INCOMPLETE DRAFT To be checked and completed. David Hornsby.

A resource for teachers; NOT a list to be taught!!!

Remember, we are helping students become “word watchers” and developing their knowledge of how words work. We do NOT have to highlight or teach every suffix and every variant of every suffix!

SUFFIX / MEANING and/or
function / EXAMPLE / NON-
EXAMPLE
-able, -ible / capable of being; fit for
forms adjectives (by addition to stems of many origins) / presentable
enjoyable
drinkable
edible
visible / bible
table
-al / pertaining to; having the form or character of
forms adjectives from nouns / comical
musical
accidental / animal
pal
-ant / characterised by
forms adjectives and nouns from verbs / tolerant
ignorant
servant
defendant / elephant
slant
giant
-ance,
-ancy / state of; act of; quality of
forms nouns (from adjectives or from verbs) / tolerance
ignorance
appearance
brilliance
discrepancy
infancy / balance
romance
dance
-ee / one who receives
forms nouns / refugee
payee
employee
referee / tree
three
-en / become
forms verbs from adjectives / lighten
brighten
dampen / then
hen
women
-en / become
forms adjectives from nouns / golden
ashen / men
antigen
-ent / causing or performing an action; existing in a certain condition
forms adjectives and nouns / violent
confident
dependent
descendent / spent
accent
element
-er, -or / one who
forms nouns / trainer
villager
employer
protector
conductor / anger
nor
-ful / notable for; full of; characterised by
mostly forms adjectives (sometimes forms nouns) / beautiful
careful
wasteful
useful
spoonful
-ion / process; state or condition
forms nouns / fermentation
action
intoxication
creation
objection / lion
onion
lotion
-ist / person; one who
forms nouns
sometimes forms adjectives / scientist
artist
chemist
realist
sexist
racist / consist
exist
moist
-ise, -ize / become; act according to some principle or policy
forms verbs / advertise
criticise
advise
apologise
realise
economise / surprise
bruise
prize
size
-ise, -ize / quality; condition
forms nouns / franchise
merchandise / unwise
cruise
-ive / having the nature of; expressing tendency or disposition
mostly forms adjectives
sometimes forms nouns / creative
active
supportive
destructive
passive
detective / motive
adjective
-less / without; lacking
forms adjectives / loveless
fearless
worthless
nameless
harmless
-ly / in that manner
forms adverbs
forms adjectives / happily
steadily
briefly
saintly
cowardly
woolly / holy
family
ugly
lolly
-ly / every
forms adverbs / hourly
daily
monthly
-ment / condition or result
forms nouns from verbs / development
argument / moment
cement
element
-ness / state of being / laziness
blindness / witness
harness
-or / person who
or
thing which / inspector
terminator
generator
accelerator
elevator / mirror
horror
janitor
-ous / -ious / possessing
or
full of / nervous
malicious
dangerous
-ship / position held / fellowship
dictatorship
authorship / ship
-y / characterised by / sleazy
messy
runny / sky