SUFFIX

The suffix is one of the essential concepts in the English Language. It provides meaning to words. This article will give you a broad understanding of Suffix, how it works, and even some examples. Suffixes are added to the end of the word; it can be a word itself or a phrase. The suffix is not considered a part of the word itself because there is no space between the root and it.

The suffix is a class of words added to the end of nouns, adjectives, pronouns, verbs, etc.

The Suffix carries some meaning.

1. In simple words, it gives a particular meaning to the word that it is attached to. It also adds some characteristics to them so that they can be identified quickly and so that they can be understood in particular situations without any further explanation or explanation required at all. (Examples: nationalism, curable, etc.)
2. It helps to form some words. (Examples: doing, ignorance, durable etc.)
3. It may change the meaning of a word. (Examples: freed, larger, constantly, etc.)
4. It can be added to the roots of the word, or a phrase is sometimes used as a suffix. (Examples: freedom, frankness)
5. It can be added to the root of a verb or noun, giving different meanings. (Examples: membership, ability, etc.)
6. Sometimes, suffixes have been used for deriving new words from older ones.

What is a Suffix?

An adjective is often used to modify a noun or verb, and its ending determines which type of adjective it is. For example, the word “black” ends in the suffix “-ish,” so it’s known as an adjective. An adverb usually describes another adverb or verb, and its ending classifies it as such. “Tired” is an adjective with the suffix “-ly,” so it’s an adverb because of that extension of letters at the end. Suffixes are also used less often on adjectives to form new words that have also become standard parts of our language. For example, “Billy is seven years old” means that Billy is seven years old. If you said, “Billy is excited,” it would mean that Billy was excited about something and not seven years old. In this case, the suffix “-ed” forms the word “excitedly.” As stated earlier, word parts made from other words are called derivatives of these original parts. The derivative meaning of a derivative part can be found in the extended meanings of these word components and in the meaning of those parts derived from these parts and their possible uses through time.

The Functions of a Suffix:

The suffix “-er” (for example, “walker”) can be appended to a verb stem (that is, the part of the word that remains after the infinitive ending “-to” is dropped) to form a noun meaning one who performs that action. For example:

The suffix “-ness,” as in “blackness,” can be used as an adjective denoting a state or quality connected with the noun from which it is derived. It can also be used as an abstract noun to denote a state or quality. For example:

A suffix may also sometimes add an entirely new meaning to a word. For example, “propensity” means tendency, but if the suffix “-ed” is added to the end of the verb, it becomes a noun meaning inclination.

This can also be done with other verb derived words ending in -ness but with different meanings:

What is the use of Suffix?

Suffixes are basically to create new words, and sometimes in just a single sentence. Many words and phrases are made from different parts of words by using a suffix, so the Suffix is essential for our daily lives. Suffix examples are- criticise, racist, and acceptance.

When we hear or see suffixes in words, we can understand them easily because they are predictable. Each word that ends with a suffix is treated as a different word by the dictionary, which explains why there are separate definitions of the same word having different suffixes. It is difficult to memorise all the meanings of such words, so it is best to use them only when we have to form new words from already known words like making an adjective from a noun or vice versa.

Conclusion:

The suffix is an integral part of the English language and creates new words and forms different concepts. It has a lot of uses in our daily lives; examples are –ness, -able, and -ing. The Suffix gives the meaning of a word added to it.

The suffix “-ness” denotes quality, characteristic, or state. The suffix “-able” denotes that something can be. The suffix “-ing” is used to describe a continuous action. As suffixes are attached to words to form new words, it is sometimes tricky to memorise all their meanings. Thus, the best way to use them is when we have no other choice but to form new concepts from known concepts. Thus, suffixes play an essential role in the English language.