Last Updated June 9, 1999
   
Prefixes and Suffixes


Note: This page needs a lot more work.

Suffixes

    A suffix is a group of letters, often a syllable (technically a morpheme) that is added to the end of a word. Suffixes affect both the meaning and the part of speech of a word. Note that suffixes are "typical" of various parts of speech -- that means that some words that end with the letters of a suffix are not the typical part of speech. Also remember that KISS grammar determines the part of speech of a word by how it is used, not by its form, and not by what the dictionaries say. In "Go slow," "slow" is used as an adverb, and thus KISS grammar considers it to be one.
 

Suffixes Typical of Nouns

     Some suffixes are characteristic of nouns:
 

Suffix Nouns
-ance / -ence
(the result of)
alliance
confidence
preference
tolerance
-ation
(the result of)
concentration
dissemination
relation
-er/-or
(one who)
player
teacher
surveyor
-ist
(one who)
careerist
realist
violinist
-ment
(the result of)
accomplishment
agreement
preferment

Suffixes Typical of Adjectives

     Some suffixes are characteristic of adjectives:
 

Suffix Adverbs
-er
(in comparison to)
clearer
prettier
warmer
-est
(superlative
in comparison to)
clearest
prettiest
warmest
-ful
(full of)
colorful
hopeful
mournful
sorrowful

Suffixes Typical of Verbs

     Some suffixes are characteristic of verbs:
 

Suffix Verbs
-ate concentrate (the act, not the thing)
disseminate
eliminate
-ceive deceive
perceive
receive
-ify personify
rectify
terrify
-ize conceptualize
realize
visualize

Suffix Typical of Adverbs

     One suffix is characteristic of adverbs:
 

Suffix Adverbs
-ly easily
eagerly
slowly

 


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