MTEL Communication Literacy Skills : Reading Practice Test

In what context is the suffix -hood typically used?

1. To denote an action

2. To indicate a type of personality

3. To signify a specific time frame

4. To describe a state or condition

The correct answer is: To describe a state or condition

The suffix -hood is commonly used to describe a state or condition associated with a specific quality or identity. For example, terms like "childhood" refer to the condition or state of being a child, while "adulthood" describes the state of being an adult. This suffix transforms a noun into a term that encapsulates a particular phase, state, or condition, conveying a sense of a period or a characteristic that defines that stage in life. The other options do not accurately reflect the primary function of the suffix. While -hood does not denote an action, indicate personality types, or signify a specific time frame in the way the other choices suggest, it is primarily focused on the essence of a state or condition related to the root word.