For example, “fear” becomes “fearless,” meaning without fear or brave. Likewise, ”limit” changes to “limitless,” indicating something without restrictions or boundaries.
3. -er and -or: These suffixes are commonly used to indicate a person who performs a specific action or holds a particular role. For instance, by adding “-er” to “teach,” you get “teacher,” representing a person who educates others. Similarly, “actor” comprises “act” with the “-or” suffix, signifying someone who performs in a play or movie.
4. -able and -ible: These suffixes are added to verbs to create adjectives that express the ability or possibility of something. For example, “understand” becomes “understandable,” meaning capable of being understood. Similarly, “flex” turns into “flexible,” indicating something that is pliable or adaptable.
5. -tion and -sion: These suffixes transform verbs into nouns. Adding ”-tion” or “-sion” to a verb signifies an action, process, or state. For instance, “create” changes to ”creation,” representing the act or process of making something. Likewise, “express” becomes “expression,” indicating the way someone conveys their thoughts or feelings.
6. -ment: This suffix is used to form nouns and denotes a state or result of an action. For example, adding “-ment” to the verb “develop” creates “development,” representing the process of growing or advancing. Similarly, “enjoy” becomes “enjoyment,” indicating the state of finding pleasure in something.
7. -ness: When you add “-ness” to an adjective, it turns the word into a noun that describes a quality or condition. For instance, adding “-ness” to “kind” creates “kindness,” meaning the state or quality of being friendly and considerate. Similarly, ”happiness” describes the state of feeling joy or contentment.
Remember that understanding and using suffixes is an ongoing process. By learning and recognizing these patterns, you can expand your vocabulary and decipher the meaning of unfamiliar words more easily. Practicing suffixes through reading, writing, and conversation will allow you to incorporate them into your everyday language skills. So, embark on this exciting journey of vocabulary improvement and watch your English language proficiency soar!
You’ve now seen how you can use suffixes to expand your vocabulary and improve your word power! As you spend more time learning about words and their suffixes, you’ll be better equipped to express yourself on a deeper level. So, go ahead – start finding new words today and add them to your vocabulary armory. The best part: the more you practice, the more confidence you’ll have in your communication.