Changing the meaning:
* Adding a noun suffix: Suffixes like "-er", "-or", "-tion", "-ness", "-ism", "-ity" can change a verb or adjective into a noun. Examples:
* Teach (verb) + er (noun suffix) = Teacher (noun)
* Happy (adjective) + ness (noun suffix) = Happiness (noun)
* Adding an adjective suffix: Suffixes like "-ful", "-less", "-able", "-ous", "-y", "-ish", "-ive" can change nouns or verbs into adjectives. Examples:
* Hope (noun) + ful (adjective suffix) = Hopeful (adjective)
* Play (verb) + ful (adjective suffix) = Playful (adjective)
* Adding an adverb suffix: Suffixes like "-ly", "-ward", "-wise" can change adjectives or nouns into adverbs. Examples:
* Slow (adjective) + ly (adverb suffix) = Slowly (adverb)
* Home (noun) + ward (adverb suffix) = Homeward (adverb)
Changing the grammatical function:
* Adding a verb suffix: Suffixes like "-ize", "-ify", "-en" can change nouns or adjectives into verbs. Examples:
* Modern (adjective) + ize (verb suffix) = Modernize (verb)
* Strong (adjective) + en (verb suffix) = Strengthen (verb)
Examples of how suffixes change meaning and function:
* Act (verb) + ion (noun suffix) = Action (noun) - changes the word from a verb to a noun and gives it a more concrete meaning.
* Friend (noun) + ly (adverb suffix) = Friendly (adjective) - changes the word from a noun to an adjective and describes a quality.
* Happy (adjective) + ly (adverb suffix) = Happily (adverb) - changes the word from an adjective to an adverb and describes how something is done.
* Real (adjective) + istic (adjective suffix) = Realistic (adjective) - changes the word from a general adjective to a more specific one.
Understanding suffixes helps us to understand the meanings of words and how they can be used in different ways.