common suffix

Core Rule

A suffix is a meaningful unit added to the end of a base to modify meaning or word class, e.g., -ly, -ness, -ence. Suffixes rarely shift primary stress but do affect final sounds.

Pronunciation Guide

For -ly /li/, keep the tongue tip near the alveolar ridge with smooth airflow. -ence ends as /əns/, with a reduced vowel and crisp consonants.

Examples

instantly = instant + -ly; stress stays on in-. hence ends with -ence indicating state. lunch is not suffixed; -ch is a fixed ending.

Pitfalls

Do not assume every word ending is a suffix; check morphology, not spelling alone.