FORMING ADJECTIVES

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
Adjectiv
e
-al
If ending with an e,
Nature Natural
drop it
Functi
Function
on
al
-y
If ending with an e,
Ice
Icy
drop it
Oil
Oily
-ful
If ending with a y,
Beauty Beautiful
replace with an i
Peace
Peaceful
ous/
ious
-ic

If ending with a y, drop

it
If ending with a y, drop
it

Myster
y
Dange
r
Histor
y
Rust

Forming adjectives
from nouns
Noun
Adjective
accident
accidental
danger
dangerous
length
long
star
starry
wind
windy

Mysterio
us
Dangero
us
Historic
Rustic

EXERCISES
Form adjectives from the nouns:
1. The .......... state many people experience before exams often means that they get
lower marks than they deserve. (ANXIETY)
2. Ecuador has many different climates in one country. The .......... area has a tropical
climate for example. (COAST)
3. These days the expensive restaurants are empty whereas those with good offers
are .......... with hungry customers. (CROWD)
4. Cycling in a city without a safety helmet is extremely .......... and also pretty
stupid. (DANGER)
5. 'In the Night Garden...' is a TV show babies can understand. It is
absolutely .......... . (DELIGHT)
6. The politician's explanation about the environmental disaster was
extremely .........., if not to say a boldfaced lie. (DOUBT)
7. The government's .......... policy of cutting spending on research and development
resulted in a catastrophe for the country on the world market. (ECONOMY)
8. She's a real fighter, .......... and full of enthusiasm. (ENERGY)
9. How can people keep eating processed food when it is so .......... for your health.
(HARM)
10.To be .......... you need to cut out processed foods, red meat and sugar and do
regular exercise. It will also make you feel happy. (HEALTH)
11.A green .......... society is perfectly feasible and maybe our only option if our
children are to have a happy future. (INDUSTRY)

12.The reason why the Spanish government banned the sale of stevia seeds is ..........
and highly suspicious. (MYSTERY)
13.Despite many great improvements, the streets of Valencia are still very .......... .
(NOISE)
14.Morella is a beautiful and .......... place to spend a weekend. (PEACE)
15.Refined sugar does so much damage to human health that you could almost say
that it was ...(POISON)