Language/English/Grammar/Formation-of-Adjectives

Formation of Adjectives in English

Many adjectives do not have prefixes or suffixes.

E.g.

• good, tall, fat, wide, simple, gaunt. However, adjectives may be formed by adding prefixes (before a word) or suffixes (after a word).

E.g.

• illegal, insensitive, rusty, childish, merciless, enjoyable. Usually adjectives are formed by adding suffixes to nouns.

E.g.

• baggy, hairy, hairless, burdensome, quarrelsome, beautiful.

Sometimes, adjectives may be formed by adding suffixes to verbs.

E.g.

• attractive, washable, expectant, complimentary, boring, disappointed. When a negative prefix such as un, il, dis, in, im or ir is added to an adjective, it creates an opposite or negative meaning.

E.g.

• unnatural, illogical, dishonest, infamous, immoral, irreverent

Sources

https://www.languagecouncils.sg/goodenglish/-/media/sgem/document/additional-sgem-resources/pdf/grammar-rules-_-speak-good-english-movement.pdf?la=en