Here's a breakdown of suffix meaning formation:
* Adding meaning: Suffixes often add specific meanings to words. For example:
* "-er" often indicates a person who does something (e.g., "teacher", "baker").
* "-ness" often indicates a state or quality (e.g., "kindness", "sadness").
* "-ly" often indicates a manner or way (e.g., "slowly", "happily").
* Changing grammatical function: Suffixes can also change the grammatical function of a word. For example:
* "-ing" can turn a verb into a present participle (e.g., "walking", "singing").
* "-ed" can turn a verb into a past participle (e.g., "walked", "sung").
* "-s" can turn a noun into a plural (e.g., "cats", "dogs").
* Creating new words: Suffixes can be used to create entirely new words from existing ones. For example:
* "happy" + "-ness" = "happiness"
* "care" + "-ful" = "careful"
* "break" + "-able" = "breakable"
In summary, suffixes play a vital role in English language formation by:
* Expanding vocabulary: Adding new words and meanings.
* Clarifying meaning: Providing more specific information about words.
* Creating variations: Enabling flexible grammar and word usage.
Examples of suffixes:
* -er: teacher, baker, writer
* -ing: walking, singing, talking
* -ed: walked, talked, played
* -ly: slowly, happily, quickly
* -ness: happiness, sadness, kindness
* -ment: movement, payment, argument
* -able: breakable, edible, washable
* -ion: action, reaction, education
Understanding suffixes can help you better understand the meaning and usage of words, as well as improve your vocabulary and grammar skills.