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, fabulousSometimes 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

   Examples of forming adjectives

• Our house color is a kind of yellow. → We live in a yellowish house.
• He often acts like a child. → He often acts in a childish way.
• The event was a big success. → We enjoyed a successful event.
• We enjoyed the sound of the drum’s rhythm. → We enjoyed the drum’s rhythmic sound.
• She adopted a dog without a home. → She adopted a homeless dog.
• Look out, that plant is poison. → Look out for that poisonous plant.
• It looks like it will rain today. → It looks like we’ll have rainy weather today.
• She always acts with courtesy. → She always behaves in a courteous manner.
• Her hair is pretty. → She has the prettiest hair.
• We go for a walk each day. → We go for a daily walk.