Answer Key
Suffixes (3)
Use the words in brackets to form adjectives, nouns or verbs with the help of suffixation.
- This new lotion, produced according to an ancient recipe, will help [lessen] (less) your acne problems.
- Wow! This is an incredibly good way to [sweeten] (sweet) the deal. A really great idea, Jack!
- Subsidies and other [favorable, favourable] (favor) policies are expected to be further ramped up in the next year.
- This technology is going to [revolutionise, revolutionize] (revolution) web browsing.
- A recently published book, “The [disastrous] (Disaster) Effects of Online Dating”, provides new rules for 21st century dating, what you can do when these rules are broken, and how to make it through the tough times.
- If a [requester] (request) is denied access to a particular government record, the [custodian] (custody) must then provide them with the reason(s) for this [denial] (deny).
- The book was praised by some critics for its [realism] (real) in showing the horrors of World War II.
- The Chief [editor] (edit) believed the two essays had certain [similarities] (similar), but that this was merely [coincidental] (coincidence) as opposed to plagiarism.
- We are seeking a strong business [partnership] (partner) and, to that end, we can only consider cooperation with people who are [reliable] (rely) and trustworthy.
- As we ourselves grow into unique persons, we learn to respect the [uniqueness] (unique) of others.
Common adjective suffixes
-ful | Useful, careful, hopeful |
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-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 |
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-er | Player, teacher, employer |
-or | Inspector, collector, censor |
-ee | Employee, trainee, licensee |
-ist | Capitalist, communist, pianist |
-ant / -ent | Consultant, applicant, disinfectant |
-ian | Custodian, comedian |
-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 |
-cy | Fluency, accuracy, bureaucracy |
-dom | Kingdom, freedom, boredom |
-age | Postage, leakage, package |
Common verb suffixes
-en | Brighten, loosen, strengthen |
---|---|
-ify | Simplify, certify, magnify |
-ize (American) / -ise (British) | Modernize, specialize, popularize |