Final answer:
A suffix generally determines the part of speech of a word when added to a root. It alters the meaning, tense, number, or function of the word, demonstrating the versatility of suffixes in shaping language.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a suffix is added to a word root, it generally determines its part of speech. Suffixes are morphemes that are added to the end of a root word to change its meaning, tense, number, or part of speech. For example, adding -s to the root word 'contract' makes it plural, i.e., contracts, while adding -ed to the root word 'act' forms the past tense of the verb, acted.
The addition of a suffix can transform a noun into an adjective, change a verb into a noun, or form adverbs by adding -ly, as in 'actual' becoming 'actually'. Suffixes like -ous, -ion, and -ment change the function and meaning of the root words to which they are attached, further expanding the English language.
Different suffixes and their effects on word roots can be observed across various examples: The word 'digestion' created by combining the prefix 'dis-', the base 'gest', and the suffix '-ion'; 'adventurous' formed from 'ad-', 'vent', 'ure', and the suffix '-ous'; or 'spiritual' from the base 'spirit' and the suffix '-ual'. Indeed, suffixes are versatile tools that shape the language we use every day.