MTEL Communication Literacy Skills : Reading Practice Test

In linguistics, the suffix that combines the idea of a state or condition is commonly:

1. -ment

2. -ness

3. -th

4. -tude

The correct answer is: -tude

The suffix that combines the idea of a state or condition and is often used in linguistics is -ness. This suffix transforms adjectives into nouns, indicating a quality or state associated with the adjective it follows. For example, 'happy' becomes 'happiness,' capturing the state of being happy. While -ment, -th, and -tude also form nouns, they are not specifically focused on the notion of state or condition in the same way that -ness does. -ment often conveys the result of an action (e.g., 'development'), -th can indicate a position or condition but is less widely recognized (e.g., 'depth'), and -tude generally refers to a state often associated with a quality or character (e.g., 'attitude'). Thus, -ness is the most specific and appropriate suffix to express the concept of a state or condition clearly within the context given.