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).