Formation of adjectives

We can make adjectives from other words. For example, the word ‘use’ is a verb. When we add the suffix ‘ful’ to the verb ‘use’, we get the adjective useful.

Most adjectives are made from verbs and nouns.

In some cases, we will have to make some spelling changes before adding the suffix.

You can form adjectives in the following ways:

By adding the suffix ‘ful’

Examples are given below

Use – useful

Harm – harmful

Mercy – merciful (As you can see, if the word ends in –y, we replace the –y with –i and then add –ful.)

By adding the suffix –less

Examples are given below

Harm – harmless

Mercy – merciless

Use – Useless

Hope – hopeless

By adding the suffix –able

Examples are given below

Break – breakable

Compare – comparable (As you can see, if the word ends in –e, we drop the –e and then add –able.)

Prevent – preventable

Honor – honorable

By adding the suffix –y

Examples are given below

Cloud – cloudy

Haste – hasty (If the word ends in –e, we drop the –e and then add –y.)

Sun – sunny

Fun – funny (In some cases we have to double the last letter before adding –y.)

Anger – angry

By adding the suffix –ous

Examples are given below

Danger – dangerous

Space – spacious (If the word ends in –e, drop the –e and then add –ious.)

Glory – glorious (If the word ends in –y, replace the –y with –i and then add –ous.)