ness

IPA/nəs/
KK[nˈɛs]IPA/nəs/

ness — suffix

1. added to many adjectives to make abstract nouns expressing how someone or someth

1.字尾B1
釋義

added to many adjectives to make abstract nouns expressing how someone or something is, or what condition they are in.

例句

Leo's kindness made the new student feel welcome on her first day.

kindness -> noun naming a personal quality

After the power cut, total darkness filled the stairwell for several minutes.

darkness -> state named from an adjective

同義詞
  • -ity

    another noun-forming suffix, but it usually attaches to different adjective families such as active -> activity

  • -hood

    also forms nouns for states, but it is less general and often tied to roles or stages of life

文法句型

adjective + -ness -> noun

用法筆記

This suffix is especially common with adjectives that describe a personal quality or a temporary state, such as kind, dark, nervous, or stiff. Not every adjective takes -ness naturally; some use a different noun ending, such as -ity.

常見錯誤

❌Her kind helped the children relax.
✅Her kindness helped the children relax.
💡Use -ness when you need the noun for the quality, not the adjective.
❌The room was full of dark.
✅The room was full of darkness.
💡Some abstract meanings need the -ness noun form.