Vocabulary Development: Suffixes for Noun Derivations - JSS3 English language Lesson Note

Vocabulary Development: Suffixes for Noun Derivations

Suffixes are endings added to words to change their meaning or function. In the context of vocabulary development, particularly for noun derivations, suffixes can transform adjectives, verbs, and even other nouns into nouns. Here, we will explore the suffixes -ness, -ment, -er, -ship, -ant, -hood, and -al, providing examples and explanations for each.

1. -ness

The suffix -ness is added to adjectives to form nouns that denote a state, quality, or condition.

Example:

 Adjective: Kind  

Noun: Kindness (the quality of being kind)

Other examples:  

- Bright → Brightness

- Happy → Happiness

- Weak → Weakness

2. -ment

The suffix -ment is typically added to verbs to create nouns that indicate the action or result of an action.

Example:

Verb: Achieve  

Noun: Achievement (the result of achieving)

Other examples:  

- Develop → Development

- Improve → Improvement

- Enjoy → Enjoyment

3. -er

The suffix -er is often added to verbs to form nouns that refer to a person or thing that performs an action.

Example:  

Verb: Teach  

Noun: Teacher (a person who teaches)

Other examples:  

- Bake → Baker

- Drive → Driver

- Paint → Painter

4. -ship

The suffix -ship is added to nouns or adjectives to form nouns that denote a state, condition, or quality, often related to relationships or positions.

Example:

Noun: Friend  

Noun: Friendship (the state of being friends)

Other examples: 

Leader → Leadership

Member → Membership

Scholar → Scholarship

5. -ant

The suffix -ant is often added to verbs to form nouns that refer to a person or thing that performs an action or exists in a certain condition.

Example:

Verb: Inhabit 

Noun: Inhabitant (a person who inhabits a place)

Other examples: 

Assist → Assistant

Attend → Attendant

Combat → Combatant

6. -hood

The suffix -hood is added to nouns to form abstract nouns that denote a state, condition, or quality.

Example:

Noun: Child 

Noun: Childhood (the state of being a child)

Other examples:  

- Brother → Brotherhood

- Neighbor → Neighborhood

- Likely → Likelihood

 

7. -al

The suffix -al can be added to verbs or adjectives to form nouns that denote an action, result of an action, or relating to a quality.

Example:  Verb: Arrive 

Noun: Arrival (the act of arriving)

Other examples:  

- Refuse → Refusal

- Propose → Proposal

- Deny → Denial