SUFFIXES TO FORM ADJECTIVES
Suffixes go on the end of words. They change a word from one part of speech,
such as a noun or a verb, to another, such as an adjective.
Adjectives from nouns
Suffix Meaning Examples
solvable, accessible, believable,
-able/-ible worth, ability
reliable
-al, -ial, -ical quality, relation professional, structural, national, legal
-ent/-ant having a certain quality important, dependent, relevant
in a particular way, friendly, lovely, monthly, bloody, chilly,
-ly, -y characterized by’ dirty, easy
-ic quality, relation generic, archaic, idealistic, historic
-etic pertaining to genetic, magnetic
having the character of,
-ish about, almost
newish, reddish
-ful having a characteristic helpful, colorful, useful
-less without, missing worthless, careless, useless, hopeless
having the quality of, adventurous, courageous,
-ous relating to advantageous
-ive having the quality of festive, cooperative, sensitive
SUFFIXES TO FORM ADJECTIVES
Suffixes go on the end of words. They change a word from one part of speech,
such as a noun or a verb, to another, such as an adjective.
Adjectives from verbs
Suffix Meaning Examples
-able worth, ability adaptable, believable, forgettable
-ative quality, relation conservative, informative
-ive having a certain quality active, creative, negative, relative
in a particular way,
-ed characterized by’
confused, embarrassed, excited
-ing quality, relation confusing, embarrassing, exciting
-ful pertaining to harmful, hopeful, playful, useful
SUFFIXES TO FORM ADJECTIVES
Suffixes go on the end of words. They change a word from one part of speech,
such as a noun or a verb, to another, such as an adjective.
COUNTRY ADJECTIVES
Suffix Country Adjectives More examples
China Chinese
In China, we met a lot of
-ese Portugal Portuguese
Chinese people.
Suda Sudanese
Pakistan Pakistani
Pakistani cuisine is often served
-i Yemen Yemeni
with rice or bread.
Qatar Qatari
Canada Canadian
Canadian people are famous
-ian Italy Italian
for being very polite.
Palestine Palestinian
Great Britain British
-ish Spain Spanish British weather is not the best.
Turkey Turkish
Austria Austrian
Jamaican music is famous all of
-n Jamaica Jamaican
the world.
Russia Russian
Some countries have irregular forms. Example:
Germany → German
France →French
Greece → Greek
Switzerland → Swiss
Ireland →Irish
PREFIXES TO FORM ADJECTIVES
Prefixes go at the beginning of words.
Prefix Meaning Examples
illegal, Illegible, imperfect, impolite,
il-. im-, ir-, in- not/opposite of irrelevant, irrational, inconvenient,
inactive
unusual, unhappy, uninterested,
un- not/opposite of
unpleasant
dis- not/opposite of dishonest, disloyal, dissimilar, disabled
ultra-, super-, ultra-compact, ultrasound,
extreme
hyper- hyperactive
inter- between international, interdisciplinary
trans- across transatlantic, transmarine
Spelling rules for il-, im-, ir-, in-
Use ‘il-’ for words starting with ‘l’, such as legal (illegal) and legible (illegible).
Use ‘ir-’ for words starting with ‘r’, such as relevant (irrelevant) and rational
(irrational).
Use ‘im-’ for words starting with ‘m’ or ‘p’, such as mature (immature) and polite
(impolite).
For other adjectives, use ‘in-’, such as convenient (inconvenient) and active
(inactive).