Name: ___________________________________________________ Date: _______________ Word Endings Word endings in English often tell you how a Word is used grammatically in English; therefore, it is very important for you to recognize some common Word endings. If you recognize a Word ending on a word that you do not know, you can tell how the word should be used grammatically, even if you do not understand the meaning of the word. The following chart lists some common word endings in English. Noun (person) -er -or -ist -ian Noun (thing) -nce -ism -ness -logy -ion -ty Verb -ate -ize -fy Adjective -ful -nt -al -ble -ous Adverbs -ly Exercise 1 Indicate whether each of the following words is a noun person (NP), a noun thing (NT), a verb (V), an adjective (ADJ), or an Adverb. (ADV). 1. ______ identify ______ identical ______ identity ______ identically ______ identification 2. ______ observer ______ observant ______ observantly ______ observance ______ observation 3. ______ personable ______ personal ______ personally ______ personality ______ personalize 4. ______ dictate 5. ______ user ______ dictator ______ useful ______ dictation ______ usable ______ diction ______ usual ______ dictatorial ______ usefulness 6. ______ technical ______ technicality ______ technology ______ technician ______ technically 7. ______ credence ______ credulous _____ credible ______ credibly ______ credulousness 8. ______ presence ______ presenter ______ presentation ______ presentable ______ presently 9. ______ humanist ______ humanize ______ humanity 10. ______ violently ______ violate ______ violator ______ humanly ______ humanitarian ______ violence ______ violent 11. ______ colonial ______ colonialism ______ colonialize ______ colonialist ______ colonialization 12. ______ ideology 13. ______ civilian 14. ______ gracious ______ ideal ______ civilize ______ graceful 15. ______ verify ______ verifiable ______ idealism ______ civilly ______ idealize ______ civility ______ civilization ______ gracefully ______ graciously ______ verily ______ verity ______ idealist ______ graciousness ______ verification Exercise 2 Circle the letter of the word that correctly completes each sentence. 1. It is doubtful that the government will ______ marijuana in the near future. a. legalize b. legality c. legally 2. The student did not do well in the class because he had a problem with _____. a. absent b. absently c. absenteeism 3. The sick child must stay away from others because he has a ____ disease. a. communicable b. communicator c. communication 4. The merger of the two companies was funded by a _____. a. capitalist b. capitalism c. capitalize 5. When he heard what had happened, he was _____ angry. a. murderous b. murderer c. murderously 6. I do not understand what these results _____. a. significance b. signify c. significant 7. A major ____ disturbance occurred early this morning. a. seismology b. seismological c. seismologist 8. The information in that article is ______ inaccurate. a. historian b. historical c. historically 9. A large amount of ____ exists between the two former friends. a. antagonism b. antagonize c. antagonist 10. The charity organization received a large gift from the _____. a. donation b. donor c. donate Exercise 3. Write the correct form of the word under its corresponding category. NOUN (person) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 NOUN (thing) VERB ADJECTIVE ADVERB finally profess sociable specialization electrify realist beautiful ideally terrorism illustrator
