Here's a breakdown:
* Word part: Suffixes are not complete words themselves, but rather small pieces that attach to other words.
* End of a word: They are always added to the end of a base word.
* Change meaning: Suffixes can modify the meaning of a word in different ways, for example, adding "-ness" to "happy" makes it "happiness," changing the noun to an abstract concept.
* Grammatical function: Suffixes can also change the grammatical function of a word. For instance, "-ing" can turn a verb into a present participle (e.g., "walk" becomes "walking").
Examples of suffixes:
* -ness: happiness, kindness, sadness
* -er: worker, singer, teacher
* -ing: walking, talking, running
* -ly: quickly, happily, sadly
* -ment: development, enjoyment, agreement
Understanding suffixes can help you:
* Learn new words: By recognizing suffixes, you can often figure out the meaning of unfamiliar words.
* Improve your writing and speaking: Knowing how to use suffixes correctly can help you write more accurately and speak more fluently.
* Expand your vocabulary: Suffixes can be used to create new words from existing ones, expanding your understanding and use of language.