Suffixes

  • -age
baggage, village, postage
  • -al
arrival, burial, deferral
  • -ance/-ence
reliance, defence, insistence
  • -dom
boredom, freedom, kingdom
  • -ee
employee, payee, trainee
  • -er/-or
driver, writer, director
  • -hood
brotherhood, childhood, neighbourhood
  • -ism
capitalism, Marxism, socialism (philosophies)
  • -ist
capitalist, Marxist, socialist (followers of philosophies)
  • -ity/-ty
brutality, equality, cruelty
  • -ment
amazement, disappointment, parliament
  • -ness
happiness, kindness, usefulness
  • -ry
entry, ministry, robbery
  • -ship
friendship, membership, workmanship
  • -sion/-tion/-xion
expression, population, complexion
  • -able/-ible
drinkable, portable, flexible
  • -al
brutal, formal, postal
  • -en
broken, golden, wooden
  • -ese
Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese
  • -ful
forgetful, helpful, useful
  • -i
Iraqi, Pakistani, Yemeni
  • -ic
classic, Islamic, poetic
  • -ish
British, childish, Spanish
  • -ive
active, passive, productive
  • -ian
Canadian, Malaysian, Peruvian
  • -less
homeless, hopeless, useless
  • -ly
daily, monthly, yearly
  • -ous
cautious, famous, nervous
  • -y
cloudy, rainy, windy
  • -ate
complicate, dominate, irritate
  • -en
harden, soften, shorten
  • -ify
beautify, clarify, identify
  • -ise/-ize
economise, realise, industrialize (-ise is most common in British English; -ize is most common in American English)
  • -ly
calmly, easily, quickly
  • -ward(s)
downwards, homeward(s), upwards
  • -wise
anti-clockwise, clockwise, edgewise
Noun Suffixes
Adjective suffixes
Verb suffixes
Adverb suffixes
Adjective suffixes
Take the quiz
1. The general secretary opened the congress on_________________ (globe) warming.
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2. She was__________________ (envy) of her sister's new fashionable dress.
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3. If Alan says something_______________ (offense), it may hurt your feelings, but it was not __________________________ (intention).
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4. These documents are not___________________ (access) to the public.
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5. Climate change could have _______________ (disaster) effects on Earth.
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6. Mary has an ___________________ (envy) relationship with her parents, who are always ______________________ (support).
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7. Doctors are______________________________ (hesitate) to comment on the new treatment.
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8. Nowadays tractors are used even in remote___________________ (mountain) regions.
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9. His audition went well and he's fairly ________________ (hope) about getting the part.
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10. We must never let any ________________________ (accident) success go to our heads.
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11. They'd soon be ______________ (penny) and_______________ (home) if she couldn't find a _______________ (suit) work.
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12. The climate is usually _____________ (rely) in June, but this year, it was very ______________ (rain) and _______________ (wind).
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13. ____________ (Fog) mountains are mysteriously___________________ (attract).
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14. Interest rates are an important instrument of ______________ (economy) policy.
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15. Tom had some_____________________ (excite) adventures in Egypt.
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16. The beef was overcooked; it was _______________ (taste) and_______________ (chew).
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17. The keyboard is hidden inside a _____________ (decorate), ____________ (wash) tablecloth.
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Adjective suffixes 2
Take the quiz
1. Most infectious diseases are now_____.
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2. Their ______ life-style plunged them into debt.
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3. Mr. Robertson would be a_____ candidate.
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4) Most spiders weave webs that are almost _____.
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5. Put ______ objects out of the reach of children.
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6. Peter is always the most ______of the class.
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7. He's very ______ about German literature.
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8. These clothes aren’t ______ for this kind of weather.
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9.  Students may feel _______ to ask questions.
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Great work! Well done!
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