Adjective Suffixes with Useful List and Great Examples in English Grammar

Adjective suffixes are a captivating element of the English language that often goes unnoticed. These suffixes can be appended to the end of a base adjective to alter its meaning and generate new words. This article delves into some of the most prevalent adjective suffixes in English, their usage, and examples of words that employ them. By grasping these suffixes, you can broaden your vocabulary and enhance your communication skills in both written and spoken English.

Certain suffixes are characteristic of adjectives. You can merge these endings with verbs and nouns to form adjectives, thereby changing the root word’s grammatical role. For example, adding -able to the verb “prevent” creates a new adjective, “preventable.” Words with specific endings like -able indicate that a word is an adjective.

Occasionally, adding a suffix to a root word alters the spelling of the root. A common adjective suffix, -ness, when combined with a word ending in y, often results in a spelling change. For instance, when “heavy” and -ness combine, the y transforms into an i, forming the new word “heaviness.” It is crucial to be aware of these spelling transformations. Mastering these common spelling changes is essential for accurate spelling.

There are several common adjective suffixes in English that can help you recognize adjectives while reading and enrich your writing by expanding your vocabulary. Some of these common suffixes include:

• –able (or -ible): This suffix is used to form adjectives that convey the ability or possibility of something happening or being done. Examples: enjoyable, responsible, understandable.
• –al (or -ial): This suffix forms adjectives that describe something related to, characteristic of, or resembling a certain noun. Examples: personal, territorial, musical.
• –ful: This suffix creates adjectives indicating the presence of a particular quality or element in a noun. Examples: beautiful, powerful, successful.
• –ic: This suffix is used to form adjectives that pertain to or show a characteristic of a specific noun. Examples: scientific, artistic, romantic.
• –ive: This suffix generates adjectives that express the tendency or disposition of a certain action or behavior. Examples: creative, aggressive, sensitive.
• –less: This suffix produces adjectives that denote the lack or absence of a particular quality or element. Examples: endless, fearless, colorless.
• –ous: This suffix forms adjectives that signify the presence of a particular quality or essence. Examples: generous, dangerous, marvelous.
• –y: This suffix creates adjectives that describe the state, condition, or quality of a noun. Examples: rainy, shiny, happy.

By understanding and utilizing these suffixes, you can significantly improve your language skills, making your communication more precise and effective.

Common Adjective Suffixes and Their Meanings

-able or -ible Suffix
Meaning: Capable of being, worthy of, or tending to.
Examples:

• Flammable: The materials are highly flammable and should be handled with care.
• Discernible: Her influence on the project was clearly discernible.
• Culpable: He was found culpable for the accident.
• Accountable: She is accountable for completing the report.
• Beatable: The opposing team is beatable with the right strategy.
• Acceptable: This level of work is acceptable for submission.
• Edible: These mushrooms are edible and safe to eat.

-al Suffix (-al, -ial, -ical)
Meaning: Pertaining to, relating to, or having the quality of.
Examples:

• Accidental: The damage was accidental, not intentional.
• Educational: The trip was highly educational for the students.
• Brutal: The winter was unusually brutal this year.
• Historical: They visited many historical sites in the city.
• Regional: The regional cuisine varies greatly.
• Social: He is very social and enjoys meeting new people.
• Universal: These principles are universal and apply to everyone.
• Personal: This is a personal matter that should remain private.
• Experimental: They are conducting an experimental study.
• Mental: She has a strong mental focus.

-ant or -ent Suffix
Meaning: Performing, being, or inclined towards something/someone.
Examples:

• Independent: She is an independent thinker.
• Vacant: The office space is currently vacant.
• Important: This meeting is very important.
• Brilliant: Her idea was absolutely brilliant.
• Incessant: The noise from the construction was incessant.

-ary Suffix
Meaning: Relating to something, a quality, or a place.
Examples:

• Customary: It is customary to shake hands.
• Momentary: There was a momentary lapse in judgment.
• Cautionary: He gave a cautionary tale about the dangers of hiking alone.
• Dietary: She follows a strict dietary plan.
• Veterinary: They took their dog to the veterinary clinic.
• Planetary: The book explores planetary science.

-ful Suffix (or -full)
Meaning: Full of, tending, or liable to.
Examples:

• Awful: The weather was awful all weekend.
• Skillful: She is a skillful artist.
• Successful: He has been very successful in his career.
• Bountiful: They had a bountiful harvest this year.
• Beautiful: The view from the top was beautiful.
• Wonderful: They had a wonderful time on vacation.
• Careful: Be careful when handling sharp objects.

–ic Suffix
Meaning: Having the nature or qualities of.
Examples:

• Athletic: She is very athletic and participates in many sports.
• Scenic: The drive through the mountains was scenic.
• Fantastic: They had a fantastic time at the party.
• Organic: They only eat organic food.
• Acidic: The soil is too acidic for these plants.
• Historic: They visited a historic battlefield.

-ive Suffix
Meaning: Performing or tending toward, having the nature of.
Examples:

• Cooperative: The children were cooperative during the class.
• Sensitive: He is very sensitive to criticism.
• Supportive: She was very supportive during my difficult time.
• Pensive: He looked pensive after the meeting.
• Creative: She is very creative and loves to draw.

–ious or -ous Suffix
Meaning: Full of, relating to, having the quality of.
Examples:

• Dangerous: The journey through the jungle was dangerous.
• Nervous: He felt nervous before the exam.
• Gracious: She was gracious in her acceptance of the award.
• Mysterious: The cave had a mysterious atmosphere.
• Poisonous: Some plants in the garden are poisonous.
• Victorious: They were victorious in the championship game.

-less Suffix
Meaning: Without, lacking, unable to act.
Examples:

• Powerless: They felt powerless against the storm.
• Friendless: He seemed friendless and lonely.
• Worthless: The old currency is now worthless.
• Useless: The broken tool was useless.
• Homeless: The charity supports homeless people.
• Careless: He was careless with the expensive vase.
• Breathless: She was breathless after the run.
• Faithless: He felt faithless after the betrayal.
• Fearless: She is fearless when it comes to challenges.

-y Suffix
Meaning: Characterized by, tending to.
Examples:

• Rainy: It was a rainy day.
• Funny: He told a funny joke.
• Dirty: The room was dirty and needed cleaning.
• Messy: Her desk is always messy.
• Sleepy: He felt sleepy after the long day.
• Beautifully: She sang beautifully.
• Brainy: He is very brainy and excels in math.
• Fruity: The wine has a fruity flavor.

-like Suffix
Meaning: Like, resembling something.
Examples:

• Lifelike: The sculpture was incredibly lifelike.
• Warlike: The tribe was known for its warlike nature.
• Childlike: She has a childlike sense of wonder.
• Lifelike: The robot’s movements were lifelike.
• Ladylike: She behaved in a very ladylike manner.
• Birdlike: Her singing voice was birdlike.

-ish Suffix
Meaning: Approximation, having a mild quality of.
Examples:

• Selfish: He was acting selfish by not sharing.
• Sheepish: She gave a sheepish smile.
• Pinkish: The sky turned a pinkish hue at sunset.
• Bookish: He is very bookish and loves to read.
• Childish: His behavior was childish.
• Boyish: He has a boyish charm.
• Foolish: It was foolish to go out in the storm.

-ile Suffix
Meaning: Tending to, capable of.
Examples:

• Futile: Their efforts were futile.
• Gentile: He comes from a gentile background.
• Senile: The old man was becoming senile.
• Fragile: The glass vase is very fragile.

-an, -ian Suffix
Meaning: One who is or does, related to.
Examples:

• Agrarian: They have an agrarian lifestyle.
• Simian: The features were distinctly simian.
• Egalitarian: They believe in an egalitarian society.
• Dystopian: The novel is set in a dystopian future.

Adjective Suffixes in Action

Below are examples of how words with adjective suffixes function as adjectives:

• The egg shattered when it dropped, showing its fragility.
• The prank was irritatingly childish.
• He had a childlike grin.
• The girl, feeling sleepy, went to bed early.
• Her mysterious patron visited her art exhibition.

Comparative and Superlative Suffixes

In English, adjectives can be modified to show varying degrees of a quality using comparative and superlative suffixes. These forms allow for more precise comparisons between people, things, or attributes.

Comparative adjectives express a higher degree of a quality when comparing two entities. Typically, they are formed by adding the suffix -er to the base adjective. For example:

• ‘Small’ becomes ‘smaller’
• ‘Fast’ becomes ‘faster’

For adjectives ending in –y, the -y changes to –ier:

• ‘Happy’ becomes ‘happier’

Superlative adjectives denote the highest degree of a quality among three or more entities. These are usually formed by adding the suffix -est to the base adjective. For instance:

• ‘Small’ becomes ‘smallest’
• ‘Fast’ becomes ‘fastest’

For adjectives ending in –y, the -y is replaced with –iest:

• ‘Happy’ becomes ‘happiest’

Examples in Table

For adjectives with three or more syllables, we use ‘more’ and ‘most’ instead of suffixes to form comparative and superlative adjectives. For example:

• The comparative form of ‘beautiful’ is ‘more beautiful’.
• The superlative form of ‘beautiful’ is ‘most beautiful’.

Examples in Simple Sentences

• This building is taller than the one next to it.
• She is the most intelligent student in the class.
• Running is faster than walking.
• He is happier today than he was yesterday.
• Of all the options, this is the healthiest choice.
• The view from the top is the most beautiful I’ve ever seen.

Adjective Suffixes Exercises for You

Exercise 1: Identify the Adjective Suffix

In the sentences below, identify the adjective suffix and underline the adjective.

• The baby’s laughter was delightful.
• She wore a beautiful dress.
• His performance was impressive.
• The story was quite believable.
• Her advice was truly helpful.

Exercise 2: Create Adjectives from Nouns or Verbs

Transform the following nouns or verbs into adjectives by adding the appropriate suffix.

• Enjoy (____)
• Child (____)
• Fame (____)
• Beauty (____)
• Hope (____)

Exercise 3: Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the word in parentheses, using an adjective suffix.

• The mountain view was absolutely __________ (awe).
• She gave a __________ (cheer) smile to everyone.
• The __________ (grace) dancer moved effortlessly.
• He shared some __________ (use) information.
• The dog was very __________ (play) in the park.

Exercise 4: Match the Adjectives with their Suffixes

Match the adjectives on the left with the correct suffixes on the right.

• Joyful a. -ous
• Dangerous b. -ful
• Lovable c. -y
• Wealthy d. -able
• Cloudy e. -y

Exercise 5: Sentence Creation

Use the words below to create sentences. Make sure to convert them into adjectives using appropriate suffixes.

• Noise (_____)
• Memory (_____)
• Adventure (_____)
• Power (_____)
• Fear (_____)

Exercise 6: Adjective Suffix Sort

Sort the following adjectives into groups based on their suffixes.

• Joyful
• Mysterious
• Beautiful
• Useful
• Nervous
• Adventurous
• Creative
• Dangerous
• Playful
• Reliable

Answers of all Exercises

Exercise 1:

• Delightful
• Beautiful
• Impressive
• Believable
• Helpful

Exercise 2:

• Enjoyable
• Childlike
• Fameous
• Beautyful
• Hopeful

Exercise 3:

• Awesome
• Cheerful
• Graceful
• Useful
• Playful

Exercise 4:

• Joyful – b. -ful
• Dangerous – a. -ous
• Lovable – d. -able
• Wealthy – c. -y
• Cloudy – e. -y

Exercise 5:

• The party was so noisy that we could hardly hear each other.
• She looked at the old photographs, feeling nostalgic.
• Their trip to the Amazon was truly adventurous.
• The superhero showed off his powerful abilities.
• The loud thunder made the little child fearful.

Exercise 6:

-ful: Joyful, Beautiful, Useful, Playful
-ous: Mysterious, Nervous, Dangerous
-ive: Creative
-able: Reliable

See More “Adjectives and Prepositions”

FAQs About Adjective Suffixes

What are adjective suffixes? Adjective suffixes are word endings that are added to nouns or verbs to form adjectives. Common suffixes include -able, -ible, -al, -ful, -ic, -ive, -less, and -ous.

How do adjective suffixes change the meaning of a word? Adjective suffixes transform the meaning of the base word by describing qualities, states, or characteristics. For example, adding “-ful” to “joy” creates “joyful,” meaning full of joy.

Can you provide examples of common adjective suffixes? Yes, here are a few examples:

• -able: comfortable, manageable
• -less: fearless, hopeless
• -ous: joyous, mysterious
• -ive: creative, active
• -ic: artistic, heroic

How do I know which suffix to use to form an adjective? The suffix choice often depends on the base word and the quality you want to describe. There are no strict rules, so it’s best to learn and practice with examples. Dictionaries can also help identify correct suffixes.

Are there any rules for spelling changes when adding adjective suffixes? Yes, some spelling rules apply. For instance, if the base word ends in “y,” change the “y” to “i” before adding the suffix (e.g., happy → happier). If the base word ends in “e,” drop the “e” before adding a suffix that starts with a vowel (e.g., love → lovable).

How can learning adjective suffixes improve my writing? Understanding adjective suffixes enhances your vocabulary, allowing you to create more descriptive and precise language. This can make your writing more engaging and clear.

Are adjective suffixes used in specific contexts? Adjective suffixes are used across various contexts, including academic writing, creative writing, and everyday conversation, to describe and add detail.

Can one word have multiple adjective forms with different suffixes? Yes, a single word can have multiple adjective forms. For example, “use” can become “useful” (beneficial) or “useless” (without use), each conveying a different meaning.

How can I practice using adjective suffixes? You can practice by reading extensively, paying attention to adjectives, and noting their base words and suffixes. Writing exercises that focus on transforming nouns and verbs into adjectives can also be helpful.

What resources can help me learn more about adjective suffixes? Grammar books, online grammar guides, and educational websites often have sections dedicated to suffixes. Interactive language apps and writing tools can also provide practice and feedback.