The English suffix, "-ity" -- Part 2A
The suffix ending "-ity" is another noun suffix that is formed from adjectives.
Adding "-ity" to some base adjectives changes the meaning to a noun.
| adjective ending | + suffix | noun |
|---|---|---|
| absurd | + ity | absurdity |
| complex | + ity | complexity |
If the root of some adjectives ends in "-al", "-an", "-ar", "-ic", or "-id" add "ity" to form the noun.
Examples:
| adjective ending | + suffix | noun |
|---|---|---|
| equal | + ity | equality |
| exterior | + ity | exteriority |
| fatal | + ity | fatality |
| humid | + ity | humidity |
| inferior | + ity | inferiority |
| inhuman | + ity | inhumanity |
| legal | + ity | legality |
| major | + ity | majority |
| minor | + ity | minority |
| mortal | + ity | mortality |
| peculiar | + ity | peculiarity |
| periodic | + ity | periodicity |
| prior | + ity | priority |
| public | + ity | publicity |
| senior | + ity | seniority |
| similar | + ity | similarity |
| special | + ity | speciality, specialty in the U.S. |
| stupid | + ity | stupidity |
| total | + ity | totality |
| valid | + ity | validity |
| vulgar | + ity | vulgarity |
If the root of some adjectives ends in "-ary", drop the "ary" and add "ity" to form the noun.
Examples:
| adjective ending | + suffix | noun |
|---|---|---|
| necessary | + ity | necessity |
If the root of some adjectives ends in "-al", drop the "al" and add "ity" to form the noun.
| adjective ending | + suffix | noun |
|---|---|---|
| communal | + ity | community |
| eternal | + ity | eternity |
If the root of the adjective ends in "-ble", drop the "ble" and add "bility" to form the noun.
Examples:
| adjective ending | + suffix | noun |
|---|---|---|
| acceptable | + bility | acceptability |
| credible | + bility | credibility |
| flexible | + bility | flexibility |
| instable | + bility | instability |
| possible | + bility | possibility |
| probable | + bility | probability |
| reliable | + bility | reliability |
| responsible | + bility | responsibility |
| sensible | + bility | sensibility |
| suitable | + bility | suitability |
| visible | + bility | visibility |
| Exception:hospitable | + lity | hospitality |
If the root of the adjective ends in "-e", drop the "e" and add "ity" to form the noun.
Examples:
| adjective ending | + suffix | noun |
|---|---|---|
| active | + ity | activity |
| divine | + ity | divinity |
| futile | + ity | futility |
| opportune | + ity | opportunity |
| secure | + ity | security |
| severe | + ity | severity |
If the root of the adjective ends in "-ive", drop the "e" and add "ity" to form the noun.
| adjective ending | + suffix | noun |
|---|---|---|
| creative | + ity | creativity |
| productive | + ity | productivity |
| sensitive | + ity | sensitivity |
| Exception:authoritative | authority |
If the root of the adjective ends in "-ous", drop the "ous" and add "osity" to form the noun.
| adjective ending | + suffix | noun |
|---|---|---|
| credulous | + osity | credulity |
| curious | + osity | curiosity |
| generous | + osity | generousity |
| Exception: hilarious | hilarity | |
| Exception: prosperous | prosperity |
If the root of the adjective ends in "-ous", drop the "ous" and add "osity" to form the noun.
| adjective ending | + suffix | noun |
|---|---|---|
| credulous | + osity | credulity |
| curious | + osity | curiosity |
| generous | + osity | generousity |
| Exception: hilarious | hilarity | |
| Exception: prosperous | prosperity |
Some nouns ending in "-ity" do not have a first part that exists separately.
| adjective ending | + suffix | noun |
|---|---|---|
| + ity | affinity | |
| + ity | calamity | |
| + ity | heredity |
Challenge: The English suffix, "-ity" -- Part 2B -- Matching
