makefile question re .SUFFIXES

[Bengt Kleberg <bengt_(_at_)_softwell_(_dot_)_se>]

given a makefile like the one below I can get
make afile.s to produce echo .s

however, if i remove the # i get the error message make: don't know how to make afile.s. Stop

why would making .s be impossible when .lo is a known suffix, without a rule?

this is a real question. i have a downloaded makefile that fails in a similar manner.

Best Wishes, Bengt

.SUFFIXES:
.SUFFIXES: .S .s
#.SUFFIXES: .S .s .lo

.S.lo:

.S.s:
	 echo .s

all: afile.s