 Prof.

Virginia Benítez
• Word element that is placed after the root.

• It changes the word's meaning as well as

its function (use).
 SUFFIXES
We normally use suffixes to change a word to a different part of speech:
employ (verb) + er = employer (noun). Sometimes a suffix produces a
change in meaning: neighbor + hood = neighborhood.
We use the following suffixes to make nouns:
Form use examples

Verb+er forms a noun that describes sb’s teach – teacher

Verb+or occupation, or what sb does act – actor

Verb+er forms a noun that describes what work – worker

something does

Verb/noun+ee forms a noun that describes employ – employee

what sb does, or who sb is
 Form use examples
Verb/noun+ing forms a noun that describes draw – drawing
an example or act

Noun+eer forms a noun that says what mountain – mountaineer

activity somebody does

Noun/verb/adj+ist forms a noun that expresses violin – violinist

sb’s belief or occupation Buddha – Buddhist

Adjective+ity forms an abstract noun lexible – flexibility

Adjective+ness forms an abstract noun happy – happiness

Noun+hood forms an abstract noun brother – brotherhood

Noun+ship forms an abstract noun friend – friendship

 Form Use Examples
Adjective+bility forms an abstract noun reliable – reliability

Verb+ance,ence forms an abstract noun admit – admittance

Verb+ment forms an abstract noun achieve – achievement

Verb+(a)tion, forms an abstract noun form – formation

(i)tion or sion produce - production
omit – omission
SUFFIXES THAT FORM ADJECTIVES
Word Suffix Example
Noun+al season+al seasonal
Noun+ive act+ive active
Noun+ous danger+ous dangerous
Noun+ful care+ful careful
Noun+less care+less careless
 LESS COMMON NOUN AND ADJECTIVE SUFFIXES

Noun suffix example

Ure close – closure press – pressure

Y discover – discovery honest – honesty

Cy fluent – fluency tend – tendency

Dom free – freedom king - kingdom

Adjective suffix example

Cal geography – geographical history – historical

en deep – deepen broad – broaden

 SUFFIXES THAT FORM VERBS

Suffix Example

-ate gradu + ate graduate

-ed at + tain + ed attained
-en moist + en moisten
-er, -or pond + er ponder
clam + or clamor
-ify spec + ify specify
-ing de + pict + ing depicting
-ize fant + as + ize fantasize
-ure con + ject + ure conjecture
 SUFFIXES THAT FORM ADVERBS

Suffix Example

-fold four + fold fourfold

-ly flu + ent + ly fluently

-ward home + ward homeward

-wise time + wise timewise

 EXCERCISES

Using the suffixes below, change the words in bold to complete these
sentences: -ally, -ment, -ify, -ous, -ward, -able, -ish

READABLE
1. Simpler language would make this report more _______________. READ
2. What do people in your country eat ________________
TRADITIONALLY at Christmas?
TRADITION
BROWNISH colour. BROWN
3. When I mixed all the paints together, I got a ___________
SIMPLIFY
5. I think you should __________ these instructions-they are too
complicated. SIMPLE
6. Passing your driving test was quite an _________________
ACHIEVEMENT . ACHIEVE
POISONOUS
8. Don't eat those berries-they are ______________________ . POISON
9. Travel ________________
NORTHWARD for about eight miles until you reach a junction.
NORTH
•A person who believes in the political theories of
analyst
Karl Marx is a
actor
•A person who studies financial information is an
•A person who donates his/her kidney when patriotism

he/she dies is a donor

•The person to whom a letter is sent is the
Marxist
•Money given to charity is a
donation
•A person who uses violence to achieve political
change is a addressee
•A person who performs in a theatre is an alteration
•A person who is learning to do a job is
terrorist
•A change made to something is an
•A deep love of one’s country is known as trainee