Suffixes in English

Suffixes in English (Noun, Adjective, Verb & Adverb Suffixes Explained)

Hello English learners 👋 Welcome to a new lesson. Suffixes are small endings added to words, but they make a big difference. They help you expand your vocabulary quickly, recognise word families in reading and listening, form words accurately in writing and speaking and score higher in Cambridge exams (B2–C1).  Instead of learning words one by one, suffixes allow you to learn in patterns — exactly how English works.Let’s look at the most common suffixes in English, grouped by word type.

Noun Suffixes

-er / -or

Meaning: a person or thing that performs an action.

teacher, runner, reader, painter, actor, doctor, creator, director, mentor

A teacher helps students learn.

-ion / -tion / -sion

Meaning: an act, process, or state; often forms abstract nouns from verbs.

decision, action, education, creation, celebration, conclusion, explosion, tension

Education plays a vital role in society.

-ment

Meaning: the result or process of an action.

development, achievement, agreement, enjoyment, employment, improvement, investment

Her hard work led to great achievement.

-ness

Meaning: a state or quality.

happiness, kindness, darkness, weakness, illness, cleanliness, rudeness

Kindness costs nothing but means everything.

-ship

Meaning: a state, condition, relationship, or skill.

friendship, leadership, citizenship, partnership, membership, relationship

Trust is essential in any friendship.

Adjective Suffixes

-able / -ible

Meaning: capable of or suitable for.

readable, reliable, manageable, responsible, visible, flexible, comfortable

The instructions are clear and readable.

-ous / -ious

Meaning: full of or having a quality.

dangerous, curious, famous, generous, nervous, ambitious, delicious, mysterious

She’s very ambitious and highly motivated.

-less

Meaning: without; lacking something.

careless, hopeless, fearless, homeless, restless, useless, meaningless

A careless mistake can be costly.

-ful

Meaning: full of; having a lot of something.

helpful, hopeful, joyful, powerful, thoughtful, grateful, colourful

He was very helpful during the project.

Verb Suffixes

-ify

Meaning: to make or cause to become.

simplify, clarify, beautify, justify, purify, identify, solidify

The teacher tried to simplify the explanation.

-en

Meaning: to make or become; often added to adjectives.

harden, strengthen, weaken, widen, brighten, sharpen, loosen

Exercise can strengthen your muscles.

-ate

Meaning: to cause or perform an action.

create, decorate, generate, operate, motivate, activate, eliminate

The campaign aims to motivate young people.

-ise (British English)

Meaning: to make or become; to organise or transform.

realise, organise, recognise, apologise, summarise, emphasise, maximise

Please summarise the main points.

Adverb Suffixes

-ly

Meaning: in a particular manner; turns adjectives into adverbs.

happily, quickly, carefully, loudly, softly, politely, bravely, easily

She spoke politely during the meeting.

Final tip for learners

Suffixes are gold for vocabulary building. When you learn a new word, ask yourself:

• What’s the root?
• What suffix does it use?
• Can I form a noun, adjective, or verb from it?

This strategy will make your English more flexible, accurate, and advanced — exactly what examiners and native speakers look for.

Download Suffixes in English – Worksheet (B2–C1) in PDF here

Learn about negative prefixes and suffixes in English

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