Suffixes are letters attached to the end of a word. These endings can change the class of a word. For example, adding a specific ending to a word can change it from a noun to an adjective. A specific group of suffixes called adjective suffixes turn words into adjectives. An adjective is a word that modifies a noun.
What is an Adjective Suffix?
Certain suffixes are typical of adjectives. You can combine these ending with verbs and nouns to create an adjective. Hence, adjective suffixes can change the root word’s grammatical function. For instance, adding -able to the verb prevent produces a new adjective. Words with certain endings like -able suggest that a word is an adjective.
Sometimes when a suffix gets added to a root word the spelling of the root word changes. One common adjective suffix, -ness, when combined with the ending y produces a spelling change. For example, when heavy and –ness join the y turns into an i before producing the new word heaviness. It is important to be aware of whether a suffix transforms the spelling of the root word. Learning these common spelling alterations are critical if you wish to spell well.
Adjective suffixes turn words into adjectives. Several different endings fall into the category of adjective suffixes. The below list shows the common adjective suffixes.
Adjective Suffixes
-able or -ible suffix
Meaning: capable of being, capable or worthy of, tending to
Examples:
- flammable
- discernible
- culpable
- accountable
- beatable
- acceptable
- edible
-al suffix (-al, -ial, -ical)
Meaning: pertaining to something, relating to, having the quality of
Examples:
- accidental
- educational
- brutal
- historical
- regional
- social
- universal
- personal
- experimental
- mental
- universal
-ant or -ent suffix
Meaning: performing or being, inclined towards something/ someone
Examples:
- independent
- vacant
- important
- brilliant
- incessant
-ary suffix
Meaning: relates to something, relating to quality or place
Examples:
- customary
- momentary
- cautionary
- dietary
- veterinary
- planetary
-ful suffix (-full)
Meaning: full of, tending, or liable to
Examples:
- awful
- skillful
- successful
- bountiful
- beautiful
- wonderful
- careful
-ic suffix
Meaning: pertaining or relating to
Examples:
- athletic
- scenic
- fantastic
- organic
- acidic
- historic
- scenic
-ive suffix
Meaning: performing or tending toward, nature of
Examples:
- cooperative
- sensitive
- supportive
- pensive
- creative
-ious or -ous suffix
Meaning: full of, relating to, qualities of
Examples:
- dangerous
- nervous
- gracious
- mysterious
- poisonous
- victorious
-less suffix
Meaning: without, lacking, unable to act
Examples:
- powerless
- friendless
- worthless
- useless
- homeless
- careless
- breathless
- faithless
- fearless
-y suffix
Meaning: characterized by, tending to
Examples:
- rainy
- funny
- dirty
- messy
- sleepy
- beautifully
- brainy
- fruity
-like suffix
Meaning: like
Examples:
- lifelike
- warlike
- childlike
- lifelike
- ladylike
- birdlike
– ish suffix
Meaning: origin, nature
Examples:
- selfish
- sheepish
- pinkish
- bookish
- childish
- boyish
- foolish
– ile suffix
Meaning: tending to, capable of
- futile
- gentile
- senile
- fragile
-an, -ian suffix
Meaning: one who is or does, related to
Examples:
- agrarian
- simian
Adjective Suffix Examples
The list below shows how words created from adjective suffixes operate as adjectives.
- The fragile egg broke when it fell.
- The childish trick was annoying.
- The man had a childlike smile.
- The sleepy girl went to bed early.
- Her mysterious benefactor attended her art exhibit.
Adjective Suffixes in English | Pictures
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