Here's a breakdown:
* Change meaning: Suffixes can create new words with different meanings. For example:
* "happy" becomes "happiness" (adding "-ness" changes it from an adjective to a noun)
* "care" becomes "careful" (adding "-ful" changes it from a noun to an adjective)
* Change grammatical function: Suffixes can change how a word is used in a sentence. For example:
* "run" becomes "runner" (adding "-er" changes it from a verb to a noun)
* "slow" becomes "slowly" (adding "-ly" changes it from an adjective to an adverb)
Some examples of common suffixes include:
* -er, -or, -ist: These suffixes often create nouns that indicate a person who does something (e.g., "teacher," "actor," "artist").
* -ment, -tion, -ance, -ence: These suffixes often create nouns that indicate a state, process, or result (e.g., "movement," "education," "assistance," "independence").
* -ful, -less, -able, -ible: These suffixes often create adjectives that describe qualities (e.g., "beautiful," "careless," "comfortable," "visible").
* -ly, -wise, -wards: These suffixes often create adverbs that describe how something is done (e.g., "quickly," "clockwise," "downwards").
Understanding suffixes can help you improve your vocabulary, grammar, and reading comprehension.