MTEL Communication Literacy Skills : Reading Practice Test

What does the noun suffix -ion generally indicate?

1. Act, manner, doctrine

2. Worker, follower

3. State, quality, condition

4. Action, result, state

The correct answer is: Action, result, state

The suffix -ion typically indicates a transformation associated with a specific action or process, which leads to a result or state. It is often used to form nouns that describe the outcome of a verb or the action being performed. For instance, in the words "creation" (the action of creating) and "exploration" (the result of exploring), the suffix encapsulates the action and refers to a resulting condition or state derived from that action. This aligns directly with the meaning of "action, result, state." The other options encompass different meanings associated with different suffixes. One option refers to characteristics linked to a manner or belief system, while another suggests a relationship to a person engaged in a specific activity. The remaining choice points towards qualities or conditions without directly addressing the specific action or its aftermath. Each of these alternatives diverges from the predominant usage of -ion to convey a combination of action and its resultant state.