Suffixes

about proper spelling? Most suffixes can change or add to the meaning of a word, but what

Spelling rules and the changes required to add a suffix can sometimes be a little confusing... until now, that is. It's a fact, suffixes do change words but the way in which they are added often cause spelling problems for those whose native language isn't English. Yes, even native speakers of English find these rules and changes of spelling a little challenging sometimes, but what follows is meant to help make things a little more clear. Let's start with some suffixes spelling rules. Be glad that most of the time the spelling of the word and the suffix simply stays the same.

Suffixes Spelling Rules

RULE: 1 - When a word ends with a consonant and the suffix begins with a consonant, simply add the consonant with no spelling changes. enjoyment = enjoy + ment commitment = commit + ment doubtful = doubt + ful RULE: 2 - For most one syllable words ending in a single consonant you need to double the last letter when you add a suffix. run + ing = running sun + y = sunny fun + y = funny *** When the word ends with more than one consonant, the last letter is NOT doubled. jump + ing = jumping

sing + ing = singing RULE: 3 - For words with more than one syllable and end with the letter"L" you must double the "L" when adding suffixes. travel + ing = travelling cancel + ed = cancelled RULE: 4 - For words stressed on the last syllable and ending with a single consonant, you need to double the last letter. prefer + ing = preferring begin + er = beginner *** For words where the stress isn't on the last syllable, then you do NOT need to double the last letter. benefit + ed = benefited offer + ing = offering

***OTHER SPELLING RULES- "Y" to "I" and the silent "E"

When a word ends in a consonant plus "Y" then the "Y" is changed to "I" when you add the suffix. When adding the suffix 'ing' to a word ending in "Y" -- you keep the "Y." lonely + ness = loneliness happy + ness = happiness copy + ing = copying Silent "E" words end with a consonant and an "E." Words like love, like, and hope...you drop the "E" when you add the suffix. noise + y = noisy simple + y = simply

Suffixes List
the English Language. A suffixes list is a great place to start improving your knowledge of

In fact, suffixes can help you immediately determine whether the word is a noun, verb, adjective or adverb. Suffixes can also show you if something is in the past or present tense, or whether the word you are dealing with is singular or plural. In short, a suffixes list can play an important role in any language learning. Thankfully, there aren't that many... but they are important to know and will help you improve your English. You might want to print out the list and spend some time learning the suffixes below.

suffixes list meaning use

able, ible capable of (adjective suffix) like, pertaining to drinkable - able to be drank legible - able to be read Zodiac - pertaining to animals, life democratic - pertaining to democracy audacious - full of daring, avaricious - full of greed beneficial - bringing benefit logical - pertaining to logic eloquent - fluid, effective speech. ardent - full of passion revolutionary - some one connected with a revolution temporary - connected with time or duration desecrate - to ruin, make unholy mitigate - make less severe irritation - that which is irritated

ac, ic

acious, icious al ant, ent

full of pertaining to full of

ary

like, connected with to make (verb suffix) that which is (noun suffix) state of being (noun suffix)

ate ation cy

eer, er, or escent

democracy - ruled by people obstinacy - obstinate state, stubbornness engineer - designs engines person who teacher - person who teaches (noun suffix) advisor - person who advises evanescent - tending to vanish becoming (adjective suffix) pubescent - arriving at puberty

fic ity fy iferous il, ile ism ist ive ize, ise

making, doing (adjective suffix) state of being (noun suffix) to make (verb suffix) producing, bearing (adjective suffix) pertaining to, capable of (adjective suffix) doctrine, belief (noun suffix) dealer, doer (noun suffix) like (adjective suffix) to make (verb suffix) resembling, like (adjective suffix) full of (adjective suffix) condition (noun suffix) full of (adjective suffix) state of (noun suffix)

fantastic - arousing great wonder terrific - arousing great fear sagacity - state of being wise magnify - to enlarge petrify - turn to stone pestiferous - carrying disease vociferous - having a loud voice civil - polite docile - easily taught or led monotheism - belief in one God deism - belief in God but not religion realist - one who is realistic dentist - works with teeth quantitative - concerned with number or volume harmonize - make harmonious revolutionize - make revolutionary ovoid - like an egg anthropoid - resembling a human verbose - full of words psychosis - diseased mental condition hypnosis - induced sleep nauseous - full of nausea ludicrous - foolish fortitude - state of strength servitude - state of serving

oid ose osis ous tude