Do suffixes change word stress?

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The stress in some words changes position when suffixes (word-endings) are added or changed. For example, when you add the suffix -ion to the root word acˈcommodate, the stress moves to accommoˈdation. If you like taking ˈphotographs, you could be a phoˈtographer. A photographer practises phoˈtography, but his art is photoˈgraphic. Get the picture?

These stress changes may at first seem random, but luckily there are some broad patterns, outlined below, that can help you decide whether or not to change the stress in suffixed words.

Some suffixes do NOT change word stress

Common suffixes that do not usually affect word stress include:

-ful     -ish     -ism     -ist     -ive     -ise/ize     -less     -ment

Some examples of these types of words:

So when you see these endings, you don’t need to worry about moving the stress within the word.

Some suffixes DO change word stress

Suffixes that do affect word stress commonly have one of two effects.

Either: (1) The stress is placed onto the syllable just before the suffix
Or:       (2) The stress is placed onto the suffix itself

(1) Common suffixes which normally place the stress onto the syllable just before the suffix include:

-eous     -ic(al)     -ious     -ity

For example: 
It takes ˈcourage to seek help for an ˈalcohol problem.
It’s couˈrageous to seek help if you’re alcoˈholic.

He had thought he was inˈvincible, until he experienced the ˈacrimony in his divorce.
He had thought he had invinciˈbility, until he experienced his acriˈmonious divorce.

It’s abˈsurd to keep lions ˈcaptive.
Keeping lions in capˈtivity is complete abˈsurdity.

Note that in the last example, the stress moves in ˈcaptive – capˈtivity, but does not move in abˈsurd – abˈsurdity, because the stress falls on the same syllable in both the original and the suffixed words.

(2) Common suffixes which normally place the stress on the suffix itself include:

-ee     -eer     -ese

Examples:
We need to find a person from ˈPortugal and emˈploy them to work on the ˈengine.
We need to find someone Portuˈguese to become an employˈee and work as an
enginˈeer.

In summary

Some suffixes don’t change stress
Some suffixes move stress onto the syllable before the suffix
Some suffixes take the stress onto themselves

Top Tips for Mastering Suffixes

Don’t worry if you can’t remember how each type of suffix affects stress. Eventually you will develop a feel for each type of word and notice that, for example, engineer, auctioneer and mountaineer have similar stress patterns. Try listening out for a different suffix each time you watch something on TV or listen to the radio.

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