Answer — Exercise Grammar 1
02 - Language focus 2·Cutting Edge Upper-Intermediate - Student's Book
Question
- Look at the noun suffixes in the table below. Add at least one example of each noun suffix in exercise 1 and exercise 4a. Then add one example of your own for each suffix.
- Which three suffixes are usually used for people?
Answer
a)
-ness
- loneliness
- happiness
- kindness
- madness
- -ness is probably the most common noun suffix in English, and one which English native speakers may add to almost anything to form a noun (often colloquially).
-ion / -sion / -tion / -ation
- exhaustion
- stimulation
- religion
- confusion
- competition
-ity / -iety / -y
- security
- variety
- family
- curiosity
- anxiety
-ment
- excitement
- unemployment
- disappointment
- improvement
-ance / -ence
- confidence
- allowance
- independence
- patience
-our / -iour
- behaviour
- colour
- saviour
-ism
- criticism
- racism
- communism
- capitalism
- -ism usually refers to an ideology or way of thinking.
-age
- marriage
- average
- courage
- -age is usually used with abstract nouns.
-ship
- friendship
- relationship
- membership
- citizenship
-er
- employer
- teacher
- driver
- cleaner
- -er is used for people, as the 'doer' of an action.
-ee
- employee
- trainee
- interviewee
- -ee describes someone who 'receives' an action or service.
-ist
- non-conformist
- artist
- capitalist
b)
- -er
- -ee
- -ist
More exercises in 02 - Language focus 2