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

Example of Original Word

Dog
Ox
Like

Example of Suffixed Word

dogs
Oxen
He likes

Work

He worked/he has worked

-en
-ing
-er
-est

Past participle (irregular)

Eat

He has eaten

Continuous/progressive

Sleep

He is sleeping

comparative

big

bigger

Superlative

Big

biggest

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

Ex: original word

Exhilarate
Nominate

Ex: suffixed word

Exhilaration
nomination

-al
-ary, -ery, -ory

Noun
Noun

Nature
Diction,
Brave,
dorm
Music
Magic
Teach
Bake
Act
god
Hero
Alcohol
Art
Dent

natural
Dictionary
Bravery
dormitory
Musician
magician
Teacher
Baker
Actress
goddess
Heroism
Alcoholism
Artist
Dentist

-cian

Noun

-er

Noun

Having a certain
skill, or art
One who, that which

-ess

Noun

Female

-ism

Noun

-ist

Noun

-ity

noun

-ment

Noun

-ness

Noun

-sion

Noun

-y

Noun

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

Captive

captivity

Content
Amend
Sad

Contentment
Amendment
Sadness

Persuade
Divide

Persuasion
division

Cheer
Grouch
Tax
Accident
Imagine

Cheery
grouchy
taxable
Accidental
Imaginary

-able
-al
-ary

Adjective
Adjective
Adjective

-ful

Adjective

Adjective

To make or cause to
be
Like, manner of

Sorrow
forget
Simple
Ample
Brother

Sorrowful
forgetful
Simplify
amplify
brotherly

-fy

Adjective

-ly

-y

Adjective

Inclined to, tend to

Ease

easy

Capable of
Relating to
Relating to, quality,
place where
Full of

-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