BGC SenegalSharpening Your Pen: A Guide âto Acquiring Vocabulary With Suffixes
If âŁyouâre looking⣠to sharpen your pen andâ improve your command â¤of English, youâre in luck! Learning to use suffixes is one of⢠the easiest ways to beef up your English vocabulary and soundâ eloquent in any situation.
Suffixes in English are groups of letters that are attached to the end â¤of words to create new words with different meanings and shades ofâ meaning. âThisâ guide⢠delves into the power of English suffixes and shows you how they can âŁbe used âto help âboost your vocabulary.
The helpful thing about suffixes is that many of them have a common pattern, meaningâ that you can often understand the âmeaning of âa word simply by knowing the â¤suffix! Here are some of the most commonâ suffixesâ used âin English, and a â˘few examples of how they can be used â˘to build new words:
-er: The suffix -er can be used to⢠create words that refer toâ one⢠who does a particular action. For example, the word âteacherâ refers to one who teaches âand the word âpainterâ refers to one who⤠paints.
-ment: This suffix usually⢠denotes the result or the⣠end product of a verb. For instance, the word âenjoymentâ refers to the feeling of â¤joy⤠that comes from doing something enjoyable, while âthe word âmovementâ refersâ to the act⣠of moving.
-ly: This suffix usually denotes a certain quality or characteristic. For example, the word âfriendlyâ means someone who is friendly and the wordâ âlikelyâ means something that is likely to happen or be true.
-tion:⤠This suffix denotes an action or a process. â˘For instance, the word âexamineâ is an⢠actionâ and the word âexaminationâ âis the process of examining something.
-able/-ible: These suffixes â¤usually indicate that the root word is something that can be done. For⤠example, the word âinstructâ is an action and the word âinstructableâ indicates that the âŁaction can be âdone.
-ful: This suffix usually indicates⣠that the root word is something or someone with a certain quality or ability. For instance, the word âgratefulâ indicates that⢠someone is grateful and âthe word âskillfulâ âindicatesâ that someone is⣠skilled.
-ize: This suffix denotes the action of making something. Forâ example, the word⢠âmodernizeâ means to make something modern and the word ârealizeâ means to âmake something real.
Now that âyou have a better understanding of the power of suffixes, youâll be able to use them toâ your advantageâ when it comes to building an impressive English âvocabulary. So sharpen your pen, and use the above âsuffix examples to start⣠broadening your knowledge⣠and increasing your verbal power! Improve Your Vocabularyâ With Suffixes
One of the key aspects⤠of masteringâ English as a non-native⢠speaker is expanding your vocabulary. Having a wide range of words⢠at your disposal allows â¤you to express your âthoughts and ideas more precisely. While learning individual words is important, understanding how to use suffixes can significantly enhance your vocabulary. A suffix is a group of âletters attached to the end of a root word, which changes its meaning or function.⣠By recognizing and utilizing suffixes, you can unlock a vast array âof new words.
Suffixes can be⢠categorizedâ into different types, each adding its unique meaning to the⢠root word. Let’s âexplore some common suffixes that you canâ incorporate into your vocabulary-building journey:
1. -able/-ible: Adding this suffix to a verb⤠creates an adjective, âmeaning ⤔capable of” or “can be.” For example, by adding “able” to the word “predict,” you âget “predictable,” indicating something⣠that is expected or foreseeable.
2. -er/-or: This suffix is often attached to a verb â¤to form a noun, meaning ⤔a person who does.” For instance, the verb “teach” transforms into the noun “teacher” or “one who teaches.”
3.⣠-less: This suffix can âbe added⢠to nouns, verbs, and adjectives to create an adjective, meaningâ “without” or “lacking.” For instance, the adjective “careful”⣠becomes â”careless,” implying the absence of caution or attention.
4.â -ness: When added to â˘an adjective, this suffix creates a noun, âindicating a state or quality. As an example, the adjective “happy” changes to the noun “happiness,” representing the state of being happy.
5. -ity/-ty: By attaching this suffix to an adjective, you can form⣠a noun denoting the quality⣠or⣠state of that adjective. For instance, the adjective “possible” becomes the noun “possibility,”â reflecting⤠the state of being able to happen or exist.
6. -ment: This suffix is typically⤠added to a⣠verb to create a⢠noun, indicating an action, process, orâ result. âŁFor example,⤠when added to⢠the⢠verb “develop,” âyou get “development,” conveying the process of growth or progress.
7.⣠-ful/-less: Addingâ “ful” or “less” to a â¤noun âor adjective â¤creates an adjective, meaning “full of” or “without.” For example,⢠adding ⤔ful” to the noun “help” gives âyou “helpful,” indicating someone or something âthat provides assistance.
By familiarizing⤠yourself with these common suffixes, you can decipher and construct new words with ease. Additionally, understanding suffixes enables you to deduce the meaning of unfamiliar words, even if you haven’t encountered âŁthem before.
To practice using suffixes, try incorporating them into your daily⣠conversations and â˘writings. Challenge yourself to identify and analyze the suffixes used in the texts you read or listen to. Engaging in word puzzles, such as crosswords âor word searches, can also help you improve your grasp of suffixes.
Remember, âbuilding an âextensive vocabulary takes time â¤and effort, but with an understanding of suffixes, you â¤can invigorate your word bank and enhance your English communication skills. So,â embraceâ the power of âŁsuffixes and watch your vocabulary flourish!
When⤠itâ comes to acquiring new vocabulary, sharpening your pencil can payâ off big dividends â¤forâ your long-term language skills. By gaining aâ better⣠understanding of common suffixes, you can âopen yourself up âto a⣠whole world of new words!â Who knows, maybe with all the new words⢠you learn, â˘you might even write the next⤠great novel â but regardless, âŁyou’ll âhave a greater appreciation for the â¤English language.