ADJECTIVE SUFFIXES Directions: The following suffixes are common endings of adjectives. I provide examples of words containing each suffix. On another piece of paper list examples of your own—three of each (for a C), four of each (for a B), or five of each (for an A). -ible: capable, agreeable, edible, visible (definition: capable of, –able, susceptible of, fit for, tending to, given to) -ent: defiant, relevant, insistent, consistent (definition: –ant, (Note: make sure your characterized by or serving in the capacity of) examples are adjectives and not nouns such as and assistant servant) careful, helpful (definition: full of or characterized by) –ful: metallic, heroic [definitions: having some characteristics of –ic: (heroic); in the style of (Byronic); pertaining to a family of peoples or languages (Finnic, Semitic)] juvenile, infantile [definitions: expresses capability, susceptibility, –ile: liability, or aptitude (agile, volatile); “like a” (juvenile, infantile)] Irish, foolish, greenish (definitions: of, relating to, characteristic –ish: of, having a touch or trace of) abusive, exhaustive (definition: performs or tends toward an –ive: indicated action or state): careless, fearless (definition: without or lacking in) –less: gracious, nervous (definition: full of, abounding in, having, –ous: possessing the qualities of) inward, forward (definition: in a spatial or temporal direction) –ward: (Note: Words ending in this suffix are also often adverbs.) magical, final (definition: of the kind of, pertaining to, having the –al: form or character of)
ADJECTIVE SUFFIXES Directions: The following suffixes are common endings of adjectives. I provide examples of words containing each suffix. On another piece of paper list examples of your own—three of each (for a C), four of each (for a B), or five of each (for an A). –able, -ible: capable, agreeable, edible, visible (definition: capable of, susceptible of, fit for, tending to, given to) –ant, -ent: defiant, relevant, insistent, consistent (definition: characterized by or serving in the capacity of) (Note: make sure your examples are adjectives and not nouns such as assistant and servant) –ful: careful, helpful (definition: full of or characterized by) –ic: metallic, heroic [definitions: having some characteristics of (heroic); in the style of (Byronic); pertaining to a family of peoples or languages (Finnic, Semitic)] –ile: juvenile, infantile [definitions: expresses capability, susceptibility, liability, or aptitude (agile, volatile); “like a” (juvenile, infantile)] –ish: Irish, foolish, greenish (definitions: of, relating to, characteristic of, having a touch or trace of) –ive: abusive, exhaustive (definition: performs or tends toward an indicated action or state): –less: careless, fearless (definition: without or lacking in) –ous: gracious, nervous (definition: full of, abounding in, having, possessing the qualities of) –ward: inward, forward (definition: in a spatial or temporal direction) (Note: Words ending in this suffix are also often adverbs.) –al: magical, final (definition: of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form or character of)
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