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Click here for a list of suffixes in commonly mis-spelt words.
There are two kinds of suffix:
- derivational suffixes
- inflectional suffixes
These suffixes give related words different meanings and/or show that they belong to different word classes.
In this example,
prince - princess
the suffix -ess relates princess to prince, with a change of meaning indicating gender.
In this example,
derive - derivation - derivational
the suffixes ation (noun) and al(adjective) show that the words derivation and derivational are related to the verb derive, but are members of different word classes.
These derivational relations are the basis for the word families that pupils started to explore in the Literacy Strategy at KS2.
The following are some of the most common derivational suffixes, all of which feature in the KS3 spelling lists. They are given here with their grammatical functions in order to stress their importance in grammar as well as in spelling; notice how most of them give a relatively unambiguous clue to the word class of the word containing them.
- ism forms nouns from other nouns (e.g. race/racism, organ/organism);
- ist forms nouns or adjectives from nouns (e.g. tour/tourist, Buddha/Buddhist);
- ful forms nouns or adjectives from nouns (e.g. spoon/spoonful, skill/skilful);
- ation forms nouns from verbs (e.g. emigrate/emigration, civilise/civilisation);
- ity forms nouns from adjectives (e.g. moral/morality, able/ability, rapid/rapidity);
- ly forms adverbs from adjectives, (e.g. actual/actually, sincere/sincerely);
- ise forms verbs from adjectives or nouns (e.g. normal/normalise, synchrony/synchronise).
This list is by no means complete, and many of those not shown here are important for spelling.
Derivational suffixes can combine with one another, which gives great flexibility in creating new words but also leads to further spelling complications. For example, -ity can be added to -able, but the result is-ability (e.g. suitability); and when adverbs are formed by adding -ly to an adjective ending in -ic, the result is usually -ically (e.g. frantically). Notice that the first of these complications can be guessed from the pronunciation, but the second cannot.
Inflectional suffixesThese relate different forms of the same word.In this example,
book - books,
The suffix s relates the plural books to the singular form of the same word.
There are very few inflectional suffixes but they are extremely frequent and important so it is essential for pupils to have a good understanding of their spelling as well as of their grammatical function.
The following are the regular inflectional suffixes, all of which feature in the KS3 spelling lists. They are given here with their grammatical functions in order to stress their importance in grammar as well as in spelling; notice how most of them give a relatively unambiguous clue to the word class of the word containing them.
- s marks a noun as plural, but a present tense verb as (third person) singular: e.g. The books look interesting but The book looks interesting; s changes to es after a hissing sound (e.g. hiss - hisses)
- ed marks a verb as either a past tense or a past participle: e.g. She walked or She has walked.
- ing marks a verb as a present participle: e.g. She was walking.
- er marks an adjective or adverb as comparative: e.g. quicker, sooner.
- est marks an adjective or adverb as superlative: e.g. quickest, soonest.
This list is complete as far as regular inflections are concerned. Irregular inflections either lack the suffix entirely (e.g. took) or have an exceptional suffix whose spelling must be learned (e.g. kept).
Exceptions:
explain - explanation
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What Part of the word is the suffix attached to?
The suffix is attached to the end of the root word. It comes after the root word and can change the meaning or grammatical function of the word.
What is the partial word added to the end of a root word to change its meaning or function?
A suffix is the partial word added to the end of a root word to change its meaning or function.
What does the suffix ence change the root word depend into?
dependence.
What is a word that has associate as the base word?
disassociate has the prefix (-dis) , association has the suffix (-tion) , and disassociation has both the prefix and suffix. a change in spelling, such as losing the "e" on "associate" , doesn't matter as long as you can see the root in the word.
What is the root word and suffix for tapping?
Tap is the root and ping is the suffix
Which is the correct rule for spelling with prefix?
when adding a prefix, the spelling of the root word doesn't change
What word part is used at the end of a word root to change the meaning of the word?
A suffix is used at the end of a word root to change the meaning of the word.
What does the suffix ence change the root word depend into?
dependence.
A word or part of a word?
A word comprised of three main parts:1. Prefix- added to the beginning of a root word. Adds additional meaning to the root and often will change/alter the meaning of the root.2. Root- the original word without a prefix or suffix. Generically speaking, a simple word.3. Suffix- added to the end of a root word. Adds additional meaning to the root and often will change/alter the meaning of the root.
What is a word that has associate as the base word?
disassociate has the prefix (-dis) , association has the suffix (-tion) , and disassociation has both the prefix and suffix. a change in spelling, such as losing the "e" on "associate" , doesn't matter as long as you can see the root in the word.
A partial word added to the end of a root word to change its meaning or function?
Suffix
Does the spelling of the root word change when you add a negative prefix?
No
What is the root word and the suffix of starvation?
Root Word: starveSuffix: destarvation?????
What suffix is added to the word treacherous to what word?
The suffix "ous" is added to the word "Treacher" which is not the root word but the root word is not far off, as it is treachery.
What is the root word and suffix for tapping?
Tap is the root and ping is the suffix
What is the prefix suffix and root word for the word decsendant?
Ant is the suffix and there is no prefix.
What is the prefix root and suffix of the word posture?
There is no prefix. Pos is the root word. -ure is the suffix.
