Suffixes & Word Formation — Interactive Vocabulary

Vocabulary Notes: Suffixes

Read how suffixes change word class, study the chart, then try the gap-fill, quiz, and matching.

Study First

What is a suffix?

A suffix is a letter or group of letters that you add after the base of a word. It can shift the grammar of the word—turning a noun into an adjective, a verb into a noun, and so on—or it can fine-tune the meaning. Learning a handful of frequent endings (such as -ment, -ion, -ful, -less, -able, -al, -ize, -en) makes it easier to predict how new words are built and to pick the right form when you write about customs, holidays, and everyday life.

Reference chart (examples for this unit)

Base word	Suffix	New word	Part of speech
tradition	-al	traditional	adjective
end	-less	endless	adjective
accept	-able	acceptable	adjective
modern	-ize	modernize	verb
strength	-en	strengthen	verb
develop	-ment	development	noun
prevent	-ion	prevention	noun
help	-ful	helpful	adjective

Spelling tip: Many bases take -able in a straightforward way (accept → acceptable). When a word ends in consonant + y, you often change y to i before certain suffixes—compare rely → reliable (not *relyable).

What to do next: Use Words in context to type the correct derived word, then try the quiz and matching tasks.

Activity 2: Words in Context

Type one word in each gap. Use the derived forms from the chart above (e.g. traditional, endless, acceptable, modernize, strengthen, development, prevention, helpful). Press Check answers when you are ready.

1. The museum still follows opening hours during the holiday week. (tradition + -al)

2. The queue for tickets felt almost . (end + -less)

3. Only ID will be allowed at the gate. (accept + -able)

4. The city plans to the old market hall. (modern + -ize)

5. Volunteers hope to links between schools. (strength + -en)

6. The of new craft courses takes time. (develop + -ment)

7. measures reduced crowding at the exit. (prevent + -ion)

8. The guide gave tips about local etiquette. (help + -ful)

Activity 4: Matching Game

Match each base word with the derived word from the chart. Tap one item in each column.

Suffixes & Word Formation — Interactive Vocabulary

Vocabulary Notes: Suffixes

Activity 2: Words in Context

Activity 3: Multiple Choice — Suffixes

1. Which suffix often turns a verb into a noun (as in develop → development)?

2. Which word is the adjective built from tradition?

3. Which word is the verb formed with -ize?

4. Prevent → prevention uses which suffix?

5. Which word means “without an end” (suffix -less)?

6. Which word is the verb formed from strength with -en?

7. Which adjective is formed from accept + -able?

8. Which adjective is formed from help + -ful?

Activity 4: Matching Game

Base word

Derived word