Lesson 17 Spelling
In our study of adjectives we have found that we use them to express some quality possessed by a noun or pronoun which they modify. You will recall when we studied nouns, we had one class of nouns, called abstract nouns, which were the names of qualities. So we find that from these adjectives expressing quality we form nouns which we use as the name of that quality.
For example from the adjective happy, we form the noun happiness, which is the name of the quality described by the adjective happy, by the addition of the suffix ness. We use this suffix ness quite often in forming these derivative nouns from adjectives but there are other suffixes also which we use; as for example, the suffix ty as in security, formed from the adjective secure, changing the e to i and adding the suffix ty. When the word ends in t we sometimes add only y as in honesty, derived from the adjective honest.
You remember that an abstract noun may express not only quality but also action, considered apart from the actor; so abstract nouns may be made from verbs. For example:
Running, from the verb run; settlement, from the verb settle.
In our lesson for this week the list for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday contains adjectives of quality from which abstract nouns expressing quality can be made, by the addition of the proper suffix, either ness, y, ty or tion. The list for Thursday, Friday and Saturday consists of verbs from which abstract nouns can be made by the addition of the suffixes ment and ing.
Make from each adjective and verb in this week’s lesson an abstract noun by the addition of the proper suffix. Be able to distinguish between the use of the qualifying adjective and the noun expressing quality.
Monday
Stately
Forgetful
Real
Concise
Noble
Tuesday
Slender
Empty
Equal
Righteous
Deliberate
Wednesday
Submissive
Dreadful
Eager
Sincere
Resolute
Thursday
Enlist
Defile
Adorn
Nourish
Commence
Friday
Content
Adjust
Induce
Indict
Adjourn
Saturday
Discourage
Refine
Acquire
Enrich
Infringe