BGC SenegalThe art of upscaling your vocabulary requires harnessing the power of suffixes. Adding the right suffix to a word can have a transformative effect, taking a humble word to new heights.
In the language game of upscaling, suffixes set the tone, creating differentiated word forms of nouns, verbs, and adjectives. A nourishing noun like “flavor” can become a sensational adjective with the suffix “-ful,” creating “flavorful,” and the adjective “energetic” can become a rousing verb with the suffix “-ize” to make “energize.” Which suffix you choose comes down to the level of intensity your message requires.
Suffixes can spice up formal and informal conversation as well. For example, “unfortunate” and “inconvenient” can become the succinct and impactful “unfortuately” and “inconveniently.” Likewise, the adjective “easy” can become the catchy adverb “easily” or with an emphasis on the intensity of the action, the verb “-ify” can make the verb “intensify.”
Whether speaking in the boardroom or the classroom, the art of upscaling your mastery of language can inject new life into your conversations. Make use of suffixes to amplify your lexical repertoire, and you will be able to create an impressive, impactful presence with every word you choose. When you’re learning a new language, one of the best ways to improve your vocabulary is to understand and use suffixes. A suffix is a letter or group of letters that are added to the end of a word to form derivatives. In English, one of the most commonly used suffixes is -s. Adding -s to the end of a word can show possession, plurals, and variations of verb tenses.
Taking the time to learn common suffixes and how they are used in English can help you expand your vocabulary and make your speech sound more natural. Here are a few of the most commonly used suffixes:
1. -er and -or: Often used to indicate an agent doing an action, as in the words “teacher” and “actor.”
2. -ly: Usually used to create adverbs, such as “quickly” and “naturally.”
3. -ment: Used to make nouns from verbs, such as “enjoyment” and “development.”
4. -ness: Used to indicate a quality or state of being, such as “kindness” or “carelessness.”
5. -able and -ible: Added to adjectives to indicate something can be done, such as “changeable” or “thinkable.”
6. -tion and -ment: Used to form nouns out of verbs, such as “creation” and “improvement.”
7. -al and -ial: Used to indicate a relation or quality, such as “natural” and “confidential.”
8. -ous and -ous: Used to indicate a certain quality, such as “dangerous” and “spacious.”
Learning how to use suffixes in English can help you improve your vocabulary in a variety of ways. By understanding how these suffixes work, you can easily increase your word count and make your communication sound more natural. Taking the time to memorize some of the most common suffixes is an easy way to become more comfortable with English and to make your speech smoother.
Bringing the power of suffixes to your vocabulary expands your range of communication and helps you make conversations more interesting and enjoyable. No longer just an up-and-coming trend in the language learning community, upscaling your words is a tried and tested way to increase understanding and build more meaningful relationships. Empower your vocabulary with the art of upscaling!