Word building using suffixes

Word building in English isn’t all that difficult. If you already know some English words, you can make more by adding suffixes (e.g. dis, mis, non, co etc.) after them. Here’s a list of common suffixes with their meanings and some examples.

-able and –ible

These are used to make adjectives.

Examples are: curable (that can be cured), eatable (that can be eaten), justifiable (that can be justified)

-al: It is used to make adjectives

Examples: monumental (of a monument), national (of a nation), constitutional (in accordance with a constitution)

-ance, -ence (used to make nouns)

Examples: dependence (state of being dependent), annoyance (being annoyed), prudence (being prudent)

-ant, -ent (used to make adjectives from verbs)

Examples: indulgent, persistent, triumphant

These suffixes can also be used to make nouns.

Examples: assistant, president, student, inhabitant

-ary and –ory (used to make adjectives)

Examples: advisory, explanatory, cautionary, commentary, secondary

-dom (used to make nouns)

Examples: freedom (state of being free), martyrdom (state of being a martyr)

-ed and –d (used to make past tense and past participle)

Examples: forced, waited, wanted, invited

-en (used to make verbs from adjectives and nouns)

Examples: shorten, deepen, soften, lengthen, strengthen

-ful (used with abstract nouns to form adjectives)

Examples: hopeful, graceful, handful, forgetful

-hood (used to make nouns)

Examples: manhood, boyhood, brotherhood, priesthood

-ian (used to make nouns and adjectives)

Examples: Christian, musician, electrician

-ic (used to make adjectives)

Examples: alcoholic, artistic, geometric

-ish (used to make adjectives)

Examples: foolish, childish, greenish, yellowish

-ism (used to make abstract nouns)

Examples: communism, socialism, heroism, realism