Here's how it works in the example of "awareness":
* Aware: This is the adjective form, meaning "having knowledge or perception of something."
* -ness: This suffix is added to transform the adjective into a noun, signifying the state or condition of being aware.
Therefore, awareness represents the state of being aware.
Here are some other examples of words using the "-ness" suffix:
* Happiness: The state of being happy.
* Kindness: The quality of being kind.
* Darkness: The state of being dark.
* Sadness: The state of being sad.
The "-ness" suffix is a versatile tool in English, enabling us to create nouns describing abstract concepts and qualities.