Suffixes Week 3
What is a suffix? A suffix is a group of letters added to the end of a word to make a new word. Suffixes, like prefixes, are affixes. Suffixes can be inflectional. This means that they can be added to words, like verbs, to change the tense of the verb. They can be added to singular nouns to change the noun to its plural form. The basic meaning of the word does not change. Suffixes can be derivational. This means that they can be added to words and the meaning of the new word is different from the original word.
-ance, -ancy, -ence These suffixes mean THE STATE OR CONDITION OF. Sample words with these suffixes are: vigilance/the state of being vigilant vacancy/the state of being vacant independence/the state of being independent
-ant The suffix –ant means a PERSON OR THING. Sample words with the suffix –ant are: commandant/ a person who commands occupant/ a person who occupies
-ant
-ation,-ion,-tion These suffixes mean THE RESULT OF AN ACTION OR PROCESS Sample words with these suffixes are: Imagination/the result or process of imagining Inspection/the result or process of inspecting
-ation, -ion, -tion
-dom This suffix means CONDITION OR STATE OF. Sample words with this suffix are: kingdom/ the state or condition of being ruled by a king freedom/the state or condition of being free
-dom
-eer The suffix –eer means A PERSON WHO IS ASSOCIATED WITH. Sample words with the suffix –eer are: racketeer/ a person associated with racketeering auctioneer/a person associated with auctions
-eer
-er The suffix –er means A PERSON WHO DOES A SPECIFIC ACTION. Sample words with this prefix are: manager/ a person who manages baker/ a person who bakes teacher/ a person who teaches
-er
-ician The suffix –ician means A PERSON WHO WORKS AT OR WITH SOMETHING. Sample words with the suffix –ician are: beautician/a person who works at making people beautiful statistician/ a person who works with statistics
-ician
-ism The suffix –ism means CONDITION OR STATE OF. Sample words with the suffix –ism are: realism/ the condition of being real idealism/ the condition of being an idea
-ism
-ist The suffix –ist means A PERSON WHO SPECIALIZES IN SOMETHING. Sample words with the suffix –ist are: geologist/ a person who specializes in geology violinist/ a person who specializes in playing the violin idealist/ a person who specializes in ideas pragamatist/ a person who specializes in the practical
-ist
-ment The suffix –ment means the RESULT OF AN ACTION. Sample words with the suffix –ment are: encouragement/ the result of being encouraged commitment/the result of being committed