Meaning & use
the suffix ness
Last updated
Meanings
suffix
Added to adjectives to form nouns meaning the state, quality, or condition of being that adjective.
Grammar: Attaches to an adjective to make an abstract uncountable noun: kind → kindness; dark → darkness.
Patterns
- adjective + ness
- the ness of something
Her kindness to the new students made them feel welcome.
The darkness in the room made it hard to see anything.
He was surprised by the sweetness of the fruit.
suffix
Used to form nouns from participles or adjectives ending in -ed or -ing, naming a quality or feeling.
Grammar: Often added to -ed adjectives: tired → tiredness; excited → excitement (not excitementness).
Patterns
- adjective ending in -ed + ness
- adjective ending in -ing + ness
His tiredness after the long flight was obvious.
There was a strange emptiness in the house after they moved out.
Common combinations
- happiness
- Money cannot buy happiness.
- sadness
- She could not hide her sadness when she heard the news.
- carelessness
- The accident was caused by carelessness, not bad luck.
- effectiveness
- They tested the effectiveness of the new medicine.
Word family
- -ness suffix
- The suffix itself, used to make nouns from adjectives.
Commonly confused: the suffix ness or -ment?
the suffix ness vs -ment
-ment also makes nouns from verbs (develop → development), while -ness usually makes nouns from adjectives (happy → happiness).
Practice
Which word is correctly formed with the suffix -ness?
Choose one answer.
Happiness is the correct spelling: happy + ness, with y changed to i. 'Happyness' keeps the y, 'happness' drops a syllable, and 'beautifulness' is not used (we say beauty).
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “the suffix ness”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.