Working with words: Suffixes

Aim:

This page aims to give you practice in using nouns formed by suffixes.

 

A suffix is a verbal element placed at the end of a word to change its word class and meaning. Common noun suffixes include:-er, -ism, -ist, -ee, and -(t)ion.

Suffix	Meaning	Examples
-er	Changes an activity to the person who performs the activity. For example, if we add –er to work, we form worker. Sometimes we use –or for the same purpose.	director, operator, monitor
-ism	Signifies an activity, ideology or belief.	journalism, communism
-ist	Signifies a person’s activity, occupation, politics or beliefs.	terrorist, biologist, anarchist, Buddhist
-ee	Indicates the person who receives an action.	employee, supervisee, payee
-(t)ion	Used to make nouns from verbs. For example, the verb   communicate can be changed to the noun communication.	pollute - pollution, violate – violation,   distort – distortion

 

Instructions:

Match the definitions on the right to the words on the left by dragging the words on the left on top of the definitions.