Common English Suffixes for Nouns, Verbs, Adjectives and Adverbs
Suffixes are strong clues to a word’s grammatical role, but they are not perfect labels.
Clear Explanation
• -ness often forms nouns from adjectives.
• -ful and -less commonly form adjectives.
• -ize can form verbs.
• -ly often forms adverbs from adjectives.
• Check exceptions such as friendly, which is usually an adjective.
Examples
Happiness depends on more than comfort.
This is a useful reference.
Read the instructions carefully.
Quick Comparison
Common Mistake
Do not label every -ly word as an adverb without checking its sentence role.
Frequently Asked Questions
What suffix often forms a noun?
-ness, -tion, and -ment are common noun-forming endings.
Is friendly an adverb?
It is normally an adjective despite ending in -ly.