Site MapHelpFeedbackExercise: Suffixes
Exercise: Suffixes
(See related pages)

Directions: Refer to the following lists of suffixes as you complete the exercise that follows.

1. Suffixes that indicate nouns

These mean state of, condition of , or quality of what the base word indicates:

Suffix Example
-ance, -ence reliance (rely), dependence (depend)
-domfreedom (free)
-hoodadulthood (adult)
-ity, -y maturity (mature), honesty (honest)
-iverelative (relate)
-mentretirement (retire)
-nesskindness (kind)
-shipfriendship (friend)
-tion, -sion, -ion isolation (isolate), suspension (suspend)
-tudesolitude (solitary)

 

 

These mean a person who does what the root indicates:

-er, -orreader (read), inventor (invent)
-istsoloist (solo)

2. Suffixes that indicate verbs and mean to make (what the base word indicates)

SuffixExample
-ateautomate (automatic)
-ifyliquefy (liquid)
-izesocialize (social)
-encheapen (cheap)

3. Suffixes that indicate adjectives

These suffixes mean full of what the base word indicates:

SuffixExample
-fulcolorful (color)
-ous, -iousjoyous (joy)
-atefortune (fortune)
-yroomy (room)

These suffixes mean relating to or pertaining to (what the base word indicates):

SuffixExample
-almusical (music)
-iccomic (comedy)
-ishchildish (child)
-ivecorrective (correct)
Other adjective suffixes:
Suffix Example
-able , -ible able to be or do
(whatever the root says)		reasonable (reason); sensible (sense)
-less withouthomeless (home)
4. Other helpful suffixes

-ly , -ilylike, in the manner of
(creates an adverb)		friendly (friend), sloppily (sloppy)

-ologystudy or science
(of whatever the root says)		biology, psychology

-ismphilosophy or belief
(in whatever the root says)		terrorism, communism

Exercise: Add the suffix to the base word. Remember that in some cases, the spelling of the base word may change slightly when the suffix is added. You may consult a dictionary if you are unsure of the spelling.

Example: explode + sion explosion





1normal + ly


2improve + ment


3read + able


4race + ial


5locate + tion


6space + ious


7blue + ish


8dream + ily


9bicycle + ist


10length + en


11king + dom


12rely + able


13hope + ful


14clue + less


15motor + ize





To learn more about the book this website supports, please visit its Information Center.
(c)2008 McGraw-Hill Higher Education
Any use is subject to the Terms of Use and Privacy Notice.
McGraw-Hill Higher Education is one of the many fine businesses of The McGraw-Hill Companies.


Exercise Your College ReadingOnline Learning Center

Home > Chapter 2 > Exercise: Suffixes