FORMING ADJECTIVES

Typical adjective endings

Some adjectives can be identified by their endings. Typical adjective endings include:

1. -able/-ible understandable, capable, readable, incredible

2. -al mathematical, functional, influential, chemical
3. -ful beautiful, bashful, helpful, harmful
4. -ic artistic, manic, rustic, terrific
5. -ive permissive, intuitive, inventive, active
6. -less sleeveless, hopeless, pointless, restless
7. -ous gorgeous, dangerous, adventurous, fabulous

Sometimes when adding these endings changes have to be made. Here are some rules for
forming adjectives and their exceptions:

Add Exceptions Word Adjective

-al If ending with an ‘e‘, drop it nature natural
functio functional
n
-y If ending with an ‘e‘, drop it ice icy
oil oily
-ful If ending with a ‘y‘, replace with an ‘i‘ beauty beautiful
peace peaceful
-ous/- If ending with a ‘y‘, drop it mystery mysterious
ious danger dangerous
-ic If ending with a ‘y‘, drop it history historic
rust rustic

Forming adjectives from nouns and verbs

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Adjectives can be formed from different words. They can be formed from nouns:

Noun Adjective
acciden accidental
t
danger dangerous
length long
star starry
wind windy

From verbs:

Ver Adjective
b
enjoy enjoyable
help helpful
obey obedient
play playful
talk talkative

Or even from other adjectives:

Adjective Adjective
comic comical
correct corrective
elder elderly
red reddish
sick sickly

Examples of forming adjectives

1. Our house color is a kind of yellow. → We live in a yellowish house.

2. He often acts like a child. → He often acts in a childish way.
3. The event was a big success. → We enjoyed a successful event.

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 4. We enjoyed the sound of the drum’s rhythm. → We enjoyed the drum’s rhythmic
sound.
5. She adopted a dog without a home. → She adopted a homeless dog.
6. Look out, that plant is poison. → Look out for that poisonous plant.
7. It looks like it will rain today. → It looks like we’ll have rainy weather today.
8. She always acts with courtesy. → She always behaves in a courteous manner.
9. Her hair is pretty. → She has the prettiest hair.
10. We go for a walk each day. → We go for a daily walk.

EXERCISES

1. Choose the adjective from each of the following groups of words:

A. inventive, invent, invented

B. curiosity, curious, curiousive
C. proliferate, prolific, proud

2. Form adjectives from the following nouns:

A. smell: __________
B. chill: __________
C. width: __________

3. Form adjectives from the following verbs:

A. interested: __________
B. amazed: __________
C. annoyed: __________

4. Form adjectives from the following nouns:

A. magic: __________
B. fool: __________
C. resource: __________

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5. Form two adjectives from each of the following nouns:

A. mercy: __________, __________

B. power: __________, __________
C. friend: __________, __________

6. Form adjectives from each of the following nouns:

A. poison: __________
B. courtesy: __________
C. mystery: __________

7. Form adjectives from each of the following nouns:

A. athlete: __________
B. photograph: __________
C. science: __________

8. Type in the correct form of the adjective of the word in CAPITALS. Watch out for the
comparative and the superlative forms.

a. Be sure to contact him if you need advice. He's a very (HELP) __________ person.

b. It was a really (ENJOY) __________ party. Thanks for inviting me.

c. He has just taken out a (MONTH) __________ subscription to the magazine.

d. Although our teacher is very strict in class, she is (FRIEND) __________ than you
would expect. (2 changes required)

e. What a beautiful vase! That's the (LOVE) __________ present I've ever had. (2
changes required)

9. Match the nouns with the corresponding adjectives.

NOUNS ADJECTIVES
1. intelligence a. successful
2. health b. famous
3. ambition c. comfortable

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 4. success d. intelligent
5. care e. patient
6. fame f. hurtful
7. danger g. careful
8. comfort h. ambitious
9. patience i. healthy
10. hurt j. dangerous

10. Find the opposites by adding or subtracting a prefix.

POSITIVE NEGATIVE
true
polite
unhappy
friendly
incorrect
reliable
informal
unlucky
legal
intolerant
important
pleasant
disagreeable
illogical