NOUN SUFFIXES

-ness      -ity / ty      -ment       -ion    -ery/ry/y   -a(e)nce     -cy

-er/or/r    -ist      -ess      -an/n         -hood        -ship        -al

-ant/ent      -th      -dom      -ee       -ism      -age      -en

Suffixes

Examples

-ness -ity / ty -ment -ion -ery/ry/y -a(e)nce -cy -er/or/r -ist -ess -an/n -hood -ship -al -ant/ent -th -dom -ee -ism -age -en

eagerness, goodness, greatness, forgetfulness, happiness, kindness, illness, laziness, readiness, weakness, etc. ability, activity, certainty, creativity, electricity, possibility, productivity, reality, safety, simplicity, unity, etc. agreement, argument, development, disappointment, enjoyment, improvement, payment, statement, treatment, etc. action, attention, consideration, education, introduction, invitation, prohibition, migration, pollution, union, etc. advisory, bakery, bribery, burglary, butchery, delivery, discovery, inquiry, mastery, nursery, recovery, robbery, etc. absence, assistance, difference, diligence, entrance, importance, independence, patience, presence, performance,etc agency, democracy, efficiency, excellence, fluency, illiteracy, occupancy, presidency, privacy, vacancy, etc. actor, collector, creator, driver, editor, employer, listener, operator, player, reader, speaker, teacher, worker, etc. artist, biologist, chemist, cyclist, dentist, economist, florist, linguist, novelist, physicist, pianist, scientist, typist, etc. actress, duchess, empress, heiress, hostess, poetess, princess, stewardess, waitress, manageress, tigress, etc. beautician, comedian, electrician, historian, librarian, magician, mathematician, musician, politician, etc. boyhood, brotherhood, childhood, girlhood, likelihood, livelihood, motherhood, neighbourhood, etc. championship, citizenship, friendship, hardship, leadership, membership, ownership, relationship, scholarship, etc. approval, arrival, betrayal, burial, denial, disposal, professional, proposal, refusal, removal, renewal, trial, etc. accountant, applicant, assistant, attendant, contestant, inhabitant, occupant, recipient, resident, servant, etc. death, depth, growth, length, strength, truth, width, youth, etc. freedom, kingdom, martyrdom, officialdom, stardom, wisdom, etc. addressee, appointee, detainee, divorcee, employee, escapee, examinee, interviewee, invitee, nominee, refugee, etc. atheism, colonialism, communism, heroism, egoism, imperialism, patriotism, etc. advantage, breakage, coverage, leakage, marriage, package, pilgrimage, shortage, storage, usage, etc. broaden, deepen, harden, lengthen, lessen, sharpen, shorten, strengthen, weaken, widen, etc.

EXERCISE: Add suitable noun suffixes to the bracketed word.

1.       That man looks foreign. What is his (nation)?

2.       I will ask the (electric) to repair the light switch.

3.       When he praised the girl, her face shone with (happy).

4.       We need their (cooperate) if we want to succeed.

5.       The children were bubbling with (excite) when they heard the news.

6.       I told the telephone (operate) to put me through.

7.       There have been many cases of (burglar) in this village lately.

8.       We do not doubt his (able) to perform the job well.

9.       Albert Einstein is one of the greatest (science) we have.

10.    The (steward) helped the passengers fasten their seat belts.

11.    What is the (differ) between the two TV sets?

12.    His (eager) to help others touched us.

13.    Although he did not get what he wanted, he managed to hide his (disappoint).

14.    Can you explain the (relation) between the text and the picture?

15.    Your (suspicious) is groundless.

16.    Don’t think only of yourself. Show your (consider) for others, too.

17.    Is there any (possible) that we will win the game?

18.    They couldn’t understand each other, so they hired a (translate) to help them.

19.    Some people try to escape from (real) by taking drugs.

20.    I dislike him because of his (lazy).

21.    After a lot of practice, she showed great (improve) in her typing.

22.    We were surprised at his (gentle).

23.    The (simple) of the dress attracted many visitors.

24.    She showed me her stamp-(collect).

25.    The fortune-teller’s (predict) came true.

26.    The professor is known for his (forgetful).

27.    If you are really ill, you must go to the doctor for (treat).

28.    I really appreciate your (kind).

29.  Do you have an (appoint) with the doctor?

30.   After the announcement was made, all (uncertain) disappeared at once.

31.    The manager is proud of his employee’s (loyal).

32.     I spent my (child) in a remote village.

33.     The government is trying hard to eradicate (illiterate).

34.     The state-owned electricity company is expected to improve its (efficient).

35.      I am concerned about my uncle’s (safe).

36.      He was disappointed because he failed in his (examine).

37.      She has shown great improvement in her (pronounce).

38.      The (beautify) of the sunset takes my breath away.

39.      The (magic) took out a dove from his pocket.

40.      Rinto Harahap is a well-known (music).

41.     He enjoyed his (boy) with his grandparents.

42.    Our club has a (member) of sixty people.

43.    One of the purposes of this organization is to promote (brother) among its members.

44.    The problem is that (electric) is getting too expensive.

45.    The (work) went on strike yesterday to demand higher pay.

46.    I lost my way so I asked the policeman for (direct).

47.    My first (choose) would be the red one.

48.    Prof. Jones is a well-known (history).

49.    (Prevent) is always better than cure.

50.    W.R.Supratman is the (compose) of our National Anthem.

51.    His (absent) from office today disappointed many people who had come to see him.

52.    I want to talk to the shop-(attend).

53.    What is her (citizen)? Is she Cambodian?

54.    (Attend) is very good today. Out of forty-six members, forty-five are present.

55.    To work in foreign companies, one must meet some (require).

56.    There is no (likely) of his being appointed chairman.

57.    Ki Hajar Dewantara is a famour (educate) in Indonesia.

58.    My aunt is a (poet).

59.  I am picking my sister at the airport. I am standing under the (arrive) notice.

60.  I want to send this letter  to my sibling. She is the (address).
61.  Sandra Bullock is one of my favorite (act).
62.  If you want to make your English pronunciation (fluent), you should practise Tongue Twister.
63.  Moslem everywhere look forward to joining the Hajj (pilgrim).
64.  The survivors are those who successfully overcome (hard) in their life.
65.  The (wide) of this room is only five meters square.
66.  That knife is blunt. (Sharp) it! I need it to cut the meat.
67.  Rowan Atkinson is one of the world best (comedy), I think.
68.  Indonesia's (independent) day is  on Augusts 17th,
69.  Lady Diana used to be the (Duke) of Wales.
70.  Lion is known the king of the animal (king).

[Reference: Sesa, Leonardus (2000) English Workbook, Makassar]