Suffixes

The suffix '-able' in a word like 'readable' or 'enjoyable' means which of the following?

• Full of

• A person who does something

• Capable of being

• In a certain way

Answer explanation

The suffix '-able' is added to verbs to create adjectives, meaning something is 'capable of being' done. For example, 'readable' means it is capable of being read.

Match each base word to the suffix that correctly forms a new word.

• -ous

• active

• -ate

• danger

• -able

• create

• -ion

• depend

Answer explanation

Each suffix correctly combines with a base word to form a new word: 'danger' + '-ous' = 'dangerous'; 'create' + '-ion' = 'creation'; 'depend' + '-able' = 'dependable'; 'active' + '-ate' = 'activate'. This requires knowing the function and application of each suffix.

Which word best completes the sentence? Her performance was so good it earned her the _________ of her classmates.

• admire

• admirable

• admiration

• admiringly

Answer explanation

The sentence requires a noun to be the object of 'earned'. The suffix '-ation' changes the verb 'admire' into the noun 'admiration', which means the act of admiring.

Sort these words based on the function of their suffix: 'Forms a Noun' or 'Forms an Adjective'.

Groups:

(a) Forms a Noun

,

(b) Forms an Adjective

• heroism

• courageous

• harmless

• government

• artist

• musical

Answer explanation

The suffixes '-ism', '-ist', and '-ment' typically form nouns, while '-ous', '-al', and '-less' typically form adjectives. This shows how suffixes change a word's grammatical class.

Which of the following sentences contains an incorrectly used suffix?

• The new video game is very enjoyable.

• His argument was not very convinceable.

• She showed great kindness to the new student.

• The magician's performance was unbelievable.

Answer explanation

The correct word is 'convincing'. The suffix '-able' does not correctly attach to the verb 'convince' in this context; the '-ing' suffix is used to form the adjective.

Match each word to the description of how its suffix changes the base word's class.

• Changes a verb to a noun (person)

• beautify (from beauty)

• Changes a noun to a verb

• actor (from act)

• Changes an adjective to a noun

• happiness (from happy)

• Changes a verb to an adjective

• different (from differ)

Answer explanation

Suffixes can change a word's part of speech. '-ify' makes a noun a verb, '-ness' makes an adjective a noun, '-ent' makes a verb an adjective, and '-or' makes a verb a noun for a person.

The suffix '-ism' in words like 'criticism' and 'optimism' most often indicates what?

• A person who performs an action

• A belief, practice, or system

• The quality of being full of something

• The state of being without something

Answer explanation

The suffix '-ism' is used to form nouns that refer to a doctrine, theory, practice, or system of belief, such as optimism (the belief in positive outcomes).

Sort these words into two groups based on their suffix's meaning: 'Full of something' or 'Without something'.

Groups:

(a) Full of something

,

(b) Without something

• painless

• powerful

• fearless

• careless

• hopeful

• joyful

Answer explanation

The suffix '-ful' means 'full of' (e.g., hopeful is full of hope), while the suffix '-less' means 'without' (e.g., fearless is without fear).

In the sentence, 'The project seemed overwhelming at first, but it was surprisingly manageable,' what does the word 'manageable' mean?

• Impossible to complete

• Able to be controlled or dealt with

• Created by a manager

• Extremely difficult and complicated

Answer explanation

The context clue 'surprisingly' suggests an opposite to 'overwhelming'. The suffix '-able' means 'able to be', so 'manageable' means it was able to be managed or handled.

Match each adjective to the meaning created by its suffix.

• In the direction of

• heroic

• Relating to or characteristic of

• homeward

• Having the qualities of

• washable

• Capable of being

• childish

Answer explanation

Each suffix adds a specific meaning: '-ish' means having the qualities of, '-ic' means relating to, '-able' means capable of being, and '-ward' means in a certain direction.