Noun suffixes A Verb + noun suffix verb suffix noun improve (= get better) -ment improvement govern (= control affairs of a city or country) government manage (= direct or control a business) management elect (= choose somebody by voting) -ion election discuss (= talk about something seriously) discussion inform (= tell someone something) -ation information jog (= running to keep fit or for pleasure) -ing jogging spell (e.g. S-P-E-L-L) spelling There has been a big improvement in the economy. Who do you think will win the election? The problems are due to bad management. I'm not very good at spelling. B Adjective + noun suffix adjective suffix noun weak [opp strong) -ness weakness happy happiness ill (= sick/not well) illness stupid (opp intelligent, clever) -ity stupidity active activity similar (= almost the same; opp different) similarity We have a weak government. She was ill for a long time. The two boys are quite similar. What's her main weakness as a manager? Hepatitis is a very serious illness. There is a similarity between all three sons. Pronunciation Adding a suffix to a verb or adjective may change the pronunciation. verb noun educate advertise education advertisement adjective noun similar stupid similarity stupidity D -er/-or and -ist These suffixes can be added to nouns or verbs. They often describe people and jobs. -er ballet dancer pop singer murderer (= person) who kills someone) -er bus driver shop manager professional footballer employer -or television actor film director translator computer operator -ist artist, e.g. Picasso economist psychologist journalist 16 English Vocabulary in Use (pre-intermediate & intermediate) 7.1 Exercises Complete the tables and mark the stress on each word. The last two in each column are not on the opposite page, but do you know or can you guess the noun formed from them? verb noun educate improve j°g govern spell hesitate arrange adjective stupid happy weak similar active sad popular noun 7.2 Combine words on the left with the correct suffix on the right to complete the text. improve elect televise educate weak manage govern stupid -ment -ion -ity -ness -ation In his first broadcast on (1) ..MMSm..................since he won the (2).....................................last month, the Prime Minister promised to make health and (3).....................................his top two priorities. And in a strong attack on the previous (4)....................................., he said that the present (5).....................................of the British economy was caused by their (6)..................................... and bad (7)......................................He said things were going to change, and he hoped the British people would be able to see a big (8).....................................in the economy by the end of the year. 7.3 Write down the name of the person who does these things as a job. 1 drive ...MM................... 3 act.................................. 5 economics 2 translate..................................... 4 psychology.................................. 6 football...... 7.4 Match words from left and right to find the names of eight jobs. Pop bus psychologist dancer shop child singer manager film ballet operator driver computer professional footballer director 7.5 Complete the definitions below. 1 An employer is a person or company that .„Äfv>f>JsMS..paopk 2 A murderer is a person who................................................................. 3 A bank manager is a person who..................................................... 4 A television actor is a person who................................................... 5 A translator is a person who................................................................ 6 A lorry driver is a person who............................................................ 7 A journalist is a person who................................................................ 8 An artist such as Picasso is a person who.................................... English Vocabulary in Use (pre-intermediate & intermediate) 17