Suffixes
A suffix is added to the end of a root word. It can change the meaning of a word.
| Root Word | Suffix | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| home | less | without | homeless |
| mouth | ful | full of | mouthful |
| back | ward | direction | backward |
| happy | ness | state of | happiness |
| child | like | resembling | childlike |
| smart | est | most | smartest |
| govern | ment | action/process | government |
Noun Suffixes
Below is a list of some noun suffixes.
ness, ment, hood, ship, ism, ian, tion, sion
| Root Word | Suffix | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Sad | ness | Sadness |
| Enrol | ment | Enrolment |
| Man | hood | Manhood |
| Friend | ship | Friendship |
| Social | ism | Socialism |
| Music | ian | Musician |
Note! The suffix s added on to the end of a word forms a plural noun.
Example
books , chairs , toys , heaters , bags
Adjective Suffixes
Below is a list of some adjective suffixes.
able, ible, ful, ic, al, ial, ical, ious, ous, ish, ive, less, y
Note! Like adverbs there are some adjectives that also end in ly. If you are not too sure if the word is an adjective or an adverb then use the dictionary to help you.
| Root Word | Suffix | Adjective |
|---|---|---|
| Comfort | able | Comfortable |
| Care | less | Careless |
| Forget | ful | Forgetful |
| Joy | ous | Joyous |
| Child | ish | Childish |
| Magic | al | Magical |
| Invent | ive | Inventive |
| Heaven | ly | Heavenly |
Verb Suffixes
Below is a list of some verb suffixes.
ed, ing, ate, en, ify, fy, ize, ise
| Root Word | Suffix | Verb |
|---|---|---|
| Talk | ed | Talked |
| Walk | ing | Walking |
| Tight | en | Tighten |
| Class | ify | Classify |
| Civil | ize | Civilize |
| Advert | ise | Advertise |
Note! Suffixes ending with s or es is the singular form for the third person.
Example
- She walks
- He runs
- She teaches
- He finishes
Adverb Suffixes
Below is a list of some adverb suffixes.
ly, wise, ways
| Root Word | Suffix | Adverb |
|---|---|---|
| Slow | ly | Slowly |
| Clock | wise | Clockwise |
| Side | ways | Sideways |
Careful! Some adjectives also end in ly.
Spelling Rules!
It is important to understand some spelling rules when adding suffixes to root words. A suffix can beginning with a vowel (a,e,i,o,u) or a consonant.
Example
Suffixes beginning with a vowel: ing, ed, ous
Suffixes beginning with a consonant: ful, ment, ness
| One Syllable Words |
|---|
| Doubling Rule: Ends in a consonant and the letter before the consonant is a vowel. Careful! The rule for consonant ending in y is different (see below). |
| Example: run double the n if the suffix begins with a vowel ing running |
| Example: bet
double the t if the suffix begins with a vowel er better |
| Ends with more than one consonant, Careful! The rule for consonant ending in y is different (see below) |
| Example: hang just add the suffix ing hanging |
| Example: help just add the suffix ed helped |
| More Than One Syllable Words |
|---|
| Doubling Rule: Ends in a consonant and the letter before the consonant is a vowel. Careful! The rule for consonant ending in y is different (see below). |
| Example: begin if the stress is on the last syllable double the n before adding the suffix ing beginning |
| Example: admit if the stress is on the last syllable double the t before adding the suffix ed admitted |
|
Example: benefit Careful! If the stress is on the first syllable you do not need to double the t before adding the suffix ed. benefited |
| Doubling Rule: Words ending with the letter 'l' and the suffix starts with a vowel |
|
Example: equal double the l before adding the suffix ed. equalled Example: enrol double the l before adding the suffix ing. enrolling |
Ends with a consonant and the suffix starts with a consonant |
|
Example: enrol No need to double the l. Just add on the suffix ment. enrolment |
|
Example: adust Just add on the suffix ment. adjustment |
| Words Ending In Y |
|---|
| Ends with a consonant followed by the y consonant. | Example: spy
remove the y and replace it with i before adding the suffix es spies Note! When adding the suffix ing you do not need to remove the y. spying |
| Ends with a vowel followed by a y consonant. |
| Example: decay just add the suffix ing decaying |
| Example: day just add the suffix s days Exception! Daily |
| Words Ending In E |
|---|
| Suffixes beginning with a vowel (a, e, i, o, u ). |
| remove the e before adding the suffix ance Example: guide guidance |
| remove the e before adding the suffix ing Example: revise revising |
| remove the e before adding the suffix ous Example: desire desirous |
|
Careful! Here the suffix y is considered to be a vowel remove the e before adding the suffix y Example: scare scary |
|
Careful!
Words ending in ce keep the silent e with suffixes able.
Example: peace
peaceable
Example: replace replaceable Words ending in ge keep the silent e with suffixes able and ous.
Example: manage
manageable
Example: courage
courageous |
| Suffixes Beginning With A Consonant | just add the suffix ment after the e Example: arrange arrangement |
just add the suffix ness after the e Example: like likeness |
| just add the suffix s after the e Example: admire admires |