Suffixes Found at the End of Adjectives

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 103 views

Introduction

In the English language, suffixes play a crucial role in forming different types of words, including adjectives. Adjectives are words that modify or describe nouns or pronouns, providing more information about their characteristics, qualities, or properties. In this article, we will explore the suffixes that are commonly found at the end of adjectives and help you determine which one is the correct answer.

What are Suffixes?

A suffix is a letter or group of letters that is added to the end of a word to form a new word or to modify the meaning of the original word. Suffixes can change the part of speech, tense, or grammatical function of a word. In the context of adjectives, suffixes can indicate a range of meanings, such as size, quantity, quality, or degree.

Suffixes Found at the End of Adjectives

Let's examine the options provided:

A. -es (or -s)

The suffixes -es and -s are commonly used to form plural nouns, but they can also be used to form adjectives that indicate a plural or collective noun. For example:

The cats are playful. (Here, "playful" is an adjective that describes the noun "cats".)
The students are happy. (Here, "happy" is an adjective that describes the noun "students".)

However, the suffix -es (or -s) is not typically used to form adjectives that indicate a specific quality or characteristic.

B. -ly

The suffix -ly is commonly used to form adverbs, which are words that modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. For example:

She sings beautifully. (Here, "beautifully" is an adverb that modifies the verb "sings".)
He drives carefully. (Here, "carefully" is an adverb that modifies the verb "drives".)

However, the suffix -ly is not typically used to form adjectives.

C. -ed

The suffix -ed is commonly used to form the past tense of regular verbs, but it can also be used to form adjectives that indicate a completed action or a state. For example:

The book is read. (Here, "read" is an adjective that describes the noun "book".)
The flowers are bloomed. (Here, "bloomed" is an adjective that describes the noun "flowers".)

However, the suffix -ed is not typically used to form adjectives that indicate a specific quality or characteristic.

D. -ish

The suffix -ish is commonly used to form adjectives that indicate a quality or characteristic, such as size, quantity, or degree. For example:

The baby is cute. (Here, "cute" is an adjective that describes the noun "baby".)
The weather is mild. (Here, "mild" is an adjective that describes the noun "weather".)

The suffix -ish is often used to form adjectives that indicate a range of meanings, such as:

-ish (e.g., cute, mild, small)
-ish (e.g., big, large, huge)
-ish (e.g., happy, sad, angry)

Conclusion

In conclusion, the correct answer is D. -ish. The suffix -ish is commonly used to form adjectives that indicate a quality or characteristic, such as size, quantity, or degree. While the suffixes -es (or -s), -ly, and -ed can be used to form adjectives in certain contexts, they are not typically used to form adjectives that indicate a specific quality or characteristic.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the difference between a suffix and a prefix?

A: A suffix is a letter or group of letters that is added to the end of a word to form a new word or to modify the meaning of the original word. A prefix, on the other hand, is a letter or group of letters that is added to the beginning of a word to form a new word or to modify the meaning of the original word.

Q: Can a suffix be used to form a noun?

A: Yes, a suffix can be used to form a noun. For example, the suffix -er is used to form the noun "teacher" from the verb "teach".

Q: Can a suffix be used to form a verb?

A: Yes, a suffix can be used to form a verb. For example, the suffix -ize is used to form the verb "to realize" from the noun "realize".

Additional Resources

For more information on suffixes and their uses, we recommend the following resources:

Introduction

In our previous article, we explored the suffixes that are commonly found at the end of adjectives. We discussed the correct answer, which is D. -ish, and provided examples of how this suffix is used to form adjectives that indicate a quality or characteristic. In this article, we will continue to answer your questions about suffixes in adjectives.

Q&A

Q: What is the difference between a suffix and a prefix?

Q: Can a suffix be used to form a noun?

A: Yes, a suffix can be used to form a noun. For example, the suffix -er is used to form the noun "teacher" from the verb "teach".

Q: Can a suffix be used to form a verb?

A: Yes, a suffix can be used to form a verb. For example, the suffix -ize is used to form the verb "to realize" from the noun "realize".

Q: What is the most common suffix used to form adjectives?

A: The most common suffix used to form adjectives is -ish. This suffix is used to form adjectives that indicate a quality or characteristic, such as size, quantity, or degree.

Q: Can a suffix be used to form an adverb?

A: Yes, a suffix can be used to form an adverb. For example, the suffix -ly is used to form the adverb "quickly" from the adjective "quick".

Q: What is the difference between a suffix and a root word?

A: A root word is the base form of a word, without any prefixes or suffixes. A suffix, on the other hand, is a letter or group of letters that is added to the end of a word to form a new word or to modify the meaning of the original word.

Q: Can a suffix be used to form a compound word?

A: Yes, a suffix can be used to form a compound word. For example, the suffix -ful is used to form the compound word "handful" from the words "hand" and "ful".

Q: What is the most common suffix used to form compound words?

A: The most common suffix used to form compound words is -ful. This suffix is used to form compound words that indicate a quantity or amount, such as "handful" or "mouthful".

Common Suffixes Used to Form Adjectives

Here are some common suffixes used to form adjectives:

-ish (e.g., cute, mild, small)
-ful (e.g., handful, mouthful, handful)
-less (e.g., helpless, hopeless, careless)
-ly (e.g., quickly, loudly, wisely)
-some (e.g., some, any, none)
-able (e.g., able, capable, possible)

Conclusion

In conclusion, suffixes play a crucial role in forming different types of words, including adjectives. By understanding the different suffixes that are used to form adjectives, you can improve your language skills and communicate more effectively with others. We hope this article has been helpful in answering your questions about suffixes in adjectives.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the difference between a suffix and a prefix?

Q: Can a suffix be used to form a noun?

A: Yes, a suffix can be used to form a noun. For example, the suffix -er is used to form the noun "teacher" from the verb "teach".

Q: Can a suffix be used to form a verb?

A: Yes, a suffix can be used to form a verb. For example, the suffix -ize is used to form the verb "to realize" from the noun "realize".

Additional Resources

For more information on suffixes and their uses, we recommend the following resources:

By understanding the different suffixes that are used to form adjectives, you can improve your language skills and communicate more effectively with others.