Grammar and Language Workbook

Unit 13, Vocabulary and Spelling 273

Copyright © by Glencoe/McGraw-Hill

Vocabulary and

Spelling

Lesson 88

Building Vocabulary: Suffixes

A suffix is a word part that is added to the end of a word and changes its part of

speech and its meaning. Adding the suffix -erto read (a verb) makes reader (a

noun). Adding -lessto face (a noun) makes faceless (an adjective).

SUFFIX MEANING EXAMPLE MEANING

• er one who baker one who bakes
  that which dicer a device that chops or dices
  vegetables
  more stronger more strong


• or one who debtor one who owes a debt


• ist one who clarinetist one who plays a clarinet


• less without changeless without change


• able can be washable can be washed
  having the valuable having value
  quality of


• ible can be deductible can be deducted
  having the sensible having sense
  quality of


• ness quality of gentleness quality of being gentle
  state of greatness state of being great
  being

Exercise 1 Write the word that is formed by adding the given suffix to each word.

Then write a basic meaning of the new word. Be careful to check the spelling of the new

word.

win + -er winner one who wins

1.fault + -less faultless without fault

2.advise + -or adviser one who advises

3.make + -er maker one who makes

4.like + -able likable can be liked

5.piano + -ist pianist one who plays the piano

6.ready + -ness readiness the state of being ready

7.kind + -ness kindness the quality of being kind