Common Suffixes
Listen to the following words to see if you can predict the stress pattern:
Rule: Stress the syllable before the suffixes: -ic, -ify, -y, -ical, -ogy, -ious, --ial, -ity, -tion, -ian
(Additionally, stress the syllable before the suffixes: -omy, -edy, -istry, -metry, -ive, -ily, -eous, -able, -ible, -ogist, -ophy, -cian
Examples: auTONomy, COMedy, CHEMistry, trigoNOMetry, HIDeous, CAPable, EDible, biOLogist, philOSophy, pediaTRIcian)
More Examples:
-ity
Major stress is always on the syllable before the suffix -ity
|
possible |
possibility |
|
able |
abilitiy |
|
festive |
festivity |
|
active |
activity |
|
responsible |
responsibiltiy |
|
mature |
maturity |
|
diverse |
diversity |
|
|
community |
|
|
university |
-ic
Major stress is always on the syllable before the suffix -ic
|
democrat |
democratic |
|
magnet |
magnetic |
|
alchohol |
alcoholic |
|
athlete |
athletic |
|
economy |
economic |
|
mechanism |
mechanic |
