Literacy in Color: A Science of Reading Aligned Podcast for Educators 30. Making Sense of Suffixes: Inflectional vs. Derivational Suffixes
In this solo episode, Michelle Sullivan breaks down one morpheme type: suffixes. You’ll learn the difference between inflectional and derivational suffixes, how they operate in our language system, and why understanding suffixes is critical for building skilled readers, spellers, and thinkers.
Michelle takes you on a deep dive into how suffixes shape grammar and meaning. From tweaking verb tense to building entirely new words, this episode will leave you inspired to rethink how you teach word structure — and equipped with practical knowledge for your next morphology lesson.
Key Takeaways:
- What is a suffix, really?
- The difference between inflectional and derivational suffixes (with examples!)
- How suffixes impact grammar, syntax, and word meaning
Whether you're new to morphology or a seasoned word-nerd, this episode will help you see suffixes in a whole new light.
You May Also Be Interested In:
Episode 26: Morphology 101 (for a crash course on the basics)
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