BGC SenegalUnlock a deeper knowledge of language by learning the power of suffixes! Start your journey to a better understanding of the English language by exploring the meaning behind the suffixes commonly found in words. Get creative and have fun with words as you explore how suffixes can change the meaning of words and open up a whole new world of communication. Improving your vocabulary can be a difficult task, especially for non-English speakers. One method that can be easily used to enhance your English fluency is to learn and use suffixes. Suffixes are groups of letters that can be added to the end of a root word to change its meaning. Many different suffixes are used in the English language, and understanding how and when to use them can help to give your vocabulary a boost.
Let’s take a look at some of the more commonly used suffixes and see how they can be added to English words.
The suffix “less” can be used to make an English word indicate an absence or lack of something. For example, if you want to describe someone who is not able to work due to an illness, you can use the word “useless” since the “less” suffix added to the root work “use” implies that “there is no use.” Other examples of the “less” suffix are “homeless,” which implies that the person has no home, and “childless,” which implies the person has no children.
The suffix ”ment” is typically used to indicate an action or process. For example, a “development” is the process by which something develops, and a “payment” is the act of paying for something. Other examples of this suffix are “experiment,” which refers to a scientific test, and “announcement,” which indicates a formal proclamation.
The suffix “ness” usually denotes a condition, status, or quality of something. To refer to a person who is very neat, you could use the word “neatness,” and to refer to someone who is feeling very tired you could use ”tiredness.” Other examples of words with the “ness” suffix include “kindness,” which refers to good or charitable behavior, and “sharpness,” which describes a keen or cutting edge.
The suffix “ism” usually implies an ideology, belief system, or practice. For instance, “communism” is an ideology in which property is held in common, while “capitalism” is an economic system in which private owners control the means of production. Other examples include “racism,” which implies a belief in the superiority of one race over others, and “consumerism,” which is the practice of buying a large amount of goods for personal consumption.
By learning and using these and other suffixes, you can quickly enhance your English vocabulary and improve your fluency. Good luck!
Grasping the concept and meaning of suffixes takes time, but it’s worth the effort! Equipping yourself with the knowledge of suffixes will assist you in improving your language abilities and will help open up a world of communication opportunities. With a few handy suffixes tucked away in your back pocket, you can excel your language learning on the path to fluency!