What is a suffix?

A suffix is indeed defined as a syllable or a group of syllables added to the end of a word to alter its meaning or grammatical function. Suffixes can change a word’s tense, modify its part of speech, or provide additional nuances to its meaning. For example, attaching the suffix "-ing" to the verb "run" forms "running," which indicates an ongoing action, or adding "-ly" to the adjective "quick" to create "quickly," which transforms it into an adverb describing how an action is performed. This makes option A the correct choice, illustrating the essential function of suffixes in language development and vocabulary expansion.

In contrast, the other choices do not accurately represent what a suffix is. A prefix, mentioned in option B, is placed at the beginning of a word to modify its meaning but does not pertain to suffixes. Figurative language, as seen in option C, refers to expressions that convey meanings beyond the literal interpretation—unrelated to the workings of suffixes. Lastly, option D discusses grammatical structures in poetry, which is a separate area of language arts and does not involve the definition or purpose of suffixes specifically. Understanding suffixes enhances both reading comprehension and writing skills by enriching