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 |
|---|---|
| -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 |
| -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 |