Which term refers to the ending of a word that can indicate part of speech?

Which term refers to the ending of a word that can indicate part of speech?

• A. Prefix
• B. Root
• C. Suffix
• D. Infix

Answer: (C)

The ending of a word that often signals its part of speech is a suffix. A suffix is attached to the end of a base word to modify its meaning or its grammatical function. For example, adding -ing to talk creates a form that can function as a verb (talking) or as a noun in different contexts (the talking stopped). Adding -ness to happy turns an adjective into a noun (happiness). Adding -ly to quick turns an adjective into an adverb (quickly). These endings show how the word behaves in sentences, which part of speech it represents, without changing the core base word. In contrast, a prefix appears at the beginning of a word, the root is the base part you start from, and an infix is something inserted inside the word (less common in English). So the ending that signals parts of speech is the suffix.

The ending of a word that often signals its part of speech is a suffix. A suffix is attached to the end of a base word to modify its meaning or its grammatical function. For example, adding -ing to talk creates a form that can function as a verb (talking) or as a noun in different contexts (the talking stopped). Adding -ness to happy turns an adjective into a noun (happiness). Adding -ly to quick turns an adjective into an adverb (quickly). These endings show how the word behaves in sentences, which part of speech it represents, without changing the core base word.

In contrast, a prefix appears at the beginning of a word, the root is the base part you start from, and an infix is something inserted inside the word (less common in English). So the ending that signals parts of speech is the suffix.