What does a suffix do to a word?

A suffix adds a morpheme at the end of a word, which allows for the formation of a derivative. This process can alter the original word's meaning or grammatical function, such as changing a noun to an adjective or a verb to a noun. For example, adding “-ness” to “happy” transforms it into “happiness,” which represents a state or condition related to the base word. Suffixes are essential in expanding vocabulary by creating new words while retaining a connection to the original word’s meaning. This functionality distinguishes suffixes from roots or base words, which convey the main meaning of a term, and serves a different purpose than creating antonyms.