Noun suffixes

What is a suffix?

A suffix is a group of letters that we put after a word to make a new word. 

The different noun suffixes

1) -sion

We use -sion to make nouns from certain verbs:

televise (verb) - television (noun)

The event was televised to the whole world.
It is becoming more common to see smart televisions.

revise (verb) - revision (noun)

I don't like revising for the exam, but unfortunately it is necessary.
Some students leave their revision until it is too late.

supervise (verb) - supervision (noun)

The teacher is supervising the students.
Some supervision is needed if you want the workers to finish the prototype in time for the launch.

2) -tion

We also use -tion to make nouns from certain verbs:

repeat (verb) - repetition (noun)

Would you mind repeating the directions?
There are people who believe that the secret to language learning lies in repetition.

relax (verb) - relaxation (noun)

You need to learn to relax!
My idea of relaxation is being waited on hand and foot.

separate (verb) - separation (noun)

You should separate the papers into two piles.
It is difficult for couples to endure separation.

3) -ment

We also use -ment to make nouns from certain verbs and adjectives:

improve (verb) - improvement (noun)

What are you doing to improve your English?
The boy has shown slow but consistent improvement since he joined the class at the beginning of the year.

govern (verb) - government (noun)

Do you think it is easy to govern a country?
I don't think our government is doing everything in its power to look after us.

merry (adjective) - merriment (noun)

Mary was a merry girl until her mother passed away.
These workers lead stressful lives; they need some good merriment every now and then.

5) -ness

We use -ness to make nouns from certain adjectives:

happy (adjective) - happiness (noun)

Are you happy?
The key to happiness is doing as little as possible.

lazy (adjective) - laziness (noun)

Max is an extremely lazy man.
The girl's laziness is driving me crazy!

sad (adjective) - sadness (noun)

How can one comfort a sad person?
I can see the sadness in their eyes.

6) -ity

We use -ity to make nouns from certain adjectives:

impossible (adjective) - impossibility (noun)

It is impossible for any person to be in two places at once.
The impossibility of the situation was too much to bear.

real (adjective) - reality (noun)

This coat is made of real fur.
It is time for the couple to face reality.

insane (adjective) - insanity (noun)

I think people who go cage diving are insane.
Lucy couldn't understand what all the insanity was about.

7) -ence / -ance

We use both -ence and -ance to make nouns from certain adjectives and verbs:

important (adjective) - importance (noun)

It is important to take your passport when you go to the airport.
The Importance of Being Earnest is a play by Oscar Wilde.

insistent (adjective) - insistence (noun)

The president is insistent that his government is doing everything it can to resolve the issue peacefully.
I went to the office party at my manager's insistence.

disappear (verb) - disappearance (noun)

The girl disappeared on her way to school.
The parents couldn't handle their son's disappearance.

8) -ship

We -ship to make nouns from certain other nouns:

friend (noun) - friendship (noun)

Max doesn't make friends very easily.
How do you know when a friendship is real?

intern (noun) - internship (noun)

The intern couldn't figure out what was wrong with the patient.
His internship lasted longer than that of his colleagues.

member (noun) - membership (noun)

He is a member of the local golf club.
His gym membership will expire in 2 weeks.

Lesson Vocabulary

prototype (noun) = the first example of product that is used as a basis to develop future products

being waited on hand and foot (idiom) = to have everything done for you instead of doing it for yourself

passed away (phrasal verb) = a polite way to say that someone has died

intern (noun) = a doctor who works in a hospital, but is still being trained

smart TV / connected TV / hybrid TV

There are 2 piles of documents on the man's desk.

This coat is made of fur. 

Exercise

Your turn! What suffixes do we use with following words to make them into nouns:

1) hilarious (2) revered (3) awful (4) create (5) similar (6) involve (7) tense (8) ail

Please leave your answers in the comment section and I will gladly give you some feedback. Good luck!