MTEL Communication Literacy Skills : Reading Practice Test

What does the verb suffix -ate imply?

1. Make or cause to have

2. Cause to be or become

3. Having or showing

4. Act or manner

The correct answer is: Having or showing

The verb suffix -ate typically implies "cause to be or become." This suffix is often attached to nouns or adjectives to form verbs that indicate a transformation or the act of making something into the state described by the root word. For instance, when you consider the word "activate," it means to cause something to become active. The suffix thus plays a crucial role in indicating change or the process of bringing about a new state. The other choices reflect different meanings or uses of various suffixes. While "having or showing" suggests an adjective form generally associated with the suffix -ous, -ful, or similar, this does not align with the core function of -ate. The choice indicating "make or cause to have" might apply in broader contexts but doesn't encapsulate the more precise transformation aspect inherent in -ate. Additionally, "act or manner" points toward characteristics associated with other suffixes and is not representative of the -ate combination's meaning.