Lesson 2: A Wider Range of Suffixes
Advanced Word Endings
You know that adding a suffix1 to the end of a word can change its type, like changing the verb 'agree' to the noun 'agreement'. At the B2 level, learning more advanced suffixes is a key strategy to understand academic and formal English. This lesson will show you how to recognize and use a wider range of suffixes to build your vocabulary.
Suffixes that Create Nouns
| -ship (shows a state or condition) | friend ➞ friendship; partner ➞ partnership; leader ➞ leadership |
| -hood (shows a state or period of time) | child ➞ childhood; mother ➞ motherhood; neighbor ➞ neighborhood |
| -ism (shows a belief system or practice) | tourist ➞ tourism; social ➞ socialism; Buddha ➞ Buddhism |
Suffixes that Create Adjectives
| -ive2 (tending to do or be something) | create ➞ creative; attract ➞ attractive; expense ➞ expensive |
| -al3 (relating to) | tradition ➞ traditional; person ➞ personal; nation ➞ national |
Suffixes that Create Verbs
| -ise / -ize4 (to make or become) | modern ➞ modernise; special ➞ specialize; apology ➞ apologize |
| -en5 (to make or become) | short ➞ shorten; wide ➞ widen; strength ➞ strengthen |
Usage Note: Spelling - "-ise" vs. "-ize"
You will see some verbs spelled with '-ise' and some with '-ize'.
- -ise is more common in British English (e.g., modernise, organise).
- -ize is more common in American English (e.g., modernize, organize).
Both are correct! The pronunciation is the same. Just try to be consistent in your own writing.
In Conversation
Bora and Srey discuss changes in their country.
Bora: My childhood was very different from today. We didn't have so much technology.
Srey: I know. The rapid need to modernize the country has changed everything.
Bora: It has. It's good for the economy, but we must protect our traditional culture too.
Srey: That requires strong leadership from the government. It's their responsibility.
Bora: I agree. On a more personal note, I want to strengthen my English skills.
Srey: Your hard work is clear. Your vocabulary has become very impressive!
quiz Check Your Understanding
1. What is the noun for the state of being friends?
- a) friend-hood
- b) friendship
- c) friend-ism
Click to see the answer
Answer: b) friendship
2. To make something modern is to ______ it.
- a) modernful
- b) modernize
- c) modernal
Click to see the answer
Answer: b) modernize
3. The word 'national' is what type of word?
- a) Noun
- b) Verb
- c) Adjective
Click to see the answer
Answer: c) Adjective (It describes a noun, e.g., 'national holiday').
edit Your Mission
- Word Families: In your notebook, write the noun and adjective forms of the verb "attract".
- My Sentences: Write two sentences using adjectives you learned today. (e.g., "His speech was very impressive." "This is a personal matter.")
- Speak: Your mission is to use one word ending in '-ship' and one word ending in '-ive' in a conversation. (e.g., "Our friendship is important." "He is a very creative person.")
book Lesson Glossary
- Suffix (noun) - Khmer: បច្ច័យ - A letter or group of letters added to the end of a word to change its function. ↩
- -ive (suffix) - Khmer: (-អ៊ីវ) - A suffix that creates an adjective, meaning "tending to do or be something". ↩
- -al (suffix) - Khmer: (-អាល់) - A suffix that creates an adjective, meaning "relating to". ↩
- -ise / -ize (suffix) - Khmer: (-អាយស៍ / -អាយហ្ស៍) - A suffix that creates a verb, meaning "to make or become". ↩
- -en (suffix) - Khmer: (-អិន) - A suffix that creates a verb, often from an adjective, meaning "to make or become". ↩