Reading Suffixes

 

Tier 1 (Most Common)

Suffix	Description	Examples (20)
-ity	Forms abstract nouns	capacity, clarity, possibility, security, curiosity, complexity, humanity, diversity, legality, authority
-al	Forms adjectives	central, formal, mental, visual, local, global, social, cultural, physical, final
-ent	Forms adjectives or nouns	excellent, patient, different, confident, recent, dependent, urgent, convenient, confident, evident
-an	Forms nouns denoting agents or things	American, ocean, human, musician, captain, pelican, hurricane, postman, policeman, customer
-ate	Forms verbs	activate, calculate, create, translate, decorate, participate, illustrate, demonstrate, complicate, evaporate

Tier 2 (Highly Used)

Suffix	Description	Examples (20)
-ence/ance	Forms nouns denoting actions, states, or qualities	existence, guidance, dependence, difference, performance, importance, appearance, inheritance, maintenance, abundance
-ic	Forms adjectives	historic, basic, tragic, magic, comic, plastic, economic, dramatic, symbolic, realistic
-ible	Indicates possibility	terrible, possible, terrible, flexible, visible, terrible, audible, sensible, terrible, incredible
-en	Forms verbs (mostly)	lengthen, widen, darken, strengthen, open, deepen, soften, tighten, freshen, sharpen

Tier 3 (Less Common, But Still Important)

Suffix	Description	Examples (20)
-er/or	Forms agents	teacher, doctor, driver, baker, writer, actor, manager, director, worker, supervisor
-ment	Forms nouns denoting actions, states, or results	development, enjoyment, government, movement, achievement, excitement, requirement, replacement, improvement, involvement
-ive	Forms adjectives relating to actions	active, creative, positive, negative, attractive, informative, expensive, aggressive, impressive, massive
-less	Forms the opposite of an adjective	hopeless, helpless, endless, speechless, careless, fearless, clueless, timeless, worthless, priceless
-ous	Forms adjectives	famous, dangerous, delicious, courageous, enormous, obvious, suspicious, mysterious, continuous, marvelous
-ism	Forms doctrines, principles, or systems	socialism, capitalism, feminism, racism, communism, terrorism, optimism, pessimism, realism, idealism
-tion	Forms actions or processes	creation, destruction, education, completion, investigation, imagination, communication, celebration, organization, presentation
-logy	Forms studies or bodies of knowledge	biology, psychology, sociology, geology, technology, ecology, zoology, anthropology, mythology, criminology
-ant	Forms nouns denoting agents	assistant, consultant, participant, applicant, defendant, contestant, immigrant, migrant, servant, participant