Hey English learners, want to unlock a secret word power? Learn the Suffix -ION. Want to know how it works? Don’t worry, this post is your friend. We’ll explore this suffix together, step-by-step, with lots of real English examples.
The suffix -ION is used in nouns to mean: the action or state of.
It is primarily added to verbs to turn them into nouns.
The verb INVENT becomes the noun INVENTION.
This suffix can also be written as -ption, -ution, and -sion in certain words.
SOLVE to SOLUTION – DECIDE to DECISION
Are you ready to see the suffix -ion in action? Dive deeper into this post for tons of examples and even a free PDF Suffix -ION spelling guide cheat sheet to supercharge your vocabulary. Mastering -ion is just a scroll away.
What does the Suffix ION mean?
The job of the suffix -ion is to change verbs into nouns.
(For all my Grammar Geeks this process is called nominalization.)
The meaning of these new nouns will be: the action or state of the root verb.
The verb “express” becomes the noun “expression.”
| express | verb | to show or make known a feeling, an opinion, or an idea. by words, looks, or actions |
| expression | noun | things that people say, write, or do show their feelings, opinions, and ideas |
- “Nancy is shy so it’s hard for her to express herself.”
(to express is the infinitive form of the VERB express.)
- “Freedom of expression is a basic human right.”
(expression is a NOUN.)
Suffix ION Spelling Guide
The suffix -ion has many spelling rules! I have included a guide below to help you understand how spell nouns made from verbs using the suffix -ion. You will find a free Suffix ION Spelling Guide PDF Download link at the bottom of this post.
When the root word ends with MIT
The last T is dropped and the letters SS are added before the suffix ION. [-SSION]
The verb permit becomes the noun permission.
・I can’t go into the teacher’s lounge at school. Students don’t have permission to enter.
The verb submit becomes the noun submission.
・Remember, the deadline for the poetry contest is next Monday. All submissions must be made before then.
The noun submission can also mean: the act of accepting that somebody has defeated you and that you must obey them
・The MMA fighter won by submission in the 3rd round.
Other root words that end with T *There are exceptions*
We can just add the suffix ION.
The verb act becomes the noun action.
・Words aren’t enough, we need to take action.
The verb intuit becomes the noun intuition.
・Even when things look safe sometimes our intuition tells us to be careful.
*Some verbs ending in T will use add the AT before ION. [-ATION] See them here
When the root word ends with TE
The E is dropped before the suffix ION.
The verb translate becomes the noun translation.
・I think there are a few mistakes in this translation.
The verb imitate becomes the noun imitation.
・This bag looks like a Louis Vuitton but it’s just a cheap imitation.
When the root word ends with BE
The BE is dropped and we add the letters PT before the suffix ION. [-PTION]
The verb describe becomes the noun description.
・Most YouTube videos have useful links in their description.
The verb prescribe becomes the noun prescription.
・My doctor gave me a prescription for some medicine to help my sore throat.
When the root word ends with VE
The VE is dropped and we add the letters PT before the suffix ION. [-PTION]
The verb deceive becomes the noun deception
・It’s a romance story set in the turn of century England, full of lies and deception.
The verb receive becomes the noun reception
・Young children tend to find wedding ceremonies boring, but the reception is more fun for them. Lots of food and music.
When the root word ends with OLVE
The VE is dropped and we add the letters UT before the suffix ION. [-UTION]
The verb evolve becomes the noun evolution
・Evolution explains how life changes over time due to pressures from the environment.
The verb resolve becomes the noun resolution
・The United Nations will come to a resolution next week.
When the root word ends with AIM
Add the letters AT before the suffix ION. [-ATION]
The verb exclaim becomes the noun exclamation
・Using too many exclamation points in a formal email does not look professional.
The verb proclaim becomes the noun proclamation
・President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, freeing all American slaves.
When the root word ends with IFY
The Y is changed to an I and we add the letters CAT before the suffix ION. [-CATION]
The verb certify becomes the noun certification
・I passed a professional cooking certification test so now I can work in a high-class restaurant.
The verb notify becomes the noun notification
・You will receive an email notification next week.
Confusing Suffixes -ize and -ify (How and When to Use Them) – World English Blog
When the root word ends with IZE
The E is dropped and we add the letters AT before the suffix ION. [-ATION]
The verb authorize becomes the noun authorization
・You need special authorization to view classified government documents.
The verb generalize becomes the noun generalization
・Each person is unique and different. I try not to make generalizations about groups of people that are different from me.
*NOTE – There are several verbs that take -ATION as a suffix to make nouns.
Here are a few examples:
The verb adapt becomes the noun adaptation
・I really enjoyed the movie adaptation of the book. It was better than I thought it would be.
The verb cancel becomes the noun cancellation – Double the final L
・I can cancel my gym membership anytime. There are no hidden cancellation fees.
The verb flirt becomes the noun flirtation
・His nervous flirtation with the barista was obvious to everyone.
The verb float becomes the noun flotation
・In the event of an emergency, you will find a flotation device under your seats.
The verb prepare becomes the noun preparation – The final E drops.
・When my business became successful people thought I was lucky, they didn’t see all the hard work and preparation I put into it.
The verb repair becomes reparation – The noun has a different syllable stress.
・After the misunderstanding, a sincere apology was the best reparation.
The verb starve becomes the noun starvation – The final E drops.
・After 2 weeks lost at sea, the ship’s crew was getting very hungry. Starvation was starting to set in.
The verb tempt becomes the noun temptation
・I completely stopped buying chocolate, there is none in my house anywhere. The temptation is too great for me.
Another Common Exception
The verb suspect drops the T to become the noun suspicion
・The suspect’s story didn’t sound true, increasing the detective’s suspicion that he was guilty.
The Suffix ION Conclusion
By understanding the suffix -ION, you’ll unlock a wealth of new vocabulary words. This powerful tool will not only boost your reading comprehension but also enhance your writing and speaking fluency. So, grab that free PDF cheat sheet and start practicing! With a little effort, you’ll be confidently using -ION words in no time.
PDF -ION Suffix Spelling Guide Download
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