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In this lesson, you’ll discover how common suffixes help us build adjectives and describe the world around us. This is part one of the series, and we’ll be focusing on adjectives ending in -ous.
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📌 How can we learn adjectives?
In English, adjective suffixes are not strictly rule-based, which means there aren't clear grammar rules that always tell us which suffix to add to a word. For example, we say beautiful, not beautous, and dangerous, not dangerful — but there’s no simple rule that explains why. That’s why it's important to learn suffixes through examples and practice.
Introduction
Our first suffix is ‘ous’
- means “full of” or “having the quality of”
- it came into English through Old French in many words
- often attached to noun roots e.g. fame → famous, danger → dangerous
Exercise 1
Let’s start with intermediate-level words. Match definitions to the words.
Ridiculous
Curious
of different kinds or types
very important or valuable
Generous
very beautiful or full of praise
Jealous
having lots of space; large and open
Cautious
having won a fight, game, or competition
Anxious
stupid or unreasonable and deserving to be laughed at
Suspicious
feeling upset because someone has something you want
Precious
happy to give or share with others
Victorious
wanting to know or learn something
Glorious
worried or nervous about something
Various
careful to avoid danger or mistakes
Spacious
not trusting something; thinking something might be wrong
Answer key
Exercise 2
Describe each picture using words from exercise 1.
