ADJECTIVE FORMATION

1. Adjective sufixes

noun / verb
danger
science
ethics
dirt
expense
sense
care
pain
interest
annoy
annoy
affection
comfort
rely
comprehend
eat

NOUN / VERB + SUFFIX

suffix
adjective
-ous
dangerous
-ic
scientific
-al
ethical
-y
dirty
-ive
expensive
-itive
sensitive
-ful
careful
-less
painless
-ing
interesting
-ed
annoyed
-ing
annoying
-ate
affectionate
-able
comfortable
-able
reliable
-ible
comprehensible
-ible
edible ( fit to be
eaten)

2. Adjective Prefixes

PREFIXES TO EXPRESS NOT OR THE OPPOSITE MEANING

prefix
adjective
new adjective
dissimilar
dissimilar
illogical
illogical
im
moral
immoral
intolerant
intolerant
irrelevant
irrelevant
nonviolent
non-violent

EXERCISES
A- Fill in the gaps with adjectives formed from the words given in
brackets.

1. Dont be so sad. The sofa is still ________________ (repair)

2. He completely agreed with my decision. In fact, he was very
________________ (sympathy) with me.
3. Im sure this water is safe for drinking. It is ________________ (drink)
4. Some people dont agree with cloning. For them is largely an
________________ (ethics) problem.
5. They were all very ________________ (please) with the news.
6. Try to develop a more ________________(critic attitude, instead of
accepting everything.
7. Buying this car was a ________________ (disaster) step; its always
breaking down.
8. CD players are ________________ (use) things to have in the classroom.
9. A car is ________________ (use) without petrol.
10.Book are ________________(rely) sources of information.
B- Complete each sentence with an adjective which has the same
meaning as the words in bold.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

His handwriting cannot be read. It is ________________.

She wants things to happen immediately. She is ________________.
The plane cannot be seen .It is ________________.
What you want to do is against the law. It is ________________.
He was rude to the waiter. He was very________________.
His moods and opinions change from moment to moment. He is very
________________.
7. His arrival was not convenient. He arrived at an ________________
time.
8. Hurricanes are not very common in Portugal. Actually, they are quite
________________.
9. There are too many people in the city centre. It is always
________________.
10.Your conclusion is not sensible. It is ________________.
C- Choose the right adjective.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

The house was left in a shocking / shocked state.

For a few minutes they stood in shocking / shocked silence.
They were amazing / amazed to find no one was hurt.
Its amazing / amazed how quickly people adapt.
She was disappointing / disappointed for the guests.

Answer key
A
1. repairable

2. sympathetic
3. drinkable
4. ethical
5. pleased
6. critical
7. disastrous
8. useful
9. useless
10.reliable
B
1. illegible
2. impatient
3. invisible
4. illegal
5. impolite
6. unstable
7. inconvenient
8. uncommon, rare
9. crowed
10.illogical, senseless
C
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

shocking
shocked
amazed
amazing
disappointed
disappointing