BGC SenegalDo you ever find yourself throwing away time, scuffling âthrough a dictionary âto find âthe perfect âword for your⤠writing? Building a nimble vocabulary can sometimes be a challenge, but with practice you can refineâ your skill.â One way to quickly â˘up your word knowledge is âtoâ master âsuffixes.
Suffixes are letter combinations added to âthe âend of a âroot word which change its meaning or function. Understanding⤠how to⤠add⣠and recognize suffixes can not only help recognize new words, but alsoâ expand your understanding of English language. So, let’s look at some of the moreâ commonly used suffixes and how you can use them!
-tion/-sion: This suffix is added to verbs to transform them into nouns. Words like ‘represent’, ‘innovate’, â˘and⣠‘persuade’, can be changed into ‘representation’, ‘innovation’,⤠and ‘persuasion’ – great for describing actions in greaterâ detail.
-or/-ar: This suffix is used to describe a person or thing that performs a particular job. A few examples include ‘accuse’ becoming ‘accuser’, ‘educate’⢠becoming ‘educator’, and ‘manipulate’ becomingâ ‘manipulator’.
-able/-ible: This suffix âŁis used âŁto âidentify an action which can, or cannot, be done. âŁAdding this to âthe root word dictates whether the action is doable or not. ‘inaudible’,â for example, âmeans a sound cannot be heard;⤠‘visible’ means itâ can be seen,⤠andâ ‘understandable’ âimplies something can be comprehended.
-ment: To describeâ an outcome from a particular âŁaction, â˘take the âŁroot word and add the⢠suffix -ment. For example, change ‘judge’ toâ ‘judgment’, ‘govern’ to ‘government’, or ‘prepare’ to ‘preparation’.
These are some of the most commonly used English suffixes and âŁare great to practice when trying to further your vocabulary. â¤See â¤what⤠combinations you can come up âwith yourself! Soon enough, you’ll âmaster these âŁsuffixes and â¤will be able âto quickly speed through the⢠dictionary.
Take some time to explore these suffixes and add them to your â¤personal word bank. In no âtime, âyou’ll be effortlessly using them with your writing, and will âhave a more nimble âŁvocabulary.â Improve Your Vocabulary With â˘Suffixes
As non-native English speakers,⢠one of the key aspects of mastering the language is enhancing your vocabulary. A powerful tool to achieve this is by⢠familiarizing yourself with âŁdifferent word forms and⤠their meanings. Suffixes play a crucial role in expandingâ your vocabulary as âŁthey are added to the end of a base⣠word, âmodifyingâ its meaning. By understanding âcommonly used suffixes, youâ can easily decipher the meaning â¤of unfamiliar words and grasp the context in which they⣠are used.
Let’sâ explore â¤some common suffixes and how they can significantlyâ boost your vocabulary:
1. -tion/-sion:⤠This suffix is commonly used to transform verbs intoâ nouns. For instance, transforming “educate” into “education” or “discuss” into “discussion.” By recognizingâ this pattern, youâ can quickly understand⢠the concept of the noun related to the verb.
2. -able/-ible: Adding this suffix to aâ base word creates an adjective meaning “capable of” or “worthy of.” Consider the words “comfortable” or “flexible” as⤠examples. Byâ understanding this pattern, you⤠can identify the characteristics⣠or qualities associated with the base⢠word.
3. -ful: Adding this suffix to a⢠word results in another adjective, meaning “full of” â˘or “characterized by.” Take the words “careful” or “grateful” as examples. By⢠recognizing the -ful suffix, you can easily discern the nature orâ attribute of⢠the â¤base word.
4. -ment: This suffix transforms â˘a verb âŁinto a noun, often indicating the result or process of⤠an⢠action.â For example, “improve” becomes “improvement” or “develop” â˘becomes “development.” Understanding this suffix helps you identify the outcome or consequence of a particular action.
5. -er/-or: Adding â˘this suffix to a base word usually⤠creates a noun, â¤indicating a person or thing that performs a âparticular action. Consider the words “teacher” orâ “actor” as examples. By recognizing this pattern, â˘you â˘can easily âidentify the doer or⤠performer associated with the base word.
6. -ize/-ise: This â˘suffix is commonly used⢠to transform a noun or adjective into a verb. âFor instance, â”public” becomes “publicize” or “apologize” becomes “apologize.”â Recognizing this pattern âallows you⢠to comprehend how â˘words are converted into actions or processes.
7. -less: Adding this âsuffix to âŁa word creates an adjective, â˘indicating the absence orâ lack of something. For example, “harmless”â or “fearless.” Understanding this pattern enables you to recognize the negation or absence of a specific attribute.
By familiarizing yourself with these commonly used â˘suffixes, you can improve your vocabulary effortlessly. Understanding the meaning of⤠various suffixes allows â¤you to decode unfamiliar words withoutâ relying solely on⤠a âdictionary. Moreover,â it enables you to comprehend the context and nuances in which the wordsâ are being used, thereby enhancing your overall language skills.
To further improve your grasp of suffixes, â¤regularly âpractice reading and writing with a focus on identifying these word-forming elements. âŁUtilize online resources, â˘such as word-building gamesâ or â˘exercises, to⤠reinforce âyour⤠understanding.â Additionally, âexpand your exposure⤠to English âtexts, both written and âspoken, to encounter a wide variety of words⤠with distinct suffixes.
Remember, persistence and consistency âare key when⣠it comes to â˘improving your vocabulary. Embrace âthe power ofâ suffixes and unlock a whole new world of words, âempowering you to communicate effectively â˘and fluently in English.
Spice up your conversations, show⤠off yourâ expansive vocabularly, and just generally feel more secure in your wordsmithy âby mastering âa few select suffixes. Expand your word knowledge today andâ see the results tomorrow!