LEVEL 8

SUFFIXES

Lic. Ma. Eugenia Maldonado V.

WORD
FORMATION
It is the process of adding particles to a base word to create a new one.

◊ Prefixes are attached to the beginning of the word.

prefix
◊ Suffixes are attached to the end of the word.

changeable
Sometimes we can use both, a prefix and a suffix, in a base word.

interchangeable
Lic. Ma. Eugenia Maldonado Vallejos.
 Most prefixes and suffixes are common in English and Spanish.

Latin - Greek
SPANISH ENGLISH
VIKINGS

l es
Ang s
n
Saxo s
Jute s
an
Frisi

CELTIC

Normans
Bretons
French

Romans (400 years)

Lic. Ma. Eugenia Maldonado
 When we deal with word formation, we have to be aware that there are certain
kinds of words that cannot be created with the use of suffixes.
NOUN

PRONOUN 
ADJECTIVE

VERB

ADVERB

PREPOSITION 
CONJUNCTION 
Lic. Ma. Eugenia Maldonado
SUFFIX
ES
 A Suffix is a particle that is added after the base word, to create a new one.
 Suffixes modify the PART OF SPEECH and the meaning of the base word.

manager (n.) director

manage ment (n.) dirección
manage manageable(adj.) manejable
(v.)
manageab ility (n.) factibilidad
dirigir
manejar manager ess (n.) directora

Lic. Ma. Eugenia Maldonado

 nation al (adj.) nacional
national ly (adv.) nacionalmente
national ism (n.) nacionalismo
national ist (n.) nacionalista
nation (n.)
nationalist ic (adj.) nacionalista
nación
national ity (n.) nacionalidad
national ize (v.) nacionalizar

nationaliz ation (n.) nacionalización

Lic. Ma. Eugenia Maldonado

 It must be mentioned that sometimes we add a suffix immediately to the base word.

nation (n.) manage (v.) achieve (v.)

 But other times we have to change the base word to add a suffix.

accumulate (v.) scan (v.) biology (n.)

example(n.) marvel(n.) science(n.)

Lic. Ma. Eugenia Maldonado

 It must be mentioned that sometimes we add a suffix immediately to the base word.

national
(n.) (adj.)
manageable
(v.) (adj.) achievement
(v.) (n.)

 But other times we have to change the base word to add a suffix.

accumulateor(v.)(n.) scanner biology

ist(n.)(n.)
(v.) (n.)

exampleify
(n.) (v.)
marvellous
(n.) (adj.)
tist
science (n.)(n.)

Lic. Ma. Eugenia Maldonado

 The first two charts of suffixes
help us create Nouns and
Adjectives. Of course, they are
just an example. There are more
suffixes in the English language.

 The last two short charts of

suffixes show us the only suffixes
to create Verbs and Adverbs in
English.

 In some of the charts we can find

that some suffixes are familiar to
us, therefore we might get
confused.

Lic. Ma. Eugenia Maldonado

Verb forms are not
SUFFIXES
TENSE REGULAR VERB IRREGULAR VERB
 These endings are not
PRESENT SIMPLE I work I draw suffixes because the base
word WORK continues to
PRESENT be a verb in the other
CONTINUOUS I am working I am drawing
sentences. It is just being
PAST SIMPLE I worked I drew conjugated.
PAST CONTINUOUS I was working I was drawing Present Participle Form
PRESENT PERFECT I have worked I have drawn Past Simple Form
FUTURE I will work I will draw Past Participle Form

Lic. Ma. Eugenia Maldonado

 VERB FORM SUFFIX -ING
They are building the house with good quality materials. The building will be ready by the end of July.
Present Participle Form NOUN Forming suffix

VERB FORM SUFFIX -ED

The young boy annoyed everyone with his behaviour. The annoyed man made a complaint.
Past Simple Form ADJECTIVE Forming suffix

The plot had interested everybody in the room. Everybody was interested in the movie.
Past Participle Form ADJECTIVE Forming suffix

Lic. Ma. Eugenia Maldonado

-ING for Nouns and Adjectives
-ING FOR NOUNS -ING FOR ADJECTIVES
BLESSING SURPRISING
A friend is the greatest blessing that anyone The death rate of COVID-19 is really
can have. surprising.
READING AMAZING

Reading is dreaming with open eyes. Parachuting is one of the most amazing sports.

ENDING CONFUSING
We found the questions really confusing.
The novel had a very sad ending.
RELAXING
FEEDING
Yoga is the most relaxing activity I’ve done.
Feeding a hungry family can be expensive.
Lic. Ma. Eugenia Maldonado
Adjectives with –ING and -ED
-ING describes things and people -ED talks about how people feel
SURPRISING SURPRISED
The death rate of COVID-19 is really We’re surprised for the amount of deads due to
surprising. COVID-19.
AMAZING AMAZED

Parachuting is one of the most amazing sports. The amazed children couldn't look away from the
spectacle.
CONFUSING
CONFUSED
We found the answers really confusing.
We got confused with the answers.
RELAXING
RELAXED
Yoga is the most relaxing activity I’ve done.
After doing Yoga, I am more relaxed.

Lic. Ma. Eugenia Maldonado

 It is important to know what part of speech a word is to avoid making the following
mistake.

science (n.) scientist (n.)

scientific (adj.)
ciencia científico científico

The scientific
scientist published an article in thescientific
scientist magazine.
n. v. n. adj. n.
El científico publicó un artículo en la revista científica.
 It usually follows the structure ADJ + N. Sometimes it appears after the noun or
ADJECTIVE
pronoun it describes when we work with verb BE.

 It can work as SUBJECT or OBJECT in a sentence. It can be preceded by an article (the,

NOUN
a, an) and /or an adjective.

Lic. Ma. Eugenia Maldonado

WORD
FAMILIES
Some words are related in meaning. These are called Word Families.
The use of suffixes can help make word families.

die(v.) act(v.)
death(n.) action(n.)
dead(adj.) acting (n.)
deaden(v.) active(adj.)
deadly(adj.) actively(adv.)
deadliness (n.) activity (n.)

Lic. Ma. Eugenia Maldonado Vallejos.

Thank you!

Lic. Ma. Eugenia Maldonado