What Are Suffixes?

What Are Suffixes?

A suffix is added to the end of a word to change its meaning

Both prefixes (added to the front) and suffixes are affixes.

Examples of Suffixes

Here are some examples of suffixes:

• tenderness
(The suffix is -ness.)
• expensive
(The suffix is -ive.)
• painted
(The suffix is -ed.)

Most Common Suffixes. The four most common suffixes account for over 95% of suffixed words. They are -ed, -ing, -ly, and -es.

A List of Common Suffixes

Here is a list of common suffixes with some examples:

Suffix	Meaning	Example
-able, -ible	can be done	comfortable, passable
-al, -ial	having the characteristics of	personal
-ed	past-tense verbs (weak verbs)	danced, jumped
-en	made of	golden, wooden
-er	comparative	tidier, nicer
-er, -or	one who	actor, narrator, worker
-est	superlative	nicest, greatest
-ful	full or full of	cupful, careful
-ic	having characteristics of	linguistic, sarcastic
-ing	verb form (present participle and gerund)	dancing, singing
-ion, -tion, -ation, ition	act or process	attraction, attrition
-ity, -ty	state of	humility, infinity
-ive, -ative, itive	adjective form of a noun	expensive, plaintive
-less	without	topless, fearless
-ly	adverb ending	nicely, quickly
-ment	action or process	enjoyment, entrenchment
-ness	state of, condition of	eagerness, kindness
-ous, -eous, -ious	possessing the qualities of	erroneous, joyous
-s, -es	plural	tables, foxes
-y	characterized by	fatty, happy, jumpy

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