Grammar Topics

Forming adjectives

Typical adjective endings

Some adjectives can be identified by their endings. Typical adjective endings include:

  1. -able/-ible understandable, capable, readable, incredible
  2. -al mathematical, functional, influential, chemical
  3. -ful beautiful, bashful, helpful, harmful
  4. -ic artistic, manic, rustic, terrific
  5. -ive submissive, intuitive, inventive, attractive
  6. -less sleeveless, hopeless, groundless, restless
  7. -ous gorgeous, dangerous, adventurous, fabulous

Sometimes when adding these endings changes have to be made. Here are some rules for forming adjectives and their exceptions:

Add Exceptions Word Adjective
-al If ending with an ‘e‘, drop it Nature
Function
Natural
Functional
-y If ending with an ‘e‘, drop it Ice
Oil
Icy
Oily
-ful If ending with a ‘y‘, replace with an ‘i Beauty
Peace
Beautiful
Peaceful
-ous/-ious If ending with a ‘y‘, drop it Mystery
Danger
Mysterious
Dangerous
-ic If ending with a ‘y‘, drop it History
Rust
Historic
Rustic

Forming adjectives from nouns and verbs

Adjectives can be formed from different words. They can be formed from nouns:

Noun Adjective
accident accidental
danger dangerous
length long
star starry
wind windy

From verbs:

Verb Adjective
enjoy enjoyable
help helpful
obey obedient
play playful
talk talkative

Or even from other adjectives:

Adjective Adjective
comic comical
correct corrective
elder elderly
red reddish
sick sickly

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Examples of forming adjectives

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Forming adjectives exercises

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