Forming adjectives
Typical adjective endings
Some adjectives can be identified by their endings. Typical adjective endings include:
- -able/-ible understandable, capable, readable, incredible
- -al mathematical, functional, influential, chemical
- -ful beautiful, bashful, helpful, harmful
- -ic artistic, manic, rustic, terrific
- -ive submissive, intuitive, inventive, attractive
- -less sleeveless, hopeless, groundless, restless
- -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 |
