Suffix Meaning: Types, Examples, and How to Use Them
Suffixes are letters or a group of letters that you add to the end of a root word.
They change the meaning, part of speech or tense of that word.
Learning about usage helps you write accurately and increases your vocabulary fast.
Trinka’s grammar checker fixes incorrect suffix usage to keep your writing accurate.
Suffixes:
- The scientist delivered a fascinating presentation about foxes.
- Taylor is a singer who supports her biggest fans.
What is a Suffix?
A suffix is a letter or a group of letters that you add to the end of a word.
It changes the words definition or part of speech.
The English language has two types of suffixes:
- Inflectional Suffixes
- Derivational Suffixes
Inflectional Suffixes
suffixes do not change a words part of speech.
They change its tense, number or degree.
‘Wash’ stays a verb when ‘-ed’ is added, becoming ‘washed’.
Type of Inflectional Suffixes and Examples
Plural noun suffixes:
- -S: cars, birds, flowers, songs
- -Es (for words ending with s ‘x’ ‘z’ ‘ch’ or ‘sh’): buses, dishes, wishes
Verb suffixes:
- -Ing (present participle): asking, celebrating, dancing, typing
- -Ed (past tense): asked, celebrated danced, typed
Comparative and superlative suffixes:
- -Er: braver larger spicier hotter
- -Est: bravest, largest, spiciest, hottest
What are Derivational Suffixes?
A derivational suffix changes a words part of speech when added to its root.
It helps increase your vocabulary.
Examples:
- ‘Donate’ (a verb) becomes ‘Donation’ (a noun) with the suffix ‘-ion’.
- ‘Glory’ (a noun) becomes ‘Glorious (an adjective) with the suffix ‘-ous.
What are the Most Common Derivational Suffixes?
English has derivational suffixes, but a few cover most word usage.
Common derivational. Their meanings:
- -able/-ible: something that can be done.
Example: flexible, readable, reversible - -al/-ial: related to a noun.
Example: beneficial, musical, personal, regional - -er/-or: a person who performs an action.
Example: actor, dancer, driver, painter, writer - -ful: having a quality.
Example: beautiful, careful, joyful, playful, skillful - -ic: related to a noun.
Example: athletic, energetic, organic - -ion/-tion/-ation/-ition: an action or process.
Example: celebration, decision, graduation, invitation, repetition - -ity/-ty: a state or quality.
Example: activity, clarity, equality, honesty, loyalty - -ive/-ative/-itive: tending toward an action.
Example: creative, competitive, informative, supportive - -less: without or lacking something.
Example: endless, fearless, harmless, wireless - -ly: in a manner.
Example: happily, softly, quickly - -ment: a form or state of action.
Example: agreement, enjoyment, improvement, movement - -ness: a state or quality.
Example: darkness, fairness, happiness, kindness - -ous/-eous/-ious: characterized by.
Example: glorious, famous, nervous, - -y: filled with.
Example: rainy sunny, sleepy
Medical Terminology Suffixes
Suffixes often from Greek or Latin are used in medical terms.
They appear in nursing, health sciences and research texts.
Common medical. Their meanings:
- -genic: caused by or producing.
Example: carcinogenic, allergenic, pathogenic - -ism: a condition.
Example: hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, astigmatism - -itis: inflammation.
Example: arthritis, bronchitis, sinusitis, tonsillitis - -ologist: a specialist.
Example: cardiologist, oncologist, urologist - -ology: the study of.
Example: anesthesiology, cardiology, psychology - -oma: a tumor.
Example: hematoma, glaucoma, melanoma, sarcoma - -pathy: treatment or disease.
Example: neuropathy, osteopathy, homeopathy - -osis: a condition.
Example: osteoporosis, cirrhosis, fibrosis, scoliosis
Name Suffixes
A name suffix letters added to a surname defines family relations or qualifications.
Common name suffixes:
- Jr. (Junior): for a son with the given name as his father.
Example: Cuba Gooding Jr. - III (The Third): for a son with the given name as his father and grandfather.
Example: Randolph Severn Parker III - MD: Medical Doctor.
Example: Sanjay Gupta, MD - PhD: Doctor of Philosophy.
Example: Mayim Bialik, PhD
How to Practice Suffix Usage
Repeating inflectional suffixes and writing with them helps you get better.
Practical tips:
- Read topics to see suffix usage in context.
-
Build word families to understand suffixes.
Example: create, creation, creatively creativity - Check suffix spelling while writing.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Difference between prefix and suffix:▼
The main difference is where the letters are placed. A prefix goes before a word while a suffix goes after.
For example, ‘un-‘ is a prefix that changes the meaning of a word, like ‘unhappy’.
On the hand a suffix like ‘-ness changes the part of speech like ‘unhappiness which is still related but now a noun.
Do suffixes always change the part of speech?▼
No, they don’t. There are two types of suffixes: suffixes and inflectional suffixes.
Inflectional suffixes, like -ing -ed, -s -er -est change tenses, numbers or degrees of a word but not the part of speech.
Derivational suffixes, like -ation, -ment, -ness, -ful, -ly change the part of speech.
What are some words that end in -osis?▼
Words that end in -osis are often used in medicine or science. They usually describe a condition or process. Some common examples are:
- diagnosis
- hypnosis
- metamorphosis
- symbiosis
- tuberculosis
- neurosis
-
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