ADJECTIVE FORMATION

1. Adjective sufixes

noun / verb
danger
science
ethics
dirt
expense
sense
care
pain
interest
annoy
annoy
affection
comfort
rely
comprehend
eat

NOUN / VERB + SUFFIX

suffix
adjective
-ous
dangerous
-ic
scientific
-al
ethical
-y
dirty
-ive
expensive
-itive
sensitive
-ful
careful
-less
painless
-ing
interesting
-ed
annoyed
-ing
annoying
-ate
affectionate
-able
comfortable
-able
reliable
-ible
comprehensible
-ible
edible ( fit to be
eaten)

2. Adjective Prefixes

prefix
disilim
inirnon-

PREFIXES TO EXPRESS NOT OR THE OPPOSITE MEANING

adjective
new adjective
similar
dissimilar
logical
illogical
moral
immoral
tolerant
intolerant
relevant
irrelevant
violent
non-violent

EXERCISES

A- Fill in the gaps with adjectives formed from the words given in
brackets.
1. Dont be so sad. The sofa is still ________________ (repair)
2. He completely agreed with my decision. In fact, he was very
________________ (sympathy) with me.
3. Im sure this water is safe for drinking. It is ________________ (drink)
4. Some people dont agree with cloning. For them is largely an
________________ (ethics) problem.
5. They were all very ________________ (please) with the news.
6. Try to develop a more ________________(critic attitude, instead of
accepting everything.
7. Buying this car was a ________________ (disaster) step; its always
breaking down.
8. CD players are ________________ (use) things to have in the classroom.
9. A car is ________________ (use) without petrol.
10.Book are ________________(rely) sources of information.
B- Complete each sentence with an adjective which has the same
meaning as the words in bold.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

His handwriting cannot be read. It is ________________.

She wants things to happen immediately. She is ________________.
The plane cannot be seen .It is ________________.
What you want to do is against the law. It is ________________.
He was rude to the waiter. He was very________________.
His moods and opinions change from moment to moment. He is very
________________.
7. His arrival was not convenient. He arrived at an ________________
time.
8. Hurricanes are not very common in Portugal. Actually, they are quite
________________.
9. There are too many people in the city centre. It is always
________________.
10.Your conclusion is not sensible. It is ________________.
C- Choose the right adjective.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

The house was left in a shocking / shocked state.

For a few minutes they stood in shocking / shocked silence.
They were amazing / amazed to find no one was hurt.
Its amazing / amazed how quickly people adapt.
She was disappointing / disappointed for the guests.

Answer key

A
1. repairable
2. sympathetic
3. drinkable
4. ethical
5. pleased
6. critical
7. disastrous
8. useful
9. useless
10.reliable
B
1. illegible
2. impatient
3. invisible
4. illegal
5. impolite
6. unstable
7. inconvenient
8. uncommon, rare
9. crowed
10.illogical, senseless
C
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

shocking
shocked
amazed
amazing
disappointed
disappointing