Suffixes of meaning and word class

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Aim:
Here is a list of commonly used suffixes. Knowing these suffixes will help you to:

(1) work out the meaning of words

• -able / -ible when added to a verb, mean ‘can be done’; e.g. correctable, edible, unmistakable
• -ise / -ize are used to make verbs from nouns, and mean to change something or to go through a process; e.g. accessorise, apologise, initialise, synchronise
• -ology implies the study of a subject; e.g. biology, sociology, psychology
• -ness is used to make nouns from adjectives, and means to be something; e.g. airsickness, assertiveness, blindness, cleanliness

(2) recognise word class

• -ment (nouns) e.g. development, environment
• -ity (nouns) e.g. responsibility, prosperity, stability, stupidity
• -hood (abstract nouns) e.g. childhood, manhood
• -ship (abstract nouns) e.g. hardship
• -ive (adjectives) e.g. creative, alternative, comprehensive, qualitative
• -less (adjectives) e.g. careless, brainless, clueless, endless
• -al (adjectives and nouns) e.g. comical, cultural, historical, sexual, anal
• -ify (verbs) e.g. amplify, beautify, clarify, dehumidify, intensify
Here is a list of commonly used suffixes. Knowing these suffixes will help you to:
(1) work out the meaning of words
(2) recognise word class
• -able / -ible when added to a verb, mean ‘can be done’; e.g. correctable, edible, unmistakable
• -ise / -ize are used to make verbs from nouns, and mean to change something or to go through a process; e.g. accessorise, apologise, initialise, synchronise
• -ology implies the study of a subject; e.g. biology, sociology, psychology
• -ness is used to make nouns from adjectives, and means to be something; e.g. airsickness, assertiveness, blindness, cleanliness
• -ment (nouns) e.g. development, environment
• -ity (nouns) e.g. responsibility, prosperity, stability, stupidity
• -hood (abstract nouns) e.g. childhood, manhood
• -ship (abstract nouns) e.g. hardship
• -ive (adjectives) e.g. creative, alternative, comprehensive, qualitative
• -less (adjectives) e.g. careless, brainless, clueless, endless
• -al (adjectives and nouns) e.g. comical, cultural, historical, sexual, anal
• -ify (verbs) e.g. amplify, beautify, clarify, dehumidify, intensify

Exercise
Complete the words in the boxes:

1. Bottled water is but sea water is not.

    

   Answer:
   drinkable

   Explanation:
   This is a word with a suffix of meaning. It means the water can be drunk by people.
    

2. All the assignments are due soon and it is difficult to  them.

    

   Answer:
   prioritise (British English) / prioritize (American English)

   Explanation:
   This is a word with a suffix of meaning. It means to go through a process of giving something a priority.
    

3. My grandmother is very forgetful. Yes, my great-aunt also suffers from .
    

    

   Answer:
   forgetfulness

   Explanation:
   This is a word with a suffix of meaning. It means to be forgetful.
    

4. Most of the mistakes can be forgiven. However, these basic errors are .

    

   Answers:
   unforgivable

   Explanation:
   This is a word with a suffix of meaning. It means that these mistakes cannot be forgiven.
    

5. is a great responsibility.
    

    

   Answers:
   Parenthood

   Explanation:
   This is a word with a suffix showing word class. It means being a parent, and is a noun.
    

6. The factory has been very this year.

    

   Answers:
   productive

   Explanation:
   This is a word with a suffix showing word class. Productive is an adjective.
    

7. Democracy is fundamental to good .

    

   Answer:
   government / governance

   Explanation:
   This is a word with a suffix showing word class. Government is a noun.
    

8. The court was unable to determine the of the property.

    

   Answer:
   ownership

   Explanation:
   This is a word with a suffix showing word class. Ownership is an abstract noun.

    

9. Please  all the students concerned about the room change.

    

   Answer:
   notify

   Explanation:
   This is a word with a suffix showing word class. Notify is a verb.
    

10. It is difficult to explain the of a singer who cannot actually sing!

     

    Answers:
    popularity

    Explanation:
    This is a word with a suffix showing word class. Popularity is a noun.
     

11. If you keep buying designer label goods you will soon be .

     

    Answers:
    penniless

    Explanation:
    This is a word with a suffix showing word class. Penniless is a noun.
     

12. Please wait for me in the hall of the airport.

     

    Answers:
    arrival / arrivals

    Explanation:
    This is a word with a suffix showing word class. Arrival can be a noun and an adjective; e.g. "I'll see you on my arrival." (noun), and "Where is the arrival gate?" (adjective).

Bottled water is drink_____ but sea water is not.

Bottled water is drinkable but sea water is not.

Explanation:
This is a word with a suffix of meaning. It means the water can be drunk by people.
 

All the assignments are due soon and it is difficult to  prior_____ them.

All the assignments are due soon and it is difficult to  prioritise (British English) / prioritize (American English) them.

Explanation:
This is a word with a suffix of meaning. It means to go through a process of giving something a priority.
 

My grandmother is very forgetful. Yes, my great-aunt also suffers from forgetful_____.
 

My grandmother is very forgetful. Yes, my great-aunt also suffers from forgetfulness .
 

Explanation:
This is a word with a suffix of meaning. It means to be forgetful.
 

Most of the mistakes can be forgiven. However, these basic errors are unforgiv_____.

Most of the mistakes can be forgiven. However, these basic errors are unforgivable .

Explanation:
This is a word with a suffix of meaning. It means that these mistakes cannot be forgiven.
 

Parent_____ is a great responsibility.
 

Parenthood is a great responsibility.
 

Explanation:
This is a word with a suffix showing word class. It means being a parent, and is a noun.
 

The factory has been very product_____ this year.

The factory has been very productive this year.

Explanation:
This is a word with a suffix showing word class. Productive is an adjective.
 

Democracy is fundamental to good govern_____.

Democracy is fundamental to good government / governance .

Explanation:
This is a word with a suffix showing word class. Government is a noun.
 

The court was unable to determine the own_____ of the property.

The court was unable to determine the ownership of the property.

Explanation:
This is a word with a suffix showing word class. Ownership is an abstract noun.

Please noti_____ all the students concerned about the room change.

Please notify all the students concerned about the room change.

Explanation:
This is a word with a suffix showing word class. Notify is a verb.
 

It is difficult to explain the popular_____ of a singer who cannot actually sing!

It is difficult to explain the popularity of a singer who cannot actually sing!

Explanation:
This is a word with a suffix showing word class. Popularity is a noun.
 

If you keep buying designer label goods you will soon be penni_____ .

If you keep buying designer label goods you will soon be penniless .

Explanation:
This is a word with a suffix showing word class. Penniless is a noun.
 

Please wait for me in the arriv_____ hall of the airport.

Please wait for me in the arrival / arrivals hall of the airport.

Explanation:
This is a word with a suffix showing word class. Arrival can be a noun and an adjective; e.g. "I'll see you on my arrival." (noun), and "Where is the arrival gate?" (adjective).

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