The suffix -ous
A suffix is a letter or a group of letters that can be added to a word to change its meaning.
Adding the suffix -ous turns a noun into an adjective. It means 'full of'.
For example, 'dangerous' means 'full of danger'.
When you add -ous to a word ending with 'e', drop the 'e'.
adventure → adventurous
When you add -ous to a word ending in 'y', replace the 'y' with 'i'.
fury → furious
When you add -ous to a word that ends with 'our', 'our' becomes 'or', then add -ous.
humour → humorous
Watch: Using the suffix -ous
Having another adventure, are we?
A suffix is a letter, or a group of letters, that go on the end of a word.
The suffix 'ous' changes a noun into an adjective. It means 'full of'.
These guys are full of adventure. They're adventurous.
And when we add 'ous' to a word ending in e, we drop the e.
Argh! Now I'm full of fury.
When adding 'ous' to a word ending in y, we replace it with an i.
I'm furious.
I have got a sense of humour, though.
And when adding 'ous', 'our' becomes 'or'.
And this is humorous.
Hang on. I'll get some sticky tape.
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More on Prefixes and suffixes
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