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In this lesson, you’ll discover how common suffixes help us build adjectives and describe the world around us. This is part one of the series, and we’ll be focusing on adjectives ending in -ous.
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📌 How can we learn adjectives?
In English, adjective suffixes are not strictly rule-based, which means there aren't clear grammar rules that always tell us which suffix to add to a word. For example, we say beautiful, not beautous, and dangerous, not dangerful — but there’s no simple rule that explains why. That’s why it's important to learn suffixes through examples and practice.
Introduction
Our first suffix is ‘ous’
- means “full of” or “having the quality of”
- it came into English through Old French in many words
- often attached to noun roots e.g. fame → famous, danger → dangerous
Exercise 1
Let’s start with intermediate-level words. Match definitions to the words.
Ridiculous
Curious
of different kinds or types
very important or valuable
Generous
very beautiful or full of praise
Jealous
having lots of space; large and open
Cautious
having won a fight, game, or competition
Anxious
stupid or unreasonable and deserving to be laughed at
Suspicious
feeling upset because someone has something you want
Precious
happy to give or share with others
Victorious
wanting to know or learn something
Glorious
worried or nervous about something
Various
careful to avoid danger or mistakes
Spacious
not trusting something; thinking something might be wrong
Answer key
- Ridiculous - stupid or unreasonable and deserving to be laughed at
- Curious – wanting to know or learn something
- Generous – happy to give or share with others
- Jealous – feeling upset because someone has something you want
- Cautious – careful to avoid danger or mistakes
- Anxious – worried or nervous about something
- Suspicious – not trusting something; thinking something might be wrong
- Precious – very important or valuable
- Victorious – having won a fight, game, or competition
- Glorious – very beautiful or full of praise
- Various – of different kinds or types
- Spacious – having lots of space; large and open
Exercise 2
Describe each picture using words from exercise 1.
Exercise 3
Fill in the gaps in the sentences using the words from exercise 1.
- I’m … about signing contracts without reading them carefully. (careful to avoid danger or mistakes) ⚠️
- The view from the top of the mountain was absolutely … (very beautiful or full of praise) 🌅
- That email looks … — don’t click the link. (not trusting something) 🕵️
- Their new flat is really … and bright. (having lots of space; large and open) 🏡
- It's … to expect a two-year-old to be able to read! (stupid or unreasonable and deserving to be laughed at) 🤪
- My little sister is always … about how things work. (wanting to learn about something) 🤔
- It was … of her to pay for everyone’s lunch. (happy to give or share with others) 🎁
- I always feel … before a job interview. (nervous about something) 😰
- The shop sells clothes in … styles and colours. (of different kinds or types) 🎨
- This necklace is very … to me — it belonged to my grandma. (very important or valuable) 💎
- He acted … whenever she talked to other people. (feeling upset because someone has something you want) 😠
- She gave a … smile when she solved the puzzle. (having won a fight, game, or competition) 🏆
Exercise 4
Fill in the gaps and answer the questions.
- How do we recognise a … online shop? (not trusting something) 🕵️
- What’s the most … holiday or trip you’ve ever taken? (very beautiful or full of praise) 🌅
- Do you think people are more likely to be … with time or with money? (happy to share) 🎁
- Were you a … child? Did it annoy adults when you asked lots of questions? ( wanting to know or learn) 🤔
- Do you have any tricks for calming down when you’re …? (worried or nervous about something)😰
- Do you eat in … types of restaurants or do you always go to one? (of different kinds or types) 🎨
- Name one … thing you own. Why is it so valuable to you? (very important or valuable) 💎
- Do you enjoy competitive games or sports where you can feel …? (having won a fight, game, or competition) 🏆
- What’s a … rule you had to follow at school or work? (stupid or unreasonable and deserving to be laughed at) 🤪
- Would you prefer a small cosy flat or a … one with fewer things in it? (having lots of space) 🏡
- Do you think it’s cute when pets get … of their owners when they interact with other pets? (feeling upset because someone has something you want) 😠
- Do you consider yourself a … driver? If you’re not a driver, do you think you would be? (careful to avoid danger or mistakes) ⚠️
Before we learn new words, let’s see if you remember the words we’ve learnt. Fill in the gaps:
…ous - stupid or unreasonable and deserving to be laughed at
…ous – wanting to know or learn something
…ous – happy to give or share with others
…ous – feeling upset because someone has something you want
…ous – careful to avoid danger or mistakes
…ous – worried or nervous about something
…ous – not trusting something; thinking something might be wrong
…ous – very important or valuable
…ous – having won a fight, game, or competition
…ous – very beautiful or full of praise
…ous – of different kinds or types
…ous – having lots of space; large and open
Exercise 5
Are you warmed up? Time to take a look at upper-intermediate and advanced adjectives. Match the words to their definitions.
- Mysterious
dangerous
- Furious
playfully bad or naughty, without serious harm intended
- Fabulous
liking to try new or exciting things
- Numerous
very funny
- Hazardous
feeling upset because someone has something you want
- Envious
boring and taking a long time
- Disastrous
very big
- Adventurous
many
- Enormous
difficult to believe , like a miracle
- Tedious
amazing or fantastic
- Anonymous
strange or hard to explain
- Miraculous
very bad or causing serious harm
- Mischievous
with no name known or given
- Hilarious
very angry
jealous vs. envious - is there a difference?
Though they are often synonymous, sometimes there’s a difference.
Envious - Means you want what someone else has – it focuses more on desire.
For example: She was envious of her friend's success.
Jealous - Often means you fear losing what you already have, especially in relationships.
For example: He was jealous when she talked to her ex.
answer key
- Mysterious – strange or hard to explain
- Furious – very angry
- Fabulous – amazing or fantastic
- Numerous – many
- Hazardous – dangerous
- Envious – wanting what someone else has
- Disastrous – very bad or causing serious harm
- Adventurous – liking to try new or exciting things
- Enormous – very big
- Tedious – boring and taking a long time
- Anonymous – with no name known or given
- Miraculous – very surprising and like a miracle
- Mischievous – playful in a naughty or cheeky way
- Hilarious - very funny
Exercise 6
Describe each picture using words from exercise 5.
Exercise 7
Fill in the gaps in the sentences using the words from exercise 5.
- The island is full of … legends and stories. (strange or hard to explain) 🔮
- The elephant’s ears were absolutely ... (very big) 🗻
- You look absolutely … in that dress! (amazing or fantastic) ✨
- She told a … story about getting lost on holiday. (very funny) 😂
- I felt … when I saw their beautiful house. (wanting what someone else has) 😒
- It was a … recovery — the doctors didn’t expect him to survive. (very surprising and like a miracle) 🌈
- She was … when she found out someone had scratched her car. (very angry) 😡
- I’ve read … articles about this topic. (many) 🔢
- Her dog is sweet but very … (playful in a naughty or cheeky way) 😼
- Copying all these files one by one is so ... (boring and taking a long time) 💤
- Her decision to invest all her money in one company turned out to be … (very bad or causing serious harm) 💥
- Smoking is … to your health. (dangerous) ☣️
- The survey responses are completely … (with no name known or given) 👤
- He’s not the … type — he prefers staying at home. (liking to try new or exciting things) 🧗
Fill in the gaps and watch the clips to see if you were right.
Exercise 8
Fill in the gaps and answer the questions.
- Do you think forgetting your phone is a small problem or a … one? (very bad or causing serious harm) 💥
- Do you have … hobbies or just one or two main ones? (many) 🔢
- What’s the most … video or meme you’ve seen recently? (very funny) 😂
- Should all donations to charity be …? (with no name known or given) 👤
- What’s the most … thing you’ve ever done? (liking to try new or exciting things) 🧗
- Have you ever seen someone get … over something small? (very angry) 😡
- Do you listen to music or do anything special to make … jobs easier? (boring and taking a long time) 💤
- Do you enjoy films or books with … plots? (strange or hard to explain) 🔮
- Name a … job? Do you think you could do it? (dangerous) ☣️
- Have you heard about some … diets? Are they a good idea? (very surprising and like a miracle) 🌈
- What do people in your country often feel … about? (wanting what someone else has) 😒
- Would you prefer to live in an … house or a small cosy one? (very big) 🗻
- What’s something … you’ve seen a pet or child do? (playful in a naughty or cheeky way) 😼
- Can you describe a … holiday or event you went to? (amazing or fantastic) ✨
Exercise 9
Let’s test what you remember! Fill in the gaps and watch the clips to see if you were right.
A. "Hey, if Jake says the guy did it, that usually means the guy did it"
"Thank you, everyone listen to Rosa."
"No, I'm still … at you." (very angry)
B. "Hi, hon. How's it going with the talent show?"
"It will be over soon."
"I, for one, am looking forward to seeing your act."
"Seeing? In the sense of actually attending?" "Of course"
"Uh-uh, no, mom. You can't"
"Is there something bothering you? I mean, besides your … debut?” (amazing or fantastic)
C "What are you guys laughing at?" "If Boyle was wearing a pink shirt" "I get it. That's hilarious" "What's happening? Rosa is the one wearing pink." "And?" "It's gorgeous. I wish I could pull that off" "Dream on, Strawberry Shortcake”
D."You know, I missed Fire and Ice on Monday. What happened?"
"My guess is a bunch of … plot turns done by overwrought actors who are impossibly good looking.” (stupid or unreasonable and deserving to be laughed at)
E. “Curious, very curious”
“Sorry, but what’s curious?”
“I remember every wand I’ve ever sold Mr. Potter. It so happens that the Phoenix whose tail feather resides in your wand, gave another feather. Just one. It is curious that you should be destined for this wand when it’s brother gave you that scar.”
F. "Now, I really watch what foods I put into my body on a daily basis and having researched tofu, … (of different kinds or types) studies suggest that tofu is really good for us too.”
