73   I can use suffixes

A    Noun suffixes

Suffix                  Verb             Noun    

+ ment                 judge            judgement   

+ ion / sion          react             reaction

+ ation / ition       interpret        interpretation      

+ ance / ence       disappear      disappearance     

Suffix                  Verb             Noun

+ ment                 measure        measurement

+ ion / sion          extend          extension

+ ation / ition      define           definition

+ ance / ence      prefer            preference

Suffix                 Adjective     Noun    

+ ty / ity             cruel             cruelty  

       real               reality

+ ness                gentle           gentleness    

      kind              kindness

Glossary

judgement  an opinion you form after thinking carefully about sth (in a court of law, the judgement is the judge’s official decision).

measurement(s)  the height, weight, etc. of sth.

reaction  sth that you do or say as a result of sth that has happened.

extension  a part that is added to sth to make it bigger or longer.

interpretation  an understanding or explanation of the meaning of sth.

definition  an exact statement of what a word or phrase means.

disappearance  a situation in which sb or sth becomes impossible to see or find.

preference  an interest in or liking of one thing more than another.

cruelty  behaviour that deliberately causes a person or animal to suffer.

reality  the way life really is.

gentleness  kind and calm behaviour towards other people.

kindness  behaviour that shows you care about others and want to help them. 

2     Look at the verbs and adjectives, which you did not choose, in Exercise 1. Write them below with the correct noun form.

►   disappear, disappearance

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

react, reaction; prefer, preference; cruel, cruelty; define, definition;  interpret, interpretation;  measure, measurement;  extend, extension

B    Adjective suffixes

Suffix

Examples

Meaning

 

-less/-ful  

Feel powerless in your job? Want to be powerful? Buy our POWERGUY video.

powerless  not able to influence or control people or things. OPP powerful.

 

-proof

The world’s only waterproof and shockproof digital camera. Great for underwater photography!

waterproof  not allowing water to enter.

shockproof  made so that it isn’t easily damaged if it is hit or dropped.

 

-ical

Cool, practical, economical clothing for tropical conditions. Go to practicalger.com.

practical useful and suitable.

economical  using money, goods, etc. carefully and without wasting any.

tropical  from or in the hottest parts of the world.

 

-able

Fabulous fashionable shoes - and they’re machine washable too!

fashionable  popular at the moment.

washable  able to be washed.

 

-ous

Get our T-shirts with ridiculous or humorous slogans.

ridiculous  very silly.

humorous  funny; amusing.

 

-y

Try our spicy curry or fish with a creamy sauce.

spicy  with a strong, hot flavour.

creamy  containing cream, or smooth like cream.

spotlight  adjectives ending in -ful and -less

There are several pairs of opposites ending in -ful and -less:

He’s a careful student. = He doesn’t make mistakes. OPP careless.

It was a useful/useless suggestion.

This gas is harmful/harmless.

It’s a painful/painless treatment. 

7     Test yourself. Look at the examples and cover the meanings. What are the meanings?