A suffix is a letter or group of letters placed at the end of a word to change its grammatical function, tense, or meaning. Suffixes can be used to create a verb from a noun or adjective or an adjective from a verb, for example. They can change a word’s tense as well; “-ed” can make a present-tense verb into a past participle, for instance. They can even change a word’s meaning; the suffix “-ette,” for example, can make a word into its diminutive: “kitchen” into “kitchenette.”
Just as recognizing a small number of prefixes can help you figure out many unfamiliar words, so knowing a few common suffixes can help you build a more powerful vocabulary.
Common Adjective Suffixes in English – Video
1. -ate
- Meaning: to make marked by
- Example: alienate, regulate, passionate, affectionate
2. -en
- Meaning: to make
- Example: weaken, moisten
3. -ism
- Meaning: the quality or practice of
- Example: absolutism, baptism
4. -ation, -ition, -tion
- Meaning: the act or condition of
- Example: allegation, affirmation commotion recognition
5. -ty, -ity
- Meaning: the state of
- Example: modesty, security worker
6. -er,-ar, -ier, -or
- Meaning: one that does or deals with
- Example: teacher, scholar, furrier, bettor
7. -an
- Meaning: one that does or deals with
- Example: comedian, historian
8. -al
- Meaning: resembling or pertaining to
- Example: natural, accidental
9. -ous, -ious
- Meaning: full of
- Example: perilous, gracious, vicious
10. -able, -ible
- Meaning: capable of being
- Example: lovable, affordable, reversible
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