How to determine the part of speech in English by suffix. Word formation (derivation) in English

1 .Suffix -er (-or ).

1) This suffix is ​​used to form nouns from verbs (infinitive without to + -er ,-or ). A noun with this ending denotes either a device that performs the action expressed by the verb from which it is derived, or a person who performs this action. When reading such derived words, you should remember that suffixes -er And -or the stress never falls, and therefore they are pronounced as a neutral sound [ə], for example:

to play (play) - a player [ə"pleɪə] player

to mix (mix) - a mixer [ə"mɪksə] mixer.

If the verb ends in e , then only the letter is added r ,For example:

to make (produce) - a maker [ə"meɪkə] producer

to use (use) - a user [ə"ju:zə] user.

It should be remembered that you often have to resort to descriptive translation of nouns with the suffix -er ,-or ,For example:

to lift (to lift) - a lifter [ə"lɪftə] lifting device

to time (assign time, calculate by time) - a timer [ə"taɪmə] a device that calculates time.

2) End letter r in words with such a suffix, it is pronounced as a connecting sound [r] only if it is followed by a word starting with a vowel, for example:

a reader of the book [ə"ri:də rəf ðə"buk] the reader of this book.

In this regard, you should pay attention to the reading of the conjunction and [ənd] - And ,A .This conjunction is pronounced very briefly, without stress and together, as if in one breath, with the words that it connects, for example:

a reader and a writer [ə"ri:də r ənd ə"raɪtə].

Exercise 1

A collector [əkə"lektə], a selector [əsə"lektə], a collector and a selector; a container [əkən"teɪnə], a protector [əprə"tektə], a container and a protector; an inventor [ənɪn"ventə], a reporter [ərɪ"pɔ:tə], an inventor and a reporter; a composer [əkəm"pəuzə], a producer [əprə"dju:sə], a composer and a producer.

2 .Suffix -ist .This is a very common suffix that forms nouns denoting professionals, supporters of a social or scientific direction. It can be attached to nouns and adjectives.

Task 2. Read and give Russian equivalents.

A specialist [ə"speʃəlɪst], a naturalist [ə"nætʃrəlɪst], a scientist [ə"saɪəntɪst], a chemist [ə"kemɪst], an economist, a "botanist, a "moralist.

3 .Suffix - ian .Nouns with this suffix denote nationality or title and profession, for example: Russian ["rʌʃən] - Russian, academician [ə,kædə"mɪʃən] - academician, musician musician. Darwinian - Darwinist.

Words formed by adding a suffix -ian, can also be translated by adjectives, for example:

the Russian language ["læŋɡwɪdʒ] Russian language

Neo-Darwinian interpretation of evolution [,nɪə dɑ:"wɪnɪən ɪn,tə:prɪ"teɪʃən əv,i:və"lu:ʃən] neo-Darwinian interpretation of evolution.

Note: Please note that nouns and adjectives denoting nationality are always capitalized: English, Russian, Polish, American.

4 .Suffix -ity (spelling options -ety ,-iety )forms abstract nouns with the meaning of state, quality, condition. Suffix -ity matches the suffix -ness , for example: able (capable) - ability [ə"bɪlɪtɪ] ability; active (active) - activity [æk"tɪvɪtɪ] activity, activity; valid (valid, justified, effective) - validity, effectiveness, fairness, legality, validity.

5 . Suffix -ing forms nouns from verbs (§ 85), for example: to meet (meet) - meeting ["mi:tɪŋ] meeting, to proceed (continue) - proceeding practice, proceedings, notes (of a scientific society).

6 .Suffix -hood forms nouns with the meaning “state, position, quality”, for example: child (child) - childhood ["tʃaɪldhud] childhood, man (man) - manhood ["mænhud] masculinity.

7 . Suffix -ment forms nouns denoting action, for example: to move (to move) - movement ["mu:vmənt] - movement.

Some words with this suffix take on the meaning of a collection of objects, for example: equipment [ɪ"kwɪpmənt] equipment.

8 . Suffix -ness forms nouns with the meaning “state, quality”, for example: dark (dark) - darkness ["dɑ:knɪs] darkness, good (good) - goodness ["ɡudnɪs] kindness, great (great) - greatness ["ɡreɪtnɪs] greatness.

9 .Suffix -y forms abstract nouns from verbs, for example: to discover (open) - discovery discovery; to inquire (ask, find out) - inquiry [ɪn"kwaɪərɪ] question, request.

10 .Suffix -th forms nouns with the meaning of quality, for example: true (true, truthful) - truth, health - health.

By adding a suffix -th nouns are formed from adjectives, and the root vowel often changes, for example: long (long) - length length, deep (deep) - depth depth, strong (strong) - strength strength.

11 .Suffix -ant forms nouns with the meaning of person and substance, for example: to assist (help) - assistant [ə"sɪstənt] assistant, to serve (serve) - servant ["sə:vənt] servant, an oxidant oxidizer, solvent solvent.

12 .Suffix -age forms nouns with different meanings, for example: to break (break) - breakage ["breɪkɪdʒ] breakdown; to marry (marry) - marriage ["mæ-rɪdʒ] wedding; courage ["kʌrɪdʒ] - courage, boldness, courage.

13 .Suffix -ism is characteristic of many languages, for example: Darwinism ["dɑ:wɪnɪzm], romanticism, capitalism ["kæpɪtəlɪzm], vandalism ["vændəlɪzm].

14 .Suffix -ire (-ture ,-sure ).

1) First of all, you should pay attention to the pronunciation of letter combinations ture And sure .As a result of certain phonetic changes in English language combination ture began to be perceived as a symbol. For example: culture ["kʌltʃə], future ["fju:tʃə], lecture ["lektʃə], temperature ["temprɪtʃə].

Letter combination sure conveyed by the sound combination [ʃə]. For example: pressure ["preʃə], tonsure ["tɔnʃə].

If before the letter combination sure there is a vowel, then it is conveyed by the sound combination [ʒə]. For example: exposure [ɪks"pouʒə], measure ["meʒə], treasure ["treʒə", pleasure ["pleʒə].

2) Suffix -ire (-ture ,-sure )forms nouns denoting a process, for example: to press (press) - pressure ["preʃə] pressure, to mix (mix) - mixture ["mɪkstʃə] mixing.

Many nouns formed with the help of these suffixes can mean the result of an action in the form of an object, a substance, for example: mixture - medicine, mixture; fixture - fastening (part).

15 .Suffix -ship forms nouns with the meaning of state, position or property, for example: friend (friend) - friendship ["frendʃɪp] friendship, member (member) - membership ["membəʃɪp] membership.

Task 3. Based on the given verbs, form nouns using suffixes -er ,-or , and translate.

Example: to tell - a teller [ə"telə] narrator.

Suffix -er: to absorb - absorb, absorb; to advise - advise, advise; to compute - calculate; to point - to indicate; to produce - produce, cause; to report - to report, report; to design - to design, construct; to restore - restore, restore; to run - to run; to test - check, test.

Note: Be aware that the verb to inform [ɪn"fɔ:m] produces two nouns: informer -informant,informer And informant -informant("reporter").

Suffix -or: to act - to act; to correct - to correct; to inspect - to inspect; to invent - to invent; to operate - work, act, manage; to select - select, sort.

Task 4. Connect the given pairs of nouns with a conjunction and .Remember to use the connecting sound [r] before the conjunction and if the word before it ends with a letter r .Translate into Russian.

Sample: a reader, a writer - a reader and a writer - reader and writer.

An actor, a reporter; an artist, a proofreader; a designer, an inspector; a naturalist, an inventor; an adviser, an informer; a specialist, an adviser; an absorber, a selector; an operator, and separator; a chemist, a runner; a restorer, a tester; an informant, an inspector; a computer, an operator; a pointer, a selector; a scientist, a designer; a checker, a producer.

Task 5. Read and translate into Russian.

Suffix - (i )an: historian, arithmetician [ə,rɪθmə"tɪʃən], statistician [,stætɪs"tɪʃən], politician [,pɔlɪ"tɪʃən], phonetician [,fəunə"tɪʃən], librarian (library), tragedian (tragedy - tragedy), comedian (comedy - comedy).

Note: Please note that physician means doctor,doctor,a physicist ["fɪzɪsɪst] - physicist.

Suffix -ity: simplicity (simple - simple), similarity [,sɪmɪ"lærɪtɪ] (similar - similar), selectivity (to select - select), complexity (complex - complex), certainty ["sə:təntɪ] (certain - certain), relativity [ ,relə"tɪvɪtɪ] (relative - relative), conductivity [,kɔndʌk"tɪvɪtɪ] (to conduct - to conduct).

Suffix -ing: writings ["raɪtɪŋz] (to write - to write), finding ["faɪndɪŋ] (to find - to find), coming ["kʌmɪŋ] (to come - to come), going ["ɡouɪŋ] (to go - to walk), planning [ "plænɪŋ] (to plan - plan).

Suffix -hood: fatherhood ["fɑ:ðəhud] (father - father), brotherhood ["brʌðəhud] (brother - brother), serfhood ["sə:fhud] (serf - serf, slave), neighborhood ["neɪbəhud] (neighbor - neighbor).

Suffix -menu movement ["mu:vmənt] (to move - move), equipment [ɪ"kwɪpmənt] (to equip - equip), requirement (to require - demand), agreement [ə"ɡri:mənt] (to agree - agree), measurement ["meʒəmənt] (to measure - to measure), development (to develop - to develop), improvement [ɪm"pru:vmənt] (to improve - to improve), treatment ["tri:tmənt] (to treat - to interpret, process) .

Suffix -ness (basic Russian equivalent -ness ): emptiness ["emptɪnɪs] (empty - empty), weakness ["wi:knɪs] (weak - weak), usefulness ["ju:sfulnɪs] (useful - useful), readiness ["redɪnɪs] (ready - ready), effectiveness [ ɪ"fektɪvnɪs] (effective - effective).

Suffixes -y; -th; -ant; -ist; -ure: discovery (to discover - open), strength (strong - strong), truth (true - true), growth ["ɡrouθ] (to grow - grow), chemist ["kemɪst], physicist ["fɪzɪsɪst", capitalist ["kæpɪtəlɪst ], economist [ɪ"kɔnəmɪst], scientist ["saɪəntɪst] (science - science), meteorologist [,mi:tjə"rɔlədʒɪst], assistant [ə"sɪstənt], servant ["sə:vənt] (to serve - to serve) , exposure (ɪks "pouʒə] (to expose - withstand (in the light), expose).

Suffix -ship: leadership ["li:dəʃɪp] (to lead), citizenship ["sɪ(:)tɪzənʃɪp] (citizen - citizen), dictatorship (dictator - dictator).

Exercise 1.Translate, paying special attention to nouns that are formed in different ways (§ 31).

Memo: words possible And feasible["fɪ:zəbl] can be translated the same way - possible .However, know the difference: possible - possible ,likely; feasible - (physically) executable ,feasible ,possible .

1. Beggars cannot be choosers. 2.The impossibility of such a simplification is obvious. 3. Clearliness is next to godliness. 4.Death is the great leveller. 5. Idleness is the mother of all evil. 6. Overdocumentation has two dangers. 7. There are times when the weak can help the strong. 8. Two wrongs do not make a right. 9. They have the same likes and the same dislikes. 10. The capacity to select the important from the many is also necessary. 11. The difficult we can do at once the impossible may take a little time. 12. The wheres and whens are important.

When starting to learn a foreign language, we face many problems, including limited vocabulary. If you understand the principle of word formation in English, then the vocabulary can be expanded very easily. Affixation is one of the ways of forming new words on the basis of others by adding parts of a word to the beginning or end of a language unit. Suffixes are used much more often in English than prefixes. They can like create other parts of speech, so add a different shade of meaning.

Nouns

Nouns have the greatest variety of suffixes than any other part of speech in English. Often this morpheme carries a certain semantic connotation and helps to determine that what we have in front of us is a noun.

Popular suffixes -er (-or) indicates that a person belongs to a profession, actor, while the basis is usually a verb: to build (build) - builder (builder), to invent (invent) - inventor (inventor). In addition, this suffix means belonging to a particular locality: London (London) - Londoner (resident of London). Or a weapon: to roll (roll) - roller (roller). The suffixes –er and -or are essentially synonymous, but the former is the most common in the language.

Suffix -ness, as a rule, added to adjectives, gives a connotation of property or quality and corresponds to Russian -ot-, -ost, -in-: dark (dark) – darkness (darkness), fanciful (sophisticated) – fancifulness (sophistication), deep (deeply ) – deepness (depth).

In modern English there are both native suffixes and those borrowed from other languages. An excellent example of the first is the suffix –ship, with the help of which: friend (friend) – friendship (friendship), partner (companion) – partnership (company).

Most suffixes ( -age, -ence) are formed by abstract nouns: to leak (leak) - leakage (leakage), silent (quiet) - silence (silence). English affix –tion often corresponds to the Russian -tion: to present (to represent) – presentation (presentation). If you add to a verb or adjective -th, then you can observe changes in the vowel in the root of the word: strong (strong) - strength (strength), to die (die) - death (death).

Suffix –ment, borrowed in the 12th century from French, has the meaning of the result of an action: to amaze (surprise) - amazement (surprise). The same function is performed by -ade: to block (block) – blockade (blockade).

Verbs

We rarely see suffixes. Usually they themselves are the basis for the formation of words. However, such verbal morphemes still exist. For example, the suffix –fy found in the words to terrify (terrify), to signify (mean), to mystify (mystify). Verbs are also formed using –en, -ise/-ize: broad (wide) – broaden (expand), real (real) – realize (realize). The British version is considered to be the one with the letter “s”, the American version is considered to be the one with “z”.

Adjectives

One of the suffixes of adjectives is –able (-ible). It gives the word the meaning of possibility, ability to do something: to work (work) - workable (worker), to translate (translate) - translatable (translatable). The suffix also indicates the presence of quality –al, which often coincides with Russian –al-: nation (nation) – national (national).

Suffix -ful gives meaning to the completeness of something. For example, beauty (beauty) – beautiful (beautiful = full of beauty), tact (tact) – tactful (tactful = full of tact).

Suffix -ish expresses nationality or a weak degree of quality of an object: Polland (Poland) – Pollish (Polish), girl (girl) – girlish (girlish). Often also used to indicate nationality -(i)an or –ese: Russia (Russia) – Russian (Russian), China (China) – Chinese (Chinese).

Suffix -less denotes the absence of something: end (end) – endless (endless), heart (heart) – heartless (heartless).

Adverbs

Most adverbs are formed from adjectives using the suffix –ly: bad (bad) – badly (badly), regular (regular) – regularly (regularly). But there are other less productive (used) suffixes, for example, -ward in the word backward (backward).

If you determine that you have a noun with the endings “-ER” and “-OR”, then this is a specific noun indicating a person (profession, occupation, place of residence) or an object (tool, device, mechanism, device).

Suffix "-ER" comes from Old English and is productive. The suffix “-ER” gives the following meanings to the noun.

1. Attached to a verb and denotes a person, engaged in the type of activity indicated by the stem of the verb. This may be the name of a profession, position, rank or craft.

For example:

to BUILD = build + ER = BUILD ER= builder;

to DRIVE = drive a car, car + ER = DRIV ER= driver, driver;

to BAKE = bake bread + ER = BAK ER= baker;

to WELD = weld (metal) + ER = WELD ER= welder;

to DANCE = dance + ER = DANC ER= dancer;

to SELL = sell + ER = SELL ER= seller;

to DESIGN = to design, make sketches (clothes, shoes) + ER = DESIGN ER= designer; designer;

to COMMAND = command + ER = COMMAND ER= commander;

to PAINT = paint, paint + ER = PAINT ER= painter, artist;

to TEACH = teach, teach + ER = TEACH ER= teacher, teacher;

to WEAVE = weave + ER = WEAV ER= weaver;

to TURN = rotate, twirl + ER = TURN ER= turner;

to WEIGH = weigh + ER = WEIGH ER= weigher;

2. Attached to a verb and denotes a person, performing an action expressed by a verb. But this is not a profession, but simply an activity. Sometimes such nouns cannot be translated literally, then the translation is expressed in phrases.

For example:

to BEGIN = start + ER = BEGINN ER= beginner, beginner;

to OWN = own, possess + ER = OWN ER= owner;

to SLEEP = sleep + ER = SLEEP ER= sleeping, sleepyhead;

to EAT = eat, absorb + ER = EAT ER= eater;

Compound nouns are common.

For example:

CINEMA-GO ER= someone who often goes to the cinema, a movie lover, a moviegoer;

THEATER-GO ER= one who often goes to the theater, theatergoer, theatergoer;

NEW-COM ER= stranger, newcomer, newcomer;

EARLY-RIS ER= one who wakes up early, a “lark”.

LATE-RIS ER= one who wakes up late, “night owl”;

SCHOOL-LEAV ER= one who graduates from school, school graduate, applicant.

CHESS-PLAY ER= chess player, chess player.

STORY-TELL ER= storyteller, storyteller, inventor

WATCH-MAK ER= watchmaker;

BOOK-LOV ER= book lover;

TIME-WAST ER= someone who wastes time;

PLEASURE-SEEK ER= seeker of entertainment, seeker of pleasure;

RIGHT - HAND ER= right-handed;

LEFT - HAND ER= left-handed;

3. Points to a person living in a certain area or town.

For example:

LONDON —> LONDON ER= resident of London;

NEW-YORK —> NEW-YORK ER= New Yorker;

ISLAND —> ISLAND ER= islander, islander;

VILLAGE —> VILLAG ER= resident of a village, village;

COTTAGE —> COTTAG ER= resident of a country house;

RANCH —> RANCH ER= rancher;

SOUTHERN —> COUTHERN ER= southerner;

FOREIGN —> FOREIGN ER= foreigner;

STRANGE —> STRANG ER= stranger, foreigner;

HIGHLAND —> HIGHLAND ER= mountain dweller, mountaineer;

4. Denotes objects, with the help of which the action expressed by the verb is performed. These can be tools, devices, devices, mechanisms or equipment.

For example:

to CONTAIN = contain + ER = CONTAIN ER= container;

to CONTROL = regulate, control + ER = CONTROLL ER= regulator;

to BOIL = boil, heat + ER = BOIL ER= heater, boiler;

to MIX = mix + ER = MIX ER= mixer; mixer;

to BURN = burn, burn + ER = BURN ER= burner;

to CUT = cut + ER = CUTT ER= cutter, cutting tool;

to RACE = compete in speed + ER = RAC ER= racing car;

to GRIND = grind, grind + ER = GRIND ER= coffee mill, crusher;

to EXTINGUISH = extinguish, extinguish + ER = EXTINGUISH ER= extinguisher, fire extinguisher;

to PROPEL = to actuate + ER = PROPELL ER= propeller;

to RECTIFY = correct, clear + ER = RECTIFI ER= cleaner, straightener;

to MAGNIFY = increase + ER = MAGNIFI ER= magnifying glass, magnifying glass;

The suffix “-OR” comes from Latin and is unproductive. It mainly refers to nouns related to science and technology. The suffix "-OR" gives nouns the same meaning as the suffix "-ER", except to designate a person living in a particular area.

1. Denotes a profession, craft, rank, position person.

to ACT = play theater + OR = ACT OR= actor;

to DOCTOR = to treat, to practice medicine = DOCT OR= doctor, doctor;

to DIRECT = direct + OR = DIRECT OR= manager, director;

to TRANSLATE = translate from one language to another + OR = TRANSLAT OR= translator;

to CONDUCT = accompany, lead; conduct an orchestra + OR = CONDUCT OR= conductor, conductor; the conductor of orchestra;

to PROFESS = train, teach + OR = PROFESS OR= teacher, professor;

to CONSTRUCT = construct, build + OR = CONSTRUCT OR designer, builder;

to EDIT = edit + OR = EDIT OR= editor;

to INSPECT = inspect, examine + OR = INSPECT OR= inspector, auditor;

to SAIL = sail on a ship, sail + OR = SAIL OR= sailor, sailor;

to INVENT = invent, invent + OR = INVENT OR= inventor, inventor;

to GOVERN = manage, rule + OR = GOVERN OR= manager; governor;

2. Indicates a person’s occupation expressed by a verb. But this is not related to profession or craft.

For example:

to VISIT = to visit, visit, pay a visit + OR = VISIT OR= visitor, visitor;

to NARRATE = tell, narrate + OR = NARRAT OR= narrator;

to DEMONSTRATE = demonstrate + OR = DEMONSTRAT OR= demonstrator, demonstration participant;

to CREATE = create, create + OR = CREAT OR= creator, originator, author;

to SPECULATE = reflect, speculate + OR = SPECULAT OR= thinker, speculator; one who plays on the stock exchange;

3. Denotes objects with the help of which the action expressed by the verb is performed. These can be tools, devices, mechanisms, devices.

For example:

to GENERATE = generate, generate + OR = GENERAT OR= generator;

to ELEVATE = raise + OR = ELEVAT OR= elevator;

to INDICATE = indicate, show + OR = INDICAT OR= indicator, pointer;

to PERFORATE = drill + OR = PERFORAT OR= hammer drill;

to VENTILATE = ventilate, ventilate + OR = VENTILAT OR= fan;

to PROTECT = protect + OR = PROTECT OR= protector;

to SEPARATE = separate + OR = SEPARAT OR= separator;

to CALCULATE = carry out calculations + OR = CALCULAT OR= calculator;

to RADIATE = radiate + OR = RADIAT OR= radiator;

to COMPRESS = compress + OR = COMPRESS OR= compressor;

REVERSE. By the sound of words in Russian, you can guess from which English verb they originated. There are a lot of such words in our everyday life and it would be stupid to look for them in the dictionary. Everyone knows the meaning of words such as LEADER, MANAGER, DIRECTOR, RADIATOR, BATTERY, DECORATOR, INSPECTOR, INDICATOR, CALCULATOR, SEPARATOR, MIXER, COMPUTER, PROTECTOR. Each of these words corresponds to an English verb, the meaning of which is clear without translation.

English suffixes, like Russians, are the elements of the word following the root. They help us form new words. Some suffixes change the part of speech, turning, for example, a verb into a noun. We should also not forget about those suffixes that, while changing the form of a word, do not affect its very meaning.

If you have even a little ideaabout the table of suffixes in English, then any word-formation “delights” in English will seem like child’s play. Moreover, having understood the principles of constructing new words with the help of prefixes and suffixes (by the way, prefixes are significantly inferior to suffixes in terms of flexibility and prevalence), a language learner will be able to translate masculine nouns into feminine ones, form a nationality or profession without any problems.

It turns out that it is not at all necessary to set records for the number of words learned. After all, in English, as in Russian, there is the concept of “cognate words”, differing from each other only in suffixes and prefixes. Therefore, knowing, for example, the meaning of the verb paint (to paint, to paint), you can easily understand that painter is an artist.

Word-forming and form-forming suffixes: differences

Russian speakers consider some English suffixes to be endings. For example, some English textbooks call the suffix -ed an ending. All Suffixes in English is divided into two large groups: formative and word-forming. Thanks to the first, the word does not change its meaning, only the form changes. Compare, short (short) and shorter (shorter).

Word-formingsuffixes in Englishform a new word with a different meaning, albeit often similar to the meaning of the original word. For example, neighbor (neighbor) - neighborhood (neighborhood).

Form-buildingsuffixes in English

So, in English, unlike Russian, one word can take not so many forms. This is due to the fact that in English many grammatical meanings of a word, such as gender, verb tense, etc., are expressed not by the word itself, but by various auxiliary elements (articles, auxiliary verbs, etc.). In Russian, just one adjective (depending on case, number, gender) can have more than 20 forms. For example, beloved - beloved - beloved - beloved, etc. In English, the adjective favorite (favorite) may not change at all, but we guess about its exact form from the context (environment): This is my favorite book (This is my favorite book ). - He is my favorite writer (He is my favorite writer).

However, in some cases, English words do change form. And for this, in English there are five formative suffixes that are important to remember: -ed, -est, -ing, -s (-es), -er.

Now it’s worth understanding English words that can take different forms. So, English suffix-ed is needed to form the second and third forms correct verb. For example, finish (finish, complete) - finished (completed).

The suffixes -er and -est in English languageused in the formation of comparative forms of adjectives. We use these suffixes with short adjectives, like close, big, etc. The suffix -er is used for the comparative form, and -est for the superlative form. For example, close (close) - closer (closer) - closest (closest).

Among English suffixes-s and -es are widespread. They are used in following cases:

• to form the possessive form of an animate noun - father (father) - father's house (father's house);
• to form the plural of a noun - face (face) - faces (faces);
• to form the 3rd person singular of the verb (in Present Simple) - run (run) - runs (runs).

Finally, the English suffix -ing is used to form Continuous tense forms, type 1 participles, verbal nouns and gerunds: to run (run) - I am running (I am running) - running (running, running, running).Read more about this in the article.

Suffixes forming nouns

Word-formingsuffixes in Englishcontribute to the formation of a number of nouns. It is to them that we owe the appearance of the names of many professions. The list of suffixes for nouns is quite extensive.

Suffixes in English: tablefor nouns

Adjective suffixes in English

A huge number of adjectives in English are formed from nouns and verbs. Some suffixes are used to form both nouns and adjectives (for example, -al, -ing). But most of the suffixes we see with the part of speech answering the question “which” are not found on nouns or verbs. For example,suffix less in Englishcharacteristic only of adjectives.

List adjective suffixes in English, just as in the case of nouns, is quite extensive.

• -able, -ible. The ability to perform or perform any action. To make an adjective, a suffix is ​​added to the verb. For example, to forget (forget) - forgettable (unmemorable).
• -al. Used to indicate a characteristic. For example, accident (case) - accidental (random).
• -ant. Adjectives formed with this suffix from verbs and nouns mean “conveying qualities.” For example, please (to please) - pleasant (pleasant).
• -ar. When forming adjectives, this suffix is ​​often added to nouns or stems of Latin origin. -Ar is used to mean “to have the quality of something” (for example, moon, sun, pole): lunar (lunar), solar (solar), polar (polar).
• -ary, ory. Used to denote a characteristic, quality or relationship to something. For example, diet (diet) - dietary (dietary).
• -ate. The meaning of adjectives with the suffix -ate, as a rule, can be expressed by the phrase “to have some quality”: affection - affectionate (attachment - loving, affectionate). This suffix also indicates a characteristic. For example, fortune (happiness, luck) - fortunate (happy, lucky).
• -ed. Adjectives with this suffix usually describe the effect exerted on someone or something: amaze (amaze, amaze) - amazed (amazed).
• -ent. Used to mean quality: to differ (different) - different (different).
• -ern. Used when indicating a part of the world: south (south) - southern (southern).
• -ese. Denotes nationality or territorial affiliation. For example, China (China) - Chinese (Chinese).
• -ful. This suffix in English turns a noun into an adjective, meaning “to be endowed with something, some property.” For example, beauty (beauty) - beautiful (beautiful).
• -ian, ean. These suffixes in Englishfound in adjectives expressing national or territorial affiliation: Italy (Italy) - Italian (Italian).
• -ic. Added to a noun and describes a quality: majesty (greatness) - majestic (majestic).
• -ical. Indicates the attribute: myth (myth) - mythical (mythical).
• -ing. For the formation of adjectives and participles with the meaning of quality and property. For example, to miss (miss, miss) - missing (lost, absent).
• -ish. The suffix is ​​used in adjectives to mean “approximately”; it is also found in names of nationalities; sometimes it expresses similarity or belonging to something. For example, child (child) - childish (childish).
• -ive. Used to mean quality, ability: attract (attract) - attractive (attractive).
• -less. The suffix less in Englishserves as an antonym to the suffix ful and indicates the absence of any quality: home (house) - homeless (homeless).
• -like. Means similarity to something, similarity: wave (wave) - wavelike (wavy).
• -ly. To denote quality: friend - friendly.
• - ous - suffix expressing the characteristic: poison (poison) - poisonous (poisonous).
• -y. Used in the meaning of “to have a sign”: dirt (dirt) - dirty (dirty).

Verb suffixes

With the help of suffixes in English, a whole series of verbs are formed from nouns and adjectives.

Verbal suffixes in English: table with examples

Adverb suffixes

Word formation of adverbs in English is a much easier process than creating nouns and adjectives. In order to get a part of speech that answers the questions how, in what way, it is usually enough to use one of the suffixes presented below:

• wise
• ward/wards

The suffix ward is used to mean direction: home (house, cottage) - homeward (home). -Ly indicates a course of action. For example, true (honest) - truly (honestly). -Wise means the method of action: other (other) - otherwise (otherwise).

Of course, you don't have to remember everythingsuffixes in English. Constant conversational practice helps the student, over time, begin to see the components in words, easily identifying suffixes, prefixes and roots. And understanding the basis of a new word allows you to guess its function in a sentence.

Hello friends. Confusion can arise between suffixes and endings in English (both are often called word endings, “word endings”), and besides, English terminology in this matter is slightly different from Russian. So let's start with the basic concepts.

The ending is an inflectional morpheme. It changes the form of the word, but not its meaning, and at the same time carries a grammatical load:

• pencil - pencil s(the ending indicates the plural)
• work - work ed(the ending indicates the past tense)

The suffix, in turn, is a word-forming morpheme. Suffixes in English create new words, either changing the meaning of the original, or transforming one part of speech into another:

• red-redd ish(red - reddish)
• teach - teach er(teach - teacher)

There are very few endings in English - these are -s (-es), -ed and -ing. There are a huge number of suffixes in English. In this article we will consider only the most common ones.

Noun suffixes

1. Suffix -er (-or)

1) This suffix is ​​used to form nouns from verbs (infinitive without to + -er, -or). A noun with this ending denotes either a device that performs the action expressed by the verb from which it is derived, or a person who performs this action.

• to play (play) - a player player
• to read (read) - a reader reader
• to mix (mix) - a mixer mixer

If the verb ends in e, then only the letter r is added, for example:

• to make (produce) - a maker producer
• to use - a user user

It should be remembered that you often have to resort to descriptive translation of nouns with the suffix -er, -or, for example:

• to lift (to lift) - a lifter lifting device
• to read (read) - a reader reading device
• to time (assign time, calculate by time) - and timer is a device that calculates time.

2. Suffix -ist

This is a very common suffix forming nouns denoting professionals, supporters of a social or scientific direction. It can be attached to nouns and adjectives.

3. Suffix -ian

Nouns with this suffix denote nationality or rank and profession, for example:
Russian - Russian, academician - academician, musician - musician, Darwinian - Darwinist.

Words formed by adding the suffix -ian can also be translated by adjectives, for example:
the Russian language - Russian language
Neo-Darwinian interpretation of evolution - neo-Darwinian interpretation of evolution.

Note! Nouns and adjectives denoting nationality are always capitalized: Ukrainian, English, Russian, Polish, American.

4. Suffix -ity (spelling variants -ety, -iety)

forms abstract nouns with the meaning of state, quality, condition. The suffix -ity corresponds to the suffix -ost, for example:

• able (capable) - ability (ability)
• active (active) - activity (activity, activity)
• valid (valid, justified, effective) - validity (effectiveness, fairness, legality, validity)

5. Suffix -ing forms nouns from verbs, for example:

• to meet (meet) - meeting (meeting)
• to proceed (continue) - proceeding (practice, proceedings, notes (of a scientific society)

Note! Don't confuse nouns ending -ing with participles and gerunds

6. The suffix -hood forms nouns with meaning“condition, position, quality”, for example:

• child (child) - childhood (childhood)
• man (man) - manhood (masculinity)

7. Suffix -ment forms nouns denoting action, for example:

• to move (to move) - movement (movement)

Some words with this suffix take on the meaning of a collection of objects, for example:

• equipment

8. The suffix -ness forms nouns with the meaning “state, quality”, for example:

• dark (dark) - darkness (darkness)
• good (good) - goodness (kindness)
• great (great) - greatness (greatness)

9. The suffix -у forms abstract nouns from verbs, for example:

• to discover (open) - discovery (opening)
• to inquire (ask, find out) - inquiry (question, request)

10. The suffix -th forms nouns with the meaning of quality, for example:

• true (true, truthful) - truth (truth)
• health - (health)

By adding the suffix -th, nouns are formed from adjectives, often changing the root vowel, for example:

• long (long) - length (length)
• deep (deep) - depth (depth)
• strong (strong) - strength (strength)

11. The suffix -ant forms nouns with the meaning of person and substance, for example:

• to assist (help) - assistant assistant
• to serve (serve) - servant (servant)
• an oxidant (oxidizer), solvent (solvent)

12. The suffix -age forms nouns with different meanings, for example:

• to break (break) - breakage (breakage)
• to marry (marry) - marriage (wedding)
• courage (courage, boldness, courage)

13. The suffix -ism is characteristic of many languages, for example:

• Darwinism
• romanticism
• capitalism
• vandalism

14. The suffix -ure (-ture, -sure) forms nouns denoting a process, for example:

• to press (pressure) - pressure (pressure)
• to mix (mix) - mixture (mixing)

Many nouns formed with the help of these suffixes can mean the result of an action in the form of an object or substance, for example:

• mixture - medicine, mixture;
• fixture - fastening (part).

15. The suffix -ship forms nouns with the meaning of state, position or property, for example:

• friend (friend) - friendship (friendship)
• member (member) - membership (membership)

Table of noun suffixes

Suffix meaning	Suffix	Examples
The meaning of a person’s belonging to a political movement, profession or nationality	-ist	specialist (specialist), socialist (socialist), artist (artist) historian (historian), librarian (librarian), Italian (Italian) musician (musician), Iranian (Iranian), Brazilian (Brazilian) European (European)
The meaning of following a doctrine, theory, political movement	-ism	capitalism (capitalism), heroism (heroism), socialism (socialism)
The meaning of the occupation or position of the actor	-eg	teacher (teacher), driver (driver), writer (writer) inventor (inventor), actor (actor) employee (employee), referee (sports referee) auctioneer (auctioneer), mountaineer (climber) servant (servant), assistant (assistant), student (student) beggar (beggar, beggar) drunkard (drunkard, alcoholic) financier (financier)
Action Result Value	-ment	achievement (achievement), arrangement (agreement) decade (decade), blockade (blockade)
The meaning of a certain state, mode, degree of relationship	-hood	brotherhood (brotherhood), childhood (childhood) leadership (management), partnership (partnership) policy (policy), accuracy (accuracy), infancy (infancy) supremacy (superiority)
The meaning of an action, state, process, result	-age	shortage, leakage, marriage hunting (hunting), painting (painting) silence (silence), difference (difference) importance, resistance collection (meeting, collection), dictation (dictation, dictation) competition preparation (preparation), hesitation (doubt, hesitation) decision (decision), division (division) removal, arrival, refusal
Meaning of quality or condition	-dom	freedom (freedom), kingdom (kingdom), wisdom (wisdom) readiness (readiness), darkness (darkness), kindness (kindness) activity, safety possibility (opportunity), nationality (nationality) brilliancy (brilliance, splendor), constancy (constancy) fluency (fluency), dependency (dependence) perjury (perjury), modesty (modesty)
Meaning of place of action, occupation or state	-ry	bakery (bakery), surgery (surgeon's office), cookery (cooking) factory (factory), laboratory (laboratory)
Designation of a particular branch of science	-ics	physics (physics), politics (politics), mathematics (mathematics)
Designation of female persons	-ess	waitress (waitress), actress (actress), poetess (poetess) usherette (ticket attendant)
Nationality designation	-ese	Chinese (Chinese), Japanese (Japanese)
Expression diminutive or a hint of disdain	-ie	birdie (birdie) cloudlet (cloud), kinglet (kinglet)
Designation of various measures	-th	length (length), growth (height), depth (depth)
Designation of various scientific concepts	-ture	mixture (mixture) failure (error, miss) measure pressure
Designation of general or abstract concepts, associations, groups	-ty	safety (security), royalty (monarchy) popularity honesty
Suffix of Latin origin	-sis	analysis (analysis), diagnosis (diagnosis)

Suffixes in English: ly ful er ment