Vocabulary: Word Formation & Morphology (B2) - Lesson 2: Wider Range of Suffixes

Lesson 2: Common Suffixes for Nouns

Turning Actions and Descriptions into Things

In our last lesson, you learned how a prefix at the beginning of a word can change its meaning. Now, let's look at the end of a word! Letters that we add to the end of a word are called "suffixes". Suffixes can change a word's type, for example, changing a verb (action) or an adjective (description) into a noun (a thing, idea, or state).

Key Vocabulary

• Suffix (noun) | បច្ច័យ
  A letter or group of letters added to the end of a word to change its function.
• -ive (suffix)
  A suffix that creates an adjective, meaning "tending to do or be something".
• -al (suffix)
  A suffix that creates an adjective, meaning "relating to".
• -ise / -ize (suffix)
  A suffix that creates a verb, meaning "to make or become".
• -en (suffix)
  A suffix that creates a verb, often from an adjective, meaning "to make or become".

Suffixes that Create Nouns

• -ship
  (shows a state or condition)
  Examples: friend ➞ friendship; partner ➞ partnership; leader ➞ leadership
• -hood
  (shows a state or period of time)
  Examples: child ➞ childhood; mother ➞ motherhood; neighbor ➞ neighborhood
• -ism
  (shows a belief system or practice)
  Examples: tourist ➞ tourism; social ➞ socialism; Buddha ➞ Buddhism

Suffixes that Create Adjectives

• -ive
  (tending to do or be something)
  Examples: create ➞ creative; attract ➞ attractive; expense ➞ expensive
• -al
  (relating to)
  Examples: tradition ➞ traditional; person ➞ personal; nation ➞ national

Suffixes that Create Verbs

• -ise / -ize
  (to make or become)
  Examples: modern ➞ modernise; special ➞ specialize; apology ➞ apologize
• -en
  (to make or become)
  Examples: 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!

Check Your Understanding

1. What is the noun for the state of being friends?
   • a) friend-hood
   • b) friendship
   • c) friend-ism
   Answer: b) friendship

2. To make something modern is to ______ it.
   • a) modernful
   • b) modernize
   • c) modernal
   Answer: b) modernize

3. The word 'national' is what type of word?
   • a) Noun
   • b) Verb
   • c) Adjective
   Answer: c) Adjective (It describes a noun, e.g., 'national holiday').

Your Mission

1. Word Families: In your notebook, write the noun and adjective forms of the verb "attract".
2. My Sentences: Write two sentences using adjectives you learned today. (e.g., "His speech was very impressive." "This is a personal matter.")
3. 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.")