11.2: Suffixes
- Page ID
- 36842
Suffixes
A suffix is a word part added to the end of a word to create a new meaning and a new part of speech. Study the suffix rules in the following boxes.
Rules for Suffixes
Rule 1
When adding the suffixes -ness and -ly to a word, the spelling of the word does not change.
Examples:
dark + ness = darkness
scholar + ly = scholarly
Exceptions to Rule 1
When the word ends in y, change the y to i before adding -ness and -ly.
Examples:
ready + ly = readily
happy + ness = happiness
Rule 2
When the suffix begins with a vowel, drop the silent "e" in the root word.
Examples:
care + ing = caring
use + able = usable
Exceptions to Rule 2
When the word ends in -ce or -ge, keep the silent e if the suffix begins with a or o.
Examples:
replace + able = replaceable
courage + ous = courageous
Rule 3
When the suffix begins with a consonant, keep the silent e in the original word.
Examples:
care + ful = careful
care + less = careless
Examples:
true + ly = truly
argue + ment = argument
Rule 4
When the word ends in a consonant + y, change the y to i before any suffix not beginning with i.
Examples:
sunny + er = sunnier
hurry + ing = hurrying
Rule 5
When the suffix begins with a vowel, double the final consonant only if
(1) the word has only one syllable or is accented on the last syllable,
- and -
(2) the word ends in a single vowel followed by a single consonant.
Examples:
tan + ing = tanning (one syllable word)
regret + ing = regretting (The accent is on the last syllable; the word ends in a single vowel followed by a single consonant.)
cancel + ed = canceled (The accent is not on the last syllable.)
prefer + ed = preferred
Exercise: Suffixes
Write the correct forms of the words with their suffixes.
- refer + ed
- refer + ence
- mope + ing
- approve + al
- green + ness
- benefit + ed
- resubmit + ing
- use + age
- greedy + ly
- excite + ment