BGC Senegal

Welcome to the world of suffixes! The ability to add suffixes to your vocabulary can seem like a daunting and tedious task, but it doesn’t have to be. With a bit of practice and a few notes, you can enrich your word selection and gain added insight into how language works.

Suffixes are defined as any letter or group of letters added to the end of a word to change its meaning. This can take on the form of a noun, verb, adjective, or adverb. For example, the suffix “-tion” can be added to the verb “educate”, creating the noun “education”.

By having an understanding of suffixes, you will be able to better communicate and understand the written and spoken language. Plus, adding these suffixes to your everyday vocabulary will help you sound more intelligent and confident when speaking and writing.

Now that you have an idea of what suffixes are, let’s test your understanding. Below are some common suffixes and their definitions. Can you give an example of how each suffix can be used in a sentence?

• -able/-ible: This suffix means “able to be” or “capable of being”.
Example: The dress was comfortable and washable – I will be able to wear it again!

• -tion/-sion: This suffix indicates action of a specific kind.
Example: There was a huge explosion in the town square – the result of the detonation.

• -ment/-ment: This suffix means “the act of”.
Example: The government is responsible for the implementation of new laws.

• -ful: This suffix means “full of”.
Example: He was truly regretful after realizing his mistake.

Now it’s time to see your newfound knowledge put to the test. Take a few moments to think of a sentence that uses one or more of the suffixes above.

Example: He was so helpful during the difficult situation, offering assistance and positive encouragement. .

Do you want to increase your English vocabulary? One of the best ways to do this is by learning to use different word endings, also known as suffixes. Learning how to use suffixes can give you a great deal of flexibility when it comes to expressing yourself in the English language. In this article, we will discuss what a suffix is, how to use suffixes in English and some of the most common suffixes to help you improve your English vocabulary.

What Is a Suffix?
A suffix is a letter or group of letters that is added to the end of a word. Adding a suffix to the end of a word can often give it an entirely new meaning. There are four main categories of suffixes: adjectival, adverbial, nominal and verbal.

Adjectival suffixes are used to change a word to an adjective. Examples of adjectival suffixes include -able, -ful, -less and -y.

Adverbial suffixes are used to change a word to an adverb. Examples of adverbial suffixes include -ly, -ward and -wise.

Nominal suffixes are used to change a word to a noun. Examples of nominal suffixes include -ism, -ment and -ness.

Verbal suffixes are used to change a word to a verb. Examples of verbal suffixes include -en and -ize.

Using Suffixes to Improve Your English Vocabulary
One of the best ways to improve your English vocabulary is to learn how to use different suffixes. Not only can you create new words by adding them to the end of a word, but you can also easily remember new words because they will often be related to words you already know. For example, if you already know the word “happy”, it is easy to remember the related adjective “happiness” by adding the suffix -ness to the word.

The Most Common Suffixes
The following is a list of some of the most common suffixes in English and their meanings.

-able: capable of being done
-ful: full of
-less: without
-y: full of
-ly: in a certain way
-ward: towards
-wise: in the manner of
-ism: a system of belief or practice
-ment: the result of an action
-ness: having the quality of
-en: made of
-ize: to make into

Conclusion
Suffixes are an invaluable tool for expanding your English vocabulary. By learning how to use them, you can create new words from words you already know and increase your English fluency. Keep this list of common suffixes in mind and try to use them in your writing and conversations to become a better English speaker.

Suffixes are a powerful tool to expand your vocabulary and express yourself in a nuanced way.

So why not start suffixing your way to a more descriptive and effective use of language today? You and your words will be better for it.