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What are adjective suffixes? 15 common adjective suffixes in English
What are adjective suffixes? What is the most appropriate way to use adjective suffixes in English? Let's have a look at some common adjective suffixes with PREP in the article below!
I. What are adjective suffixes?
What are adjective suffixes? Adjective suffixes are a group of letters added to the end of a word to turn it into an adjective. For example:
- The verb “understand” when added with the suffix “-able” becomes the adjective “understandable”.
- The noun “power” when added with the suffix “-ful” becomes the noun “powerful”.
For more information, please refer to the following articles:
II. List of the most common adjective suffixes
Let's take a look at PREP's list of the 15 most common adjective suffixes below!
Adjective suffixes |
Example |
Meaning |
-able/ -ible |
Suitable |
acceptable or right for someone or something |
Audible |
able to be heard |
|
-ful |
Beautiful |
having an attractive quality that gives pleasure to those who experience it or think about it |
-ive |
Attractive |
very pleasing in appearance or sound |
-ant/ -ent |
Observant |
good or quick at noticing things |
Dependent |
needing the support of something or someone in order to continue existing or operating |
|
-less |
Hopeless |
without hope |
-al/ -ial/ -ical |
Musical |
related to or connected with music |
Partial |
not complete |
|
Identical |
exactly the same, or very similar |
|
-y |
Dirty |
marked with dirt, mud, etc., or containing something such as pollution or bacteria |
-ish |
Childish |
typical of a child |
-er/ -est |
Taller |
Comparative form of tall |
Tallest |
Superlative form of tall |
|
-ed/ -ing |
Interesting |
Someone or something that is interesting keeps your attention because he, she, or it is unusual, exciting, or has a lot of ideas |
Interested |
wanting to give your attention to something and discover more about it |
III. Adjective formation in English
How can an English adjective be formed? Read the information below to find the answer!
1. Add a suffix after the verb
Formula:
Verb + adjective suffix = adjective.
For example:
Verb |
Adjective suffix |
Adjective |
Meaning |
Access |
-ible |
Accessible |
able to be reached or easily obtained |
Create |
-ive |
Creative |
producing or using original and unusual ideas |
2. Add a suffix after the noun
Formula:
Noun + adjective suffix = adjective.
For example:
Noun |
Adjective suffix |
Adjective |
Meaning |
Faith |
-ful |
Faithful |
firm and not changing in your friendship with or support for a person or an organization, or in your belief in your principles |
Limit |
-less |
Limitless |
without limit |
3. The differences between adjectives ending in “-ed” and adjectives ending in “-ing”
Adjectives ending in “-ed” |
Adjectives ending in “-ing” |
|
Usage |
To describe feelings or emotions |
To describe characteristics of a person, a thing or a situation. |
Example |
I was surprised when receiving the gift. She is interested in reading. |
The story is surprising and well-written. She is an interesting person. |
IV. Exercises on adjective suffixes with answers
Let's practice the following exercises to gain more knowledge about adjective suffixes!
1. Exercises
Exercise 1: Complete the sentence with the suitable adjective form
- The candidate had the_____(suit) skills and experience.
- The speaker ensured that her voice was clear and_____(audio).
- The garden was filled with vibrant flowers, creating a_____(beauty) atmosphere.
- The new product design was so_____(attract) to potential customers.
- Robert’s_____(observe) nature allowed him to notice the small details
Exercise 2: Match the following words with the appropriate adjective suffixes to form the correct adjectives
Word |
Adjective suffix |
|
|
Exercise 3: Choose the correct answer
- The twins may look alike, but their personalities are quite_______.
- Different
- Difference
- Differentiate
- The museum displayed a vast collection of _______artifacts, offering visitors a glimpse into the rich and diverse past of the region.
- History
- Historical
- Historic
- The professor provided _______resources for the students, including extra reading materials and online tutorials.
- Addition
- Additionality
- Additional
- The smartphone has become an essential and _______tool, allowing people to stay connected, access information.
- Useful
- Usage
- Useless
- Following the safety guidelines is _______to ensure the well-being of all employees in the workplace.
- Important
- Unimportant
- Importance
- I thought she was the most ______woman I’d ever seen.
- Beauty
- Beautiful
- Beautifully
- Robert didn't seem very _______in what I was saying.
- Interesting
- Interested
- Interest
2. Answer
Exercise 1 |
Exercise 2 |
Exercise 3 |
|
|
|
V. Start Your IELTS Journey
Through this post, PREP hopes you have gained an understanding of 15 common English adjective suffixes. By familiarizing yourself with these suffixes, you can greatly expand your ability to describe and differentiate various qualities. If Want to learn the secrets to IELTS success? Explore PREP powerful resource today.
- IELTS online coaching: Score Big in IELTS With Our Expert Tips!
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