BGC SenegalSuffixes are an important part of English vocabulary that can be used to create more words from existing ones. Mastering suffixes can expand your vocabulary and help you to express yourself more precisely.
-able: Used to create adjectives from verbs or nouns that express the ability to do something. Examples: Readable, manageable, peaceable.
-al: Used to form adjectives from nouns. Examples: Mental, seasonal, natural
-ence/-ance: Used to form nouns that describe an action or state. Examples: Presence, absent, tolerance
-er: Used to form nouns that denote a person who does something or a thing that does something. Examples: Maker, officer, teacher
-ful: Used to form adjectives that denote having or characterized by a specified quality. Examples: Fearful, useful, shameful
-ible/-bly: Used to form adjectives that denote ability, quality, or state. Examples: Flexible, painfully, incredibly
-ion: Used to form nouns that denote the action or result of a verb. Examples: Union, connection, translation.
-ly: Used to form adverbs from adjectives. Examples: Quickly, loudly, truly
-ness: Used to form abstract nouns from adjectives indicating a condition, state, or quality. Examples: Happiness, darkness, carelessness.
-ment/-tion: Used to form nouns that denote an action or process. Examples: Enjoyment, attendance, revolution.
-ship: Used to form nouns that denote a state or quality. Examples: Friendship, partnership, leadership.
-sion/-tion: Used to form nouns that denote the action or state expressed by a verb. Examples: Decision, mission, permission. Improve Your Vocabulary With Suffixes
If you are learning English as a non-native speaker, one of the most effective ways to expand your vocabulary is by learning and understanding suffixes. Suffixes are word elements that are added to the end of a base word to create new words or modify the meaning of existing words. By familiarizing yourself with common suffixes, you can significantly enhance your understanding and usage of the English language.
Suffixes can alter the part of speech of a word, change its tense, indicate plurality, or even modify its overall meaning. For example, by adding the suffix “-er” to the base word “teach,” you form the noun “teacher.” The suffix “-er” denotes a person who performs a particular action. Similarly, adding “-tion” to the verb “educate” transforms it into the noun “education,” representing the act or process of educating.
Learning common suffixes will enable you to comprehend and utilize a broader range of words. Some suffixes you may encounter frequently include “-ful,” which means full of or characterized by; “-less,” meaning without or lacking; “-ly,” indicating in what manner or to what degree; and ”-able,” suggesting capable of or having the quality of.
Incorporating suffixes into your vocabulary not only helps you understand the meaning of new words but also allows you to create your own words. For instance, by attaching “-ish” to the noun “book,” you can form the adjective “bookish,” which describes someone who loves books or has a scholarly disposition. Knowing this suffix empowers you to create descriptive words expressing various traits or qualities.
A valuable exercise to improve your vocabulary with suffixes is to compile a list of base words and their corresponding suffix forms. For example, take the base word “friend.” By experimenting with different suffixes, you can generate words like “friendly,” “friendship,” ”unfriendly,” or even ”befriend.” Writing down these words and their meanings will help you internalize and remember them more effectively.
Understanding suffixes will also enable you to decipher the meaning of unfamiliar words when reading or listening to English. Sometimes, breaking down a word into its base and suffix can provide valuable clues about its meaning. This skill becomes especially useful when encountering complex or technical vocabulary.
In conclusion, learning and mastering suffixes is a powerful tool for improving your vocabulary and fluency in English. By understanding the various ways suffixes can change the meaning and form of words, you can expand your ability to understand, interpret, and communicate in the English language. So, embrace the world of suffixes and unlock a world of words!
Your mastery of suffixes will help you to expand your vocabulary and advance your language capabilities. By understanding the various suffixes, you will be able to determine the meaning of words and phrases you may have never heard before. Now that you have the tools to practice, you can be sure to ascend to levels of conversation and comprehension that you never thought possible.