1. Changing the part of speech:
* -er: transforms a verb into a noun (e.g., teach + -er = teacher)
* -ing: transforms a verb into a noun (e.g., walk + -ing = walking) or an adjective (e.g., interesting)
* -ly: transforms an adjective into an adverb (e.g., slow + -ly = slowly)
* -ness: transforms an adjective into a noun (e.g., happy + -ness = happiness)
2. Adding nuance to meaning:
* -ful: indicates fullness or abundance (e.g., care + -ful = careful)
* -less: indicates lack or absence (e.g., hope + -less = hopeless)
* -ment: indicates action or process (e.g., move + -ment = movement)
* -ity: indicates state or quality (e.g., active + -ity = activity)
3. Forming opposites:
* -un: indicates the opposite (e.g., happy + -un = unhappy)
* -dis: indicates the opposite (e.g., agree + -dis = disagree)
* -in: indicates the opposite (e.g., correct + -in = incorrect)
4. Specifying degree or size:
* -ish: indicates a slight degree (e.g., red + -ish = reddish)
* -ette: indicates a smaller version (e.g., book + -ette = booklet)
5. Providing specific information:
* -al: indicates a relation to something (e.g., nation + -al = national)
* -ist: indicates a person who believes or practices something (e.g., art + -ist = artist)
* -ship: indicates a state or condition (e.g., friend + -ship = friendship)
Examples:
* "Teacher" (noun): the suffix "-er" indicates a person who performs the action of teaching.
* "Carefully" (adverb): the suffix "-ly" indicates a manner of doing something, adding the idea of carefulness to the verb "care."
* "Unhappy" (adjective): the suffix "-un" indicates the opposite of "happy."
By understanding suffixes, you can decipher the meanings of unfamiliar words and expand your vocabulary. They are crucial for understanding the nuances of language and for expressing a variety of ideas in both written and spoken communication.