Suffixes

Suffixes can change the word class and the meaning of the word.

Common noun suffixes

Suffixe	Meaning	Examples
-er	used for the person who does an activity	writer, worker, consumer, teacher
-er-->-or	sometimes, the -er is written as -or	doctor, sailor, supervisor
-er/-or	used for things that do a particular job	pencil sharpener, computer, bottle opener, grater, projector
-er & -ee	can contrast with each other -er: person who does something -ee: person who receives or experiences the action	employer/ employee, sender/ addressee, payee
-tion/-sion/-ion	used to form nouns from verbs	complication, pollution, reduction, donation, promotion, admission
-ism/-ist	-ism: an activity or ideology -ist: a person used for beliefs and ideologies, and sometimes professions	liberalism, Buddhism, jornalism, typist, physicist, terrorist, pianist
-ness	used to form nouns from adjectives	goodness, laziness, forgetfulness, happiness, sadness

Adjective suffixes

Suffixe	Meaning	Examples
-able/ible	combined with verbs often means ' can be done'	washable, flexible, drinkable, breakable, forgivable, readable, edible

Verbs

Suffixe	Meaning	Examples
-ize	forms verbs from adjectives	modernize, commercialize

Other suffixes that can help you recognize the word class

Suffixe	Meaning	Examples
-ment	form nouns	excitement, enjoyment, replacement
-ity	form nouns	flexibility, productivity, scarcity
-hood	abstract nouns, especially family terms	childhood, motherhood
-ship	abstract nouns, especially status	friendship, partnership, membership
-ive	form adjectives	passive, productive, active
-al	form adjectives or nouns	(adjectives) brutal, legal, (nouns) refusal, arrival
-ous	form adjectives	delicious, outrageous, furious
-ful	form adjectives	forgetful, hopeful, useful
-less	form adjectives	useless, harmless, homeless
-ify	form verbs	beautify, purify, terrify