Adjective-Forming Suffixes
Adjective-forming suffixes are added to nouns and verbs to create adjectives that describe qualities, characteristics, or conditions. Here are some of the most common suffixes with explanations and examples.
1. -able / -ible (Capable of, Worthy of)
This suffix is used to form adjectives from verbs, indicating that something can be done.
| Root Word (Verb/Noun) | Adjective | Meaning (Burmese) |
|---|---|---|
| accept | acceptable | แแแบแแถแแญแฏแแบแแฑแฌ |
| believe | believable | แแฏแถแแญแฏแแบแแฑแฌ |
| break | breakable | แแปแญแฏแธแแญแฏแแบแแฑแฌ |
| depend | dependable | แกแฌแธแแฌแธแแญแฏแแบแแฑแฌ |
| eat | edible | แ แฌแธแแญแฏแแบแแฑแฌ |
| enjoy | enjoyable | แแปแฑแฌแบแ แแฌแแฑแฌแแบแธแแฑแฌ |
| flex | flexible | แแญแแบแธแแญแฏแแบแแฑแฌ |
| access | accessible | แแแบแแฑแฌแแบแแญแฏแแบแแฑแฌ |
| response | responsible | แแฌแแแบแแฐแแญแฏแแบแแฑแฌ |
| convert | convertible | แแผแฑแฌแแบแธแแฒแแญแฏแแบแแฑแฌ |
Note:
- “-able” is more common and is usually used when the root word is complete (e.g., “enjoy” โ “enjoyable”).
- “-ible” is used when the root word is Latin-based or cannot stand alone (e.g., “convert” โ “convertible”).
2. -al (Related to, Pertaining to)
This suffix is used to form adjectives that describe something related to a noun.
| Root Word (Noun) | Adjective | Meaning (Burmese) |
|---|---|---|
| accident | accidental | แแแแบแแแพแแบแแฑแฌ |
| environment | environmental | แแแบแแแบแธแแปแแบแแญแฏแแบแแฌ |
| industry | industrial | แ แแบแแพแฏแแญแฏแแบแแฌ |
| nature | natural | แแแฌแแแแบแแฑแฌ |
| politics | political | แแญแฏแแบแแถแแฑแธแแญแฏแแบแแฌ |
| universe | universal | แ แแผแแ แฌแแญแฏแแบแแฌ |
3. -ful (Full of, Having)
This suffix means “having a lot of” the quality of the noun.
| Root Word (Noun) | Adjective | Meaning (Burmese) |
|---|---|---|
| beauty | beautiful | แแพแแแฑแฌ |
| care | careful | แแแญแแฌแธแแฑแฌ |
| power | powerful | แกแฌแธแแพแญแแฑแฌ |
| joy | joyful | แแแบแธแแผแฑแฌแแบแแฑแฌ |
| success | successful | แกแฑแฌแแบแแผแแบแแฑแฌ |
| wonder | wonderful | แกแถแทแฉแ แแฌแแฑแฌแแบแธแแฑแฌ |
Opposite Suffix:
- The opposite of “-ful” is often “-less” (e.g., “careful” โ “careless”).
4. -less (Without, Lacking)
This suffix gives a negative meaning, indicating the absence of something.
| Root Word (Noun) | Adjective | Meaning (Burmese) |
|---|---|---|
| care | careless | แแแญแแแฌแธแแฑแฌ |
| help | helpless | แกแแฐแกแแฎแแแพแญแแฑแฌ |
| use | useless | แกแแฏแถแธแแแแบแแฑแฌ |
| home | homeless | แกแญแแบแแฒแทแแฑแฌ |
| hope | hopeless | แแปแพแฑแฌแบแแแทแบแ แแฌแแแพแญแแฑแฌ |
| worth | worthless | แแแบแแญแฏแธแแแพแญแแฑแฌ |
5. -ic (Related to, Characterized by)
This suffix is commonly used for adjectives that relate to a subject, field, or characteristic.
| Root Word (Noun) | Adjective | Meaning (Burmese) |
|---|---|---|
| artist | artistic | แกแแฏแแแฌแแแบแแฑแฌ |
| hero | heroic | แแฐแแฒแแฑแฌแแบแธแแแบแแฑแฌ |
| energy | energetic | แ แฝแแบแธแกแฌแธแแผแแทแบแแฑแฌ |
| history | historic | แแแญแฏแแบแธแแแบแแฑแฌ |
| athlete | athletic | แกแฌแธแแ แฌแธแแญแฏแแบแแฌ |
“-ic” vs. “-ical” Difference:
- “Historic” = important in history (e.g., historic event).
- “Historical” = related to history in general (e.g., historical records).
6. -ive (Tending to, Inclined to)
This suffix forms adjectives that describe actions or tendencies.
| Root Word (Verb/Noun) | Adjective | Meaning (Burmese) |
|---|---|---|
| attract | attractive | แแฝแฒแแฑแฌแแบแแพแฏแแพแญแแฑแฌ |
| create | creative | แแแบแแฎแธแแญแฏแแบแแฑแฌ |
| act | active | แแแบแแผแฝแแฑแฌ |
| talk | talkative | แ แแฌแธแแปแฌแธแแฑแฌ |
| expense | expensive | แแฑแธแแผแฎแธแแฑแฌ |
7. -ous (Full of, Characterized by)
This suffix is used to form adjectives that describe something as having a certain quality.
| Root Word (Noun) | Adjective | Meaning (Burmese) |
|---|---|---|
| danger | dangerous | แกแแนแแแฌแแบแแพแญแแฑแฌ |
| fame | famous | แแฌแแแบแแผแฎแธแแฑแฌ |
| mystery | mysterious | แกแแฐแธแแแบแธแแฑแฌ |
| courage | courageous | แแฒแแฒแแแบแธแแแบแธแแพแญแแฑแฌ |
| humor | humorous | แแแบแ แแฌแแฑแฌแแบแธแแฑแฌ |
“-ous” vs. “-ful”:
- “Dangerous” (full of danger) vs. “Beautiful” (full of beauty).
8. -ly (In a Certain Manner)
Though “-ly” is mainly used for adverbs, some adjectives also take this suffix.
| Root Word (Noun) | Adjective | Meaning (Burmese) |
|---|---|---|
| friend | friendly | แแญแแบแแฝแฑแแแฑแฌแแฌแธแแพแญแแฑแฌ |
| time | timely | แกแแปแญแแบแแพแแบแแฑแฌ |
| mother | motherly | แแญแแแบแแฒแทแแญแฏแทแแฑแฌ |
| love | lovely | แแปแ แบแ แแฌแแฑแฌแแบแธแแฑแฌ |
| coward | cowardly | แแผแฑแฌแแบแแแทแบแแฑแฌ |
9. -en (Made of, Become)
This suffix forms adjectives from nouns and verbs, indicating material or transformation.
| Root Word (Noun/Verb) | Adjective | Meaning (Burmese) |
|---|---|---|
| wood | wooden | แแ แบแแฌแธแแผแแทแบแแผแฏแแฏแแบแแฑแฌ |
| gold | golden | แแฝแพแฑแแฑแฌแแบแแฑแฌ |
| child | childen | แแแฑแธแแฏแถแ แถแแพแญแแฑแฌ |
| weak | weaken | แกแฌแธแแแบแธแแฑแฌ |
10. -ish (Like, Similar to)
This suffix means “having the quality of” or “somewhat like.”
| Root Word (Noun) | Adjective | Meaning (Burmese) |
|---|---|---|
| child | childish | แแแฑแธแแญแฏแแฑแฌ |
| fool | foolish | แแญแฏแแบแแฒแแฑแฌ |
| self | selfish | แแญแฏแแบแแปแญแฏแธแ แฎแธแแฝแฌแธแแปแแฑแฌ |
| green | greenish | แกแ แญแแบแธแแฑแฌแแบแแปแฑแฌแทแแฑแฌ |
Summary Table of Suffixes
| Suffix | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| -able/-ible | capable of | readable, visible |
| -al | related to | natural, environmental |
| -ful | full of | joyful, helpful |
| -less | without | hopeless, careless |
| -ic | related to | historic, artistic |
| -ive | tendency to | active, creative |
| -ous | full of | dangerous, famous |
| -ly | characteristic of | friendly, cowardly |
| -en | made of | golden, wooden |
| -ish | like | childish, foolish |
Complete the sentences with the correct adjective-forming suffix
The (child) behavior of the students annoyed the teacher.
childish
He is a very (create) person and always comes up with new ideas.
creative
She wore a (gold) necklace to the party.
golden
The journey was long and (danger).
dangerous
He is very (friend) and helps everyone.
friendly
The hotel was very (comfort) and well-designed.
comfortable
She was very (care) when carrying the fragile vase.
careful
His (fame) spread across the whole country.
famous
That was a (fool) decision; you should think before acting.
foolish
The book was (inform) and helped me understand the topic.
informative
Choose the Correct Adjective
She gave me some ______________ advice.
a) useb) useful
c) useable
Correct Answer: useful
The ______________ event was attended by many politicians.
a) historyb) historic
c) historical
Correct Answer: historic
His voice was ______________ after talking for hours.
a) weakenb) weak
c) weakly
Correct Answer: weak
He has a ______________ attitude toward learning new things.
a) positiveb) positivity
c) positiveness
Correct Answer: positive
Her ______________ skills helped her win the contest.
a) artistb) artistry
c) artistic
Correct Answer: artistic
Complete the Table – Word Formation
Write the correct adjective form for each noun or verb.
| Noun/Verb | Adjective | Correct Answer |
|---|---|---|
| comfort | comfortable | |
| danger | dangerous | |
| history | historical | |
| energy | energetic | |
| attract | attractive | |
| enjoy | enjoyable | |
| friend | friendly | |
| fame | famous | |
| fool | foolish | |
| success | successful |
Sentence Completion – Use the Correct Adjective
Use the correct adjective form of the word in brackets to complete the sentences.
The speech was very (inspire).
inspiring
The weather is too (change), so bring an umbrella.
changeable
He gave me a (help) piece of advice.
helpful
That old building is (history).
historical
The audience was (energy) and cheered loudly.
energetic
He took a (risk) decision and started his own business.
risky
The teacher gave a (logic) explanation.
logical
His (fame) work made him well-known.
famous
She is (hope) that things will improve.
hopeful
The boy had a (fool) smile on his face.
foolish