In the word 'happiness', the suffix '-ness' serves to modify the word. Which term describes this change?

In the word 'happiness', the suffix '-ness' serves to modify the word. Which term describes this change?

• A. Prefix
• B. Suffix
• C. Root word
• D. Simile

Answer: (B)

Suffixes are endings added to a word to change its meaning or category. In happiness, the ending -ness is attached to the base word happy to form a noun that names the state of being happy. This shows how a suffix works: it sits at the end and derives a new word, often changing the part of speech from an adjective to a noun. It isn’t a prefix, which would go at the beginning, like un- or pre-. It isn’t the root word, which is the main, base form (happy) before any endings are added. And it isn’t a simile, which is a figure of speech that makes a comparison using like or as.

Suffixes are endings added to a word to change its meaning or category. In happiness, the ending -ness is attached to the base word happy to form a noun that names the state of being happy. This shows how a suffix works: it sits at the end and derives a new word, often changing the part of speech from an adjective to a noun.

It isn’t a prefix, which would go at the beginning, like un- or pre-. It isn’t the root word, which is the main, base form (happy) before any endings are added. And it isn’t a simile, which is a figure of speech that makes a comparison using like or as.