High School

What does the suffix -ness indicate about the word "tenderness"?

A) The word "tenderness" is a noun.
B) The word "tenderness" is a synonym.
C) The word "tenderness" is an adjective.

Answer :

Final answer:

The suffix -ness indicates that the word tenderness is a noun. It denotes a state or quality derived from the adjective tender. Hence, the correct answer is A, as tenderness refers to the quality of being tender.


Explanation:

Understanding the Suffix -ness

The suffix -ness is commonly added to adjectives to form nouns that express a state, quality, or condition. In the case of the word tenderness, it is derived from the adjective tender, meaning soft or gentle. Therefore, the word tenderness refers to the quality of being tender.

Here’s a breakdown of the possible answers:

  1. A) The word tenderness is a noun - This is correct because nouns formed with the suffix -ness express a state or quality.
  2. B) The word tenderness is a synonym - This is incorrect because -ness does not indicate that tenderness is a synonym for another word.
  3. C) The word tenderness is an adjective - This is incorrect as tenderness is actually a noun.

This shows that the correct answer is A. The suffix -ness indicates that tenderness is a noun, specifically one that describes the quality of being tender.


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