12 Common Suffixes and What they Do

Recently, we talked about 12 of the most commonly-used prefixes in the English language. Today, we’re going to talk about something called a ‘suffix’. Let’s do this!

A suffix is a group of letters which can be added to the end of a word. A suffix cannot be used alone, and using one will change the meaning of the word it is attached to – but in a way that is different to how prefixes change the meaning of a word. Take a look at these examples first:

• I’m trying to focus on my personal development as a student.
  • Here, ‘Develop’ is the root word and –ment is the suffix. The function of ‘-ment’ is to change the root from a verb into a noun.
• Trust is an important part of a real friendship.
  • In this example, ‘Friend’ is the root and –ship is the suffix. The function of ‘-ship’ is to change the root from a noun referring to a PERSON to a noun referring to a THING (the state of being friends).
• He’s very good at languages. He learnt how to speak Italian very quickly!
  • Here, the root word is ‘Quick’ and –ly is the suffix. The function of ‘-ly’ is to change the adjective ‘Quick’ into an adverb. An adverb describes how an action is done, adding information to the verb.

Curious about how well you know your suffixes? Check your skills and find out more about them using these free English lessons:

• Suffix ‘-ness’ 
• Prefix and Suffix Practice 
• Suffix ‘-ever’ 
• -Able and –ible  
• Noun and Adjective Endings 
• 12 Prefixes and What They Mean