English Suffixes and Their Meanings

Front

-s

Back

Plural, more than one (e.g., books, hats, trees)

Front

-ed

Back

Past tense, happened in the past (e.g., jumped, helped, scared)

Front

-ing

Back

Present participle, happening now (e.g., dancing, escaping, running)

Front

-y

Back

Characteristic of (e.g., quickly, lovely, silently)

Front

-less

Back

Without (e.g., fearless, careless, expressionless)

Front

-er, -est

Back

Comparative (e.g., faster, loudest, brighter)

Front

-ion, -tion, -sion

Back

State of or act of (e.g., explosion, precision, nation)

Front

-ism

Back

Theory or belief (e.g., criticism, professionalism, patriotism)

Front

-ship

Back

Position held (e.g., friendship, ownership, internship)

Front

-able, -ible

Back

Able to be (e.g., fixable, biocompatible)