Suffix

Definition

A suffix is a letter or group of letters added at the end of a word to change its meaning or grammatical function. Suffixes can alter the part of speech of a word, such as turning a noun into an adjective or a verb into a noun, and are essential for understanding word formation and vocabulary expansion.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Suffixes can indicate the tense of verbs, such as adding '-ed' for past tense or '-ing' for present participle.
2. Some common suffixes include '-ly' to form adverbs (quickly), '-ful' to form adjectives (joyful), and '-ness' to form nouns (happiness).
3. Suffixes can also be used to create diminutive forms, such as '-ette' in 'kitchenette', suggesting a smaller version of something.
4. Understanding suffixes helps improve vocabulary and comprehension, allowing learners to decipher unfamiliar words by breaking them down into their components.
5. Suffixes can affect pronunciation; for example, adding '-ed' can change the way a word is pronounced, as in 'played' versus 'hunted'.

Review Questions

• How do suffixes change the meaning and grammatical function of words?
  • Suffixes modify the meanings of root words and alter their grammatical function. For instance, adding '-ing' to a verb transforms it into a present participle, while attaching '-ness' to an adjective creates a noun. This demonstrates how suffixes expand vocabulary by allowing one root word to convey multiple meanings based on its ending.
• Compare and contrast suffixes with prefixes in terms of their impact on word formation.
  • Both suffixes and prefixes are crucial in word formation but operate at different ends of a word. Suffixes are added to the end of a root word to change its meaning or part of speech, while prefixes are added to the beginning. For example, 'happy' becomes 'happiness' with a suffix, while 'un-' can turn 'happy' into 'unhappy' with a prefix. This shows that both are essential tools for modifying words but affect different aspects of their structure.
• Evaluate the importance of understanding suffixes in enhancing language skills and vocabulary acquisition.
  • Grasping the use of suffixes is vital for enhancing language skills and vocabulary acquisition because it allows individuals to decode unfamiliar words and understand their meanings based on familiar components. By recognizing common suffix patterns, learners can infer meanings and expand their vocabulary significantly. This skill not only aids in reading comprehension but also empowers students in writing by providing them with the tools to create diverse expressions and articulate thoughts more effectively.

Related terms

prefix:

A prefix is a letter or group of letters added at the beginning of a word to create a new meaning or alter its function.

root: The root is the base part of a word that carries its core meaning and can have prefixes or suffixes added to it.

inflection: Inflection refers to the modification of a word to express different grammatical categories, often using suffixes to indicate tense, mood, voice, aspect, person, number, gender, and case.