Answer Key
Suffixes (1)
Use the words in brackets to form adjectives, nouns or verbs with the help of suffixation.
- The WHO says about 200 million people around the world are [asthmatic] (asthma).
- During his [boyhood] (boy) John was a rather naughty child.
- Children at that age are developing [creative] (create) thinking.
- I need to be extra [careful] (care) now, since I'm being kept under close [supervision] (supervise).
- When applying for [replacement] (replace) plates and/or tabs, please indicate the number of plate(s) you wish to have replaced.
- Current research is focusing on ways to [lengthen] (length) the distances one can travel when using [alternative] (alternate) fuel vehicles.
- “Pippy Dippy” is our daughter's [imaginary] (imagine) friend.
- I simply can't take anymore of his [childish] (child) behavior! Why does he always behave like that? This is really [hopeless] (hope)!
- Because of the number of project requests we get, we need to really [prioritize, prioritise](priority) our projects so that those which are most [critical] (critic) and [beneficial] (benefit) are given attention before others.
- The only possible way of now getting round the problem is to [falsify] (false) the results.
Common adjective suffixes
| -ful | Useful, careful, hopeful |
|---|---|
| -less | Useless, careless, hopeless |
| -y | Healthy, sleepy, windy |
| -ly | Friendly, monthly, homely |
| -ish | Childish, selfish, foolish |
| -ous | Humorous, dangerous, nervous |
| -able | Considerable, fashionable, curable |
| -ible | Incredible, illegible, convertible |
| -ed | Amazed, embarrassed, confused |
| -ing | Amazing, embarrassing, confusing |
| -al / -ical | Hysterical, national, political |
| -ic | Optimistic, pessimistic, specific |
| -ive | Creative, attractive, sensitive |
| -ant / -ent | Excellent, brilliant, confident |
| -ary / -ory | Introductory, compulsory, explanatory |
| -ate | Considerate, accurate, moderate |
| -ian | Canadian, Brazilian, Indian |
Common noun suffixes
| -eer | Mountaineer, puppeteer, engineer |
|---|---|
| -er | Player, teacher, employer |
| -or | Inspector, collector, censor |
| -ee | Employee, trainee, licensee |
| -ist | Capitalist, communist, pianist |
| -ant / -ent | Consultant, applicant, disinfectant |
| -ance / -ence | Performance, preference, reference |
| -ion (-ation / otion / ution…) |
Organization, participation, promotion |
| -ity / -ety | Possibility, infinity, variety |
| -ism | egoism, sadism, criticism |
| -al | Refusal, arrival, approval |
| -ment | Advertisement, improvement, appointment |
| -hood | Neighborhood, brotherhood, childhood |
| -ness | Sadness, madness, shyness |
| -ship | Membership, partnership, ownership |
Common verb suffixes
| -en | Brighten, loosen, strengthen |
|---|---|
| -ify | Simplify, certify, magnify |
| -ize (American) / -ise (British) | Modernize, specialize, popularize |