Suffixes

A suffix is a group of letters placed at the end of a word to make a new word. A suffix can make a new word in one of two ways: 1. Inflectional (grammatical): for example, changing singular to plural (dog>dogs), or changing present tense to past tense (walk>walked). In this case the basic meaning of the word does not change. 2. Derivational (the new word has a new meaning), derived from the original word): for example, teach>teacher or care>careful. Inflectional Suffixes do not change the meaning of the original word. Example: Every day I walk to school. Yesterday I walked to school.
Suffix -s -en -s -ed Grammatical change Plural Plural (irregular) rd 3 person singular present Past tense/past participle Past participle (irregular) Continuous/progressive comparative Superlative Example of Original Word Dog Ox Like Example of Suffixed Word dogs Oxen He likes

Work
Eat Sleep big Big

He worked/he has worked

He has eaten He is sleeping bigger biggest

-en -ing -er -est

Derivational Suffixes: When a derivational suffix is added to the end of a word, it changes the meaning of the word, and is usually a different part of speech. But the new meaning is related to the old meaningit is derived from the old meaning.
In some cases, more than one derivational suffix can be added to a word. Example: derive (verb) + tion = derivation (noun) + al = derivational (adjective)
Derivational Suffix -ation Part of Speech Noun Meaning Used to form nouns from words that end in ate Relating to Relating to, quality, place where Having a certain skill, or art One who, that which Female Action, process, result A person who performs a certain action Indicates state or condition Indicates state, quality, or condition Exemplifying a quality or state Expressing action, a state, or a relationship Inclined to, tend to Capable of Relating to Relating to, quality, place where Full of To make or cause to be Like, manner of Ex: original word Exhilarate Nominate Nature Diction, Brave, dorm Music Magic Teach Bake Act god Hero Alcohol Art Dent Captive Content Amend Sad Persuade Divide Cheer Grouch Tax Accident Imagine Sorrow forget Simple Ample Brother Ex: suffixed word Exhilaration nomination natural Dictionary Bravery dormitory Musician magician Teacher Baker Actress goddess Heroism Alcoholism Artist Dentist captivity Contentment Amendment Sadness Persuasion division Cheery grouchy taxable Accidental Imaginary Sorrowful forgetful Simplify amplify brotherly

-al -ary, -ery, -ory

Noun Noun

-cian -er -ess -ism -ist

Noun Noun Noun Noun Noun

-ity -ment -ness -sion

noun Noun Noun Noun

-y -able -al -ary -ful -fy -ly

Noun Adjective Adjective Adjective Adjective Adjective Adjective

-y

Adjective

Inclined to, tend to

Ease

easy

-ly -ify -ate -ize,

Adverb Verb Verb Verb

Every or like Intensity Cause, make To render, make

Helpful Simple Liquid Terror Private

Helpfully simplify Liquidate Terrorize privatize

Derivational Suffixes