Which word contains a suffix?
reverse
prewrite
happiness
disbelief
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
The word that contains a suffix is happiness.
Explanation of Suffixes
A suffix is a group of letters added at the end of a word to change its meaning or grammatical function. Suffixes can denote various parts of speech, such as nouns, adjectives, or verbs, and can also indicate tense, number, or degree.
In the case of happiness, the suffix -ness is added to the root word happy. The base word happy is an adjective that describes a state of being cheerful or content. When the suffix -ness is attached, it transforms the adjective into a noun, referring to the state or quality of being happy. This transformation is crucial in English as it allows for the expression of abstract concepts.
Other examples of this process include:
- Sad (adjective) + -ness = Sadness (noun), meaning the state of being sad.
- Kind (adjective) + -ness = Kindness (noun), meaning the quality of being kind.
The other words in the list—reverse, prewrite, and disbelief—do not contain suffixes:
- Reverse consists of the root vers (from Latin vertere, meaning “to turn”) with the prefix re- (meaning “again” or “back”). It is a verb meaning to turn something in the opposite direction, but it doesn’t have a suffix.
- Prewrite combines the prefix pre- (meaning “before”) with the root word write. This word refers to the act of planning or outlining writing before the actual writing occurs and does not contain a suffix either.
- Disbelief contains the prefix dis- (indicating negation) and the root belief but lacks a suffix.
In summary, happiness is the correct answer, showcasing how suffixes can modify base words to form new meanings and grammatical categories.