MTEL Communication Literacy Skills : Reading Practice Test

What meaning does the noun suffix -ation convey?

1. State, condition

2. Action, state, result

3. Quality, state

4. Result, action

The correct answer is: Action, state, result

The suffix -ation is used to form nouns that indicate a process, action, or the result of an action. For instance, in words like "education," it refers to the process of educating as well as the resulting state of being educated. This suffix conveys the meaning of both an action and the state resulting from that action, which aligns perfectly with the choice that identifies -ation as denoting action, state, and result. Other options may focus on one particular aspect, such as just the state or just the result, but the inclusion of all three elements—action, state, and result—accurately captures the comprehensive meaning that the suffix -ation imparts in various contexts.