Final answer:
The correct way to add -ness to the word "wordy" is to change the 'y' to an 'i' and then add the suffix, forming the word "wordiness" (option c). Proper understanding of suffix rules, such as for -ness, -able, -ion, and -ment, is vital to English grammar and vocabulary. The correct option is c.
Step-by-step explanation:
To add -ness to the word "wordy", we need to adjust the base word before adding the suffix. Since "wordy" ends with a "y" and we want to add a suffix that starts with a consonant, the "y" should be changed to an "i". This is a common rule when adding suffixes to words that end in "y".
Therefore, the correct form of the word with the suffix -ness added is wordiness, which makes "wordyness" the correct option (c).
When we add suffixes to form new nouns, we often need to make spelling adjustments based on specific English language rules. For example:
- Foreign + ness = foreignness
- Venerable + ness = venerableness
- Neighbor + l + i + ness = neighborliness
In the case of the suffix -ess, which adds a feminine quality to nouns, we typically add it directly to the stem without changing the original word, as with "host" + ess = hostess.
Understanding how to apply suffixes correctly is essential to mastering English grammar and expanding vocabulary. In addition to -ness, other suffixes like -able, -ion, and -ment follow their own set of rules which can alter a word's meaning and function within a sentence. The correct option is c.