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Understanding New Words: Suffixes

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Understanding New Words: Suffixes

We can break down words into different parts to help us figure out new meanings of words. One way to understand the meaning of a word is to look at the suffixes.

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Suffix

  • A suffix is a word or group of letters at the end of a word which changes the meaning.
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Example

  • In cycling, 'ing' is a suffix.
  • 'Ing' means the root word is happening continuously or right now.
    • So cycling means the activity cycling is happening right now.
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More examples

  • In darkness, '-ness' is a suffix that means a state or quality.
    • So darkness means the state of being dark.
  • In beautiful, '-ful' is a suffix that means 'full of'.
    • So beautiful means full of beuty.

Jump to other topics

1Reading

1.1Reading

1.2Prefixes

1.3Suffixes

1.4Spelling Rules

1.5Reading Comprehension

1.6Reading Comprehension: SAT Practise

1.7Word Meaning

1.8Fact vs. Opinion

1.9Justifying Views

1.10Figurative Language

1.11Text Structure

2Writing

2.1Sounds in Words

2.2Homophones

2.3Using a Dictionary

2.4Writing Composition

2.5The Subjunctive Mood

2.6Modal Verbs

2.7Active & Passive Voice

2.8Relative Clauses

2.9Expanded Nouns

2.10Punctuation

2.11SAT Spelling Practise

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