JAMB English Language 2017 Paper

Some words are made up of a root and a suffix:

dangerous = root –> danger + ous –< suffix

In some words with suffixes, the stress stays on the same syllable as in the root. Compare:

‘danger and: ‘dangerous

In other words, the suffix changes the stressed syllable. Compare:

‘commerce and: com‘mercial

Suffixes which don’t usually change the stress pattern in the root word include (however they maybe some exceptions.) -able, -age, -al, -er, -ful, -less, -ness, -ous and -fy. For example:

comfort – ‘comfortable

(However they maybe some exceptions.) Exceptions with -able and -al include:

ad‘mire – ‘admirable