BGC SenegalSuffixes can be powerful tools in expanding your lexicon and your linguistic horizons. A suffix is a word ending that changes the meaning of a word. By connecting suffixes to the stem of the word, such as adding “-able” to a verb, you can make an adjective that allows you to talk about the possibility of something happening. For example, “comfort” can be transformed to “comfortable” to describe the feeling of coziness.
Not only are suffixes useful to make new adjectives, but they can also change a word from one part of speech to another. For example, connecting “-ize” to a noun can produce a verb, like adding “hero” and “-ize” to make “heroize”. They can also help to form nouns referring to a person connected to a particular occupation, such as connecting “teen” and “-ager” to form “teenager”.
Suffixes can also help to form the past or present participles of verbs. Try connecting “-ed” to a verb to make the past simple tense - such as transform ”walk” into “walked”. On the flip side, adding ”-ing” to a verb can help to create the present continuous tense, like turning “run” into “running”.
Unlock the power of suffixes to expand your lexicon and be a master of language! Improve Your Vocabulary With Suffixes
As non-English speakers, expanding our vocabulary is a crucial step towards mastering the English language. One effective way to achieve this is by learning how to use suffixes. Suffixes are small word parts that are added to the end of a root word to modify its meaning and create new words.
By understanding and utilizing suffixes, we can enhance our vocabulary and express ourselves more clearly in both written and spoken English. Here are some common suffixes and their meanings to get you started:
1. -er/-or: This suffix is often used to indicate a person or thing that performs a particular action or has a specific quality. For example, a “teacher” is someone who teaches, and a “writer” is someone who writes.
2. -able/-ible: These suffixes are used to form adjectives that mean ”capable of” or “able to be.” For instance, if something is “reliable,” it can be relied upon, and if something is “flexible,” it can be easily bent or adapted.
3. -ful/-less: Adding “-ful” to a word creates an adjective that means “full of” or “having a large amount of.” On the other hand, the suffix “-less” is used to form adjectives that mean “without” or “lacking.” For example, “careful” means full of care, while “careless” means without care.
4. -ist: Adding this suffix to a word forms a noun that refers to a person who practices or has expertise in a specific field. For instance, a ”pianist” is a person who plays the piano, and an “artist” is a person skilled in creating art.
5. -ment: This suffix is commonly used to form nouns from verbs, indicating an action, process, or result. For example, “movement” refers to the act or process of moving, and “development” refers to the process of developing or becoming more advanced.
6. -able/-ible: Similar to the previous suffixes mentioned, adding “-able” or “-ible” to a verb creates an adjective that means “capable of” or “able to be.” For example, “collectable” means able to be collected, and “audible” means able to be heard.
7. -ly: This suffix is used to form adverbs from adjectives, indicating manner or quality. Adding “-ly” to an adjective often changes the word into an adverb. For instance, “quick” becomes “quickly” and “careful” becomes “carefully.”
Learning and practicing these suffixes will not only improve your vocabulary but also help you understand and create more words in English. You can start by identifying root words and then adding the appropriate suffix to form new words. Additionally, make use of dictionaries, online resources, and language-learning apps to further enhance your skills.
Remember, building vocabulary takes time and consistent effort, so be patient with yourself. Embrace the process as it will undoubtedly contribute to your fluency and overall mastery of the English language. Happy learning!
Whether it’s deepening your knowledge of a language or just trying to win at Words with Friends, adding suffixes to your lexicon will help open up a whole new world of words. Embrace the power of suffixes and expand your vocabulary today!