Rules for Suffixes: '-ous'
English Language: KS3, topic 1.3.4
Suffixes - 'ous'
You have already learnt that adding '-ous' to a noun turns the noun into an adjective. But sometimes you can't just add 'ous' and you need to drop or change a letter. Let's look at what you do if a word ends in 'e'...
Words ending in 'e'
- If you want to add 'ous' to a noun ending in 'e', you need to drop the 'e' at the end of the word.
- Let's walk through 2 examples...
Noun - fame
Fame + ous → famous
Noun - adventure
Adventure + ous → adventurous
Suffixes - 'ous'
You have already learnt that adding '-ous' to a noun turns it into an adjective. But sometimes, you can't just add 'ous' and you need to drop or change a letter. Let's look at what you do when the word ends in 'y'...
Words ending in 'y'
- If you want to add 'ous' to a noun ending in 'y', you need to change the 'y' at the end of the word to an 'i'.
- Let's walk through 2 examples...
Noun - fury
Fury + ous → furious
Noun - vary
Vary + ous → various
Test yourself on Rules for Suffixes: '-ous'
What is the adjectival form of nerve?
What are the adjectival forms of these nouns?
If a noun ends with an 'e', what do we need to do to make the noun an adjective?
What noun does the adjective famous come from?
What noun does the adjective adventurous come from?