源自拉丁语的-ive是英语中最重要的形容词后缀之一。与表示行为的名词后缀-ion—样，-ive加缀在动词或动词词根后，构成相应的形容词，表示与该行为有关的性质与倾向等，其意思相当于英语的现在分词后缀-ing (…的）或having to do with〜ing (与…有关的）；having the quality of〜ing (具有…性质的）；tending to or likely to〜（倾向于做…的）。由于拉丁构词的影响，-ive 还有-ative，-itive 等异体。

下面举些代表性的例子加以说明。

attractive [ attract v. 吸引；-ive→] a. attracting; having the quality of attracting 吸引的；有吸引力的 / Magnets have great attractive power for iron filings. 磁体对铁屑有很强的吸引力。

interrogative [interrogat (← interrogate) v. 讯问，质问；-ive→] a. having the quality or form of interrogating; asking a question 讯问的；疑问的/She threw an interrogative look at me. 她用疑

问的眼光打量我一下。

imitative [imitat (←imitate) v. 模仿;-ive →] a. tending to imitate；fond of imitating 模仿的；爱模仿的 / Monkeys are imitative. 猴子喜欢模仿。

decisive [ decis = to decide 决定的；-ive=>“ having the quality of deciding 具有决定性质的” →]a. giving a clear decision or result 决定性的；明确的；果断的/ The Battle of Waterloo was a decisive defeat for Napoleon. 滑铁卢战役对拿破仑来说是个致命的惨败。

expensive [ expens = to expend v. 花费；-ive=>“ tending to expend 倾向于多花钱的”→] a . costly; high-priced花费的；昂贵的；高价的 / He wore an expensive necktie today.他今天系了 一条昂贵的领带。