Here's a breakdown:
* Base Word: The original word from which the adjective is derived. This could be a noun, verb, or even another adjective.
* Suffix: A letter or group of letters added to the end of the base word to change its grammatical function. Common suffixes for adjective derivatives include:
* -al: (e.g., national from nation)
* -ful: (e.g., beautiful from beauty)
* -ic: (e.g., historic from history)
* -ous: (e.g., dangerous from danger)
* -y: (e.g., sleepy from sleep)
* -able: (e.g., comfortable from comfort)
* -ive: (e.g., effective from effect)
* -ent: (e.g., different from differ)
Examples:
* Noun to Adjective:
* Nation (noun) → National (adjective)
* Hope (noun) → Hopeful (adjective)
* Verb to Adjective:
* Sleep (verb) → Sleepy (adjective)
* Act (verb) → Active (adjective)
* Adjective to Adjective:
* Strong (adjective) → Stronger (adjective - comparative)
* Strong (adjective) → Strongest (adjective - superlative)
Understanding Adjective Derivatives:
Adjective derivatives help us express qualities, characteristics, or states of being in a more precise and descriptive way. They enrich our vocabulary and make our language more expressive.
Important Note: Not all words formed with these suffixes will be adjectives. Some may form other parts of speech, like adverbs.