Word formation

Affixation

Suffixes are added to the end of words to make new words. The suffixes -ment, -ence and -y can be used with a number of verbs to make nouns.

Sometimes the spelling of the verb changes slightly when a suffix is used.

	The suffix -y
recover	recovery
discover	discovery
injure	injury
deliver	delivery
apologise	apology

	The suffix -ment
improve	improvement
postpone	postponement
arrange	arrangement
entertain	entertainment
develop	development

	The suffix -ence
prefer	preference
exist	existence
defend	defence
refer	reference
differ	difference