A suffix is a word ending. It is a group of letters you can add to the end of a root word*

Examples: walking, helpful

*A root word stands on its own as a word, but you can make new words from it by adding beginnings (prefixes) and endings (suffixes).

For example, 'comfort' is a root word. By adding the prefix 'dis' and the suffix 'able' you can make new words such as 'discomfort' and 'comfortable'.

Adding suffixes to words can change or add to their meaning, but most importantly they show how a word will be used in a sentence and what part of speech (e.g. noun, verb, adjective) the word belongs to.

Examples: If you want to use the root word 'talk' in the following sentence:

I was (talk) to Samina.

You need to add the suffix 'ing' so that the word 'talk' makes better sense grammatically:

"I was talking to Samina".

There are various suffixes we use. Probably the most common are 'ed' and 'ing'.

Here are some other suffixes and examples.

Note: Adding a suffix to some root words will change the spelling of the new word.

Suffixes

Practicing exercise

I. Fill in the missing suffix. Then write a sentence using the word.

Suffixes

Practicing exercise-Answer key

1   armament

2   grounding

3   diabetic

4   aristocracy

5   youngster

6   appreciate

7   blemish

8   boredom

9   auxiliary

10 amphibious

11 parochial

12 homophone

13 bandage

14 capitalize

15 helpless

Suffixes Quiz

I. Choose the best answer:

1. Top of FormWhich of the following words cannot use the suffix -ful?
   a. color-
   b. doubt-
   c. hope-
   d. joy-
   e. value-
   Bottom of Form

2. Top of FormWhich of the following cannot use the suffix -ive?
   a. conclus-
   b. decis-
   c. impress-
   d. reduct-
   e. reveal-
   Bottom of Form

3. Top of FormWhich of the following cannot use the suffix -ial?
   a. commerc-
   b. debat-
   c. mart-
   d. part-
   e. spac-
   Bottom of Form

4. Top of FormWhich of the following cannot use the suffix -ure?
   a. clos-
   b. depart-
   c. fiss-
   d. lect-
   e. polit-
   Bottom of Form

5. Top of FormWhich of the following cannot use the suffix -ion?
   a. collect-
   b. correct-
   c. exhaust-
   d. predict-
   e. put-
   Bottom of Form

6. Top of FormWhich of the following cannot use the suffix -ance?
   a. allow-
   b. brief-
   c. deliver-
   d. repent-
   e. vigil-
   Bottom of Form

7. Top of FormWhich of the following cannot use the suffix -ness?
   a. cheerful-
   b. dark-
   c. gentle-
   d. honest-
   e. small-
   Bottom of Form

8. Top of FormWhich of the following cannot use the suffix -ward?
   a. down-
   b. for-
   c. heaven-
   d. home-
   e. house-
   Bottom of Form

9. Top of FormWhich of the following cannot use the suffix -less?
   a. care-
   b. fear-
   c. grand-
   d. power-
   e. thought-
   Bottom of Form

Suffixes

Quiz-Answer key

1. E
2. E
3. B
4. E
5. E
6. B
7. D
8. E
9. C

Suffixes

Test

I. Circle all of the words that have a suffix.

Suffixes

Test

1 augmented        blizzard               graphite               cornet

2 inwardly           forgetful              noblewoman        splendid

3 pigpen               please                  sheath                  solitude

4 orphanage         liberal                  freeze                   enquire

5 awesome           landmark             obedient               unlock

6 courtroom         besiege                expert                  auxiliary

7 underhand         detail                   slingshot              northward

8 health                patrol                   ransom                 banshee

9 torment             capitalism            xenophobia          moccasin

10 dishonest        earphone              burrow                 suicide

11 keystone         seaboard              hardship               robust

12 commend        diskette                keyboard              lipstick

13 necklace         substitute             ballerina              reference

14 quartet            industrialize        midnight              pincushion

15 scruple            murmur               plaque                  gymnasium

16 shampoo         microscope          inquiry                 forgiveness

17 dampen           headache              complete              infuriate

18 intermission   democracy           lozenge                possum

19 untrue             cuckoo                 consultant            cholesterol

20 exterior           semitrailer           oneself                 meadowlark

21 soprano           jungle                  breadth                haunch

22 foresight         improve               beggar                  magnet

23 piston              flourish                entreat                 priceless

24 gathering        repeat                   insomnia              shrimp

25 lobster            inconspicuous     grumble               performance