Part of Speech Classification by Suffixes

Noun Suffixes and Examples

• -tion

  • Examples: nation, education

• -sion

  • Examples: question, television

• -ment

  • Examples: environment, movement

• -ce

  • Examples: difference, attendance

• -ness

  • Examples: kindness, friendliness

• -y / -ty

  • Examples: beauty, army, responsibility

• -er / -or / -ee

  • Examples: worker, visitor, employee

• -ist

  • Examples: guitarist, artist

Adjective Suffixes, Exceptions, and Special Formations

• Common Adjective Suffixes

  • -al: national, cultural
  • -ful: beautiful, careful
  • -ive: active, attractive
  • -able / -ible: comfortable, miserable, accessible
  • -ous: serious, famous
  • -ic: specific, economic
  • -ant: important, pleasant
  • -thy: healthy, lengthy
  • -ing / -ed: interesting / interested

• Adjective Exceptions Functioning as Both Noun and Adjective

  • Certain words ending in -ive function as both a noun ($\text{n}$) and an adjective ($\text{adj}$):
  • representative ($\text{n, adj}$)
  • objective ($\text{n, adj}$)
  • initiative ($\text{n, adj}$)
  • alternative ($\text{n, adj}$)

• Noun Formation via Verb + -al

  • A specific subset of verbs combined with the suffix -al forms a noun ($\text{Verb} + \text{-al} = \text{Noun}$):
  • Propose ($\text{v}$) $\rightarrow$ proposal ($\text{n}$)
  • Approve ($\text{v}$) $\rightarrow$ approval ($\text{n}$)
  • Remove ($\text{v}$) $\rightarrow$ removal ($\text{n}$)

Verb Suffixes and Exceptions

• Common Verb Suffixes

  • -ize: recognize, advise
  • -ate: participate, graduate
  • -en: widen
  • -fy: qualify

• Exceptions to Standard Verb Suffixes

  • appropriate: functions as both a verb ($\text{v}$) and an adjective ($\text{adj}$)
  • candidate: functions solely as a noun ($\text{N}$), despite ending in -ate

Adverb Formation, Irregular Forms, and Suffix Variations

• Standard Adverb Formation Rule

  • Standard adverbs are formed by adding the suffix -ly to an adjective:
  • $\text{ADV} = \text{ADJ} + \text{ly}$
  • beautiful $\rightarrow$ Beautifully
  • careful $\rightarrow$ Carefully
  • certain $\rightarrow$ Certainly

• Irregular Adverbs

  • Adverbs that do not follow the standard -ly suffix rule:
  • hard ($\text{adj}$) $\rightarrow$ hard ($\text{adv}$)
  • fast ($\text{adj}$) $\rightarrow$ fast ($\text{adv}$)
  • good ($\text{adj}$) $\rightarrow$ well ($\text{adv}$)

• Inherent -ly Adjectives

  • Words that naturally end in -ly but function exclusively as adjectives:
  • timely ($\text{adj}$)
  • likely ($\text{adj}$)
  • costly ($\text{adj}$)

• Dual-Function -ly Words (Adjective and Adverb)

  • Words with the suffix -ly that function identically as both an adjective ($\text{adj}$) and an adverb ($\text{adv}$):
  • daily
  • weekly
  • monthly
  • yearly