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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-> player
drive -> driver
sing -> singer
read  -> reader 
teach  -> teacher 


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

swim  -> swimmer  
run   -> runner
rob  -> robber

- 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  =>  hopeless 
child  =>  childless

fear  => fearless 
care  => careless  

  This painting is priceless.

This man is homeless.  

                

Warning: -y => -i:
pity  =>  pitiless

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

careful    

beauty => beautiful 

use => useful 

hope => hopeful  

pain => painful

success => successful  

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
cupful 

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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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).