Suffixes and Parts of Speech

Learning something about how suffixes function in the English language can help you improve general reading comprehension; suffixes help you use context and etymological clues to make educated guesses about the meaning of unfamiliar words. Knowledge of parts of speech can be very useful. This list is not exhaustive. Many important suffixes do not appear here. The functions listed do not cover all the possibilities for every suffix. We have tried to include those that are more common and/or more likely to be found. Suffix Meaning Examples Function or Characteristic Usage
Notes in this column refer to common functions of these suffixes. However, these are generalizations only, and you will find exceptions to many of them. able, ible ade able, can do result of action capable, agreeable, visible blockade, lemonade salvage, storage, forage sensual, gradual, manual, natural neuralgia American, Martian, antediluvian assistance, allowance, defiance assistant, servant dictionary, bravery, dormitory, aviary, ordinary liquidate, segregate adjective noun

age

act of, state of, collection of relating to

noun

al

adjective

algia an, ian ance, ancy ant ary, ery, ory ate

pain native of, pertaining to action, process, state performing, agent relating to, quality, place where cause, make

noun adjective noun noun noun or adjective verb

cian cule, ling cy

having a specific skill very small action, function

magician, optician, physician molecule, miniscule, advocacy, hesitancy, prophecy, normalcy

noun noun or adjective noun

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Suffixes and Parts of Speech

Suffix
dom ee en

Meaning
quality, realm, office one who receives the action made of, make

Examples
freedom, kingdom, wisdom, thralldom employee, nominee, refugee silken, frozen, oaken, wooden, lighten difference, conference, urgency baker, carpenter, brewer adolescent, obsolescent, convalescent Javanese, Vietnamese genesis, hypnosis, neurosis, osmosis poetess, goddess midget, octet, baronet, scientific, specific frightful, beautiful, helpful fortify, simplify neighborhood, motherhood metallic, heroic, poetic justice, malice fluid, fluoride, torrid, canid feminine, masculine, medicine contagion, infection, aversion Spanish, foolish,

Function or Characteristic Usage

noun noun adjective or verb (ex: widen)

ence, ency er, or escent

action, state of, quality on who, that which in the process of

noun noun adjective or noun

ese esis, osis ess et, ette fic ful fy hood ic ice id, ide

a native of action, process, condition female small one, group making, causing full of make order, quality nature of, like condition, state, quality something connected to or belonging to having the nature or characteristic of act of, state of, result of origin, nature, resembling

noun or adjective noun noun noun adjective adjective verb noun adjective noun noun or adjective

ine ion, sion, tion ish

adjective or noun noun Adjective (however, often the adjective is used as a noun. ex: "The Spanish" meaning the people of Spain)

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Suffixes and Parts of Speech

Suffix
ism

Meaning
system, manner, condition one who, that which

Examples
alcoholism, feminism, heroism, communism pianist, elitist

Function or Characteristic Usage

noun

ist

noun

ite

nature of, quality of

dynamite, graphite, sulfite, neophyte

noun or adjective

ity, ty ive ize less ly ment

state of, quality causing to make (like) without like act of, result

captivity, clarity conclusive, festive, restive, abusive emphasize, anthropomorphize worthless, mindless, guileless clearly, fearlessly contentment, amendment

noun adjective or noun verb adjective adverb noun

ness oid

state of like (often suggests flawed or partial resemblance) study, science, theory

carelessness, uselessness asteroid, tabloid, anthropoid, rhomboid, ovoid biology

noun noun or adjective

(o)logy

noun

<http://www.msu.edu/~defores1/gre/sufx/gre_suffx.htm. February 5, 2007>.

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