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    Learn English > English lessons and exercises > English test #42587: Words and suffixes





    > Other English exercises on the same topic: Find the word [Change theme]
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    Words and suffixes


    SUFFIXES

    You can often add a suffix to a noun or to an adjective to build a new word.





    I
    . The suffix -er    [verb + er => noun]

    - To designate the man/woman who is doing the action.

    write -> writer (écrivain
    play-> play
    er
    drive -> driv
    er
    sing -> singer
    read  -> read
    er 
    teach  -> teach
    er 


    - Warning: double consonnant for the words with 1 syllable + ending in "consonant-vowel-consonant":

    swim  -> swimmer  
    run   -> run
    ner
    rob  -> rob
    ber

     

    - Please note :

    a) It doesn't work with a few verbs:    try  /  meet  / say ...

    b) The new noun can become an object:

    opener  cooker

    drawer   cutter




    II. The suffix -less    [noun + less => adjective]

    -less = "without"

    taste    ->  tasteless

    use  =>  useless
    hope  =>  hope
    less 
    child  =>  child
    less

    fear  => fearless 
    care  => care
    less  



      This painting is priceless.

    This man is homeless.  

                    

    Warning: -y => -i:
    pity  =>  pitiless





    III. The suffix -ful   [noun + ful => adjective]


    careful    

    beauty => beautiful 

    use => use
    ful 

    hope => hope
    ful  

    pain => painful

    success => success
    ful  

    Sharks have powerful jaws.



    Please note:

    ---  hopeful  ‡ hopeless

    powerful powerless
     She
    is powerless against the wind.         

              But: helpful     /     helpless 






    --- Add "ful" to a noun, you get a new noun :

    spoon  => spoonful    :     a spoonful of sugar

           

    a handful of change
    hand => handful 

    mouthful
    armful
    cup
    ful 



     

    IV. The suffix -ness   [adjective + ness => noun ]

    kind  => kindness  

               The lamp went out, leaving me in darkness.

    sadness /  shyness   /  dryness   / illness





    V. Please note
    You can sometimes use two suffixes:

    care, n.  =>  careful, adj.   =>  carefulness, n. 

    hope, n.  =>  hopeless, adj.   =>  hopelessness, n. 





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    English exercise "Words and suffixes" created by lili73 with The test builder. [More lessons & exercises from lili73]
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    1.
    I can't understand how the (rob) managed to enter the house.

    2.
    Why should a (fear) person be afraid of aliens?

    3.
    He is a (power) man, he can lift heavy weights.

    4.
    Who do you think is the best (write) of all time? William Shakespeare, of course.

    5.
    Bayard, the knight 'without fear and beyond reproach' was called the 'Good Knight' for his (kind).

    6.
    I am exhausted, Phoebe is such a (rest) girl!

    7.
    To make these crumpets, you don't need more than two (spoon) of sugar.

    8.
    ' (happy) is nothing more than good health and a bad memory.' (Albert Schweitzer)

    9.
    = 3.1415926535... Nobody can write the number Pi. It has an (end) list of figures.

    10.
    On July 20, 1969 the expedition to the Moon was (success).










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