Suffixes & Word Endings

In this lesson, you will learn about suffixes — groups of letters added to the end of a word. While prefixes change a word's meaning, suffixes often change the type of word (for example, turning a verb into a noun or an adjective into an adverb). Understanding suffixes will help you with vocabulary, spelling, and grammar questions in the 11+ exam.

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What Is a Suffix?

A suffix is a group of letters added to the end of a word to create a new word. Adding a suffix can change:

• The meaning of a word
• The word class (part of speech)
• The tense of a verb

Examples:

• care → careful (adjective: full of care)
• care → careless (adjective: without care)
• care → carefully (adverb: in a careful way)

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Common Suffixes and Their Meanings

Suffixes That Make Nouns