Suffixes

VERB plus (a)tion, (i)tion or sion

We can use the suffixes (a)tion, (i)tion o sion to make nouns from verbs. Many of these nouns
are abstract. The use of abstract nouns often makes a sentence sound rather formal.
Its important to preserve the rainforests.
The preservation of the rainforests is important (more formal)
Abstract nouns are always uncountable:
The omission of the victims names was deliberate.
However, sometimes abstract nouns also have a concrete meaning. In these cases they can be
countable:
Your essay is full of errors and omissions.
Some common errors with abstract nouns are:
They are in danger of to be extinct / extinction
He doesnt have much fantasy/ imagination

Here is a list of common nouns ending in tion and sion. Check any meaning that you do not
know in a dictionary.
verb noun
abolish
accuse
apply
attend
civilize
compete
conserve
demonstrate
to become extinct
imagine
inflate
inspire
oppose
revise
abolition
accusation
application
attention
civilization
competition
conversation
demonstration
extinction
imagination
inflation
inspiration
opposition
revision


Complete the spaces in the table.
verb noun
divide
intend
investigate
invite
omit
organise
preserve
prevent
produce
repeat
satisfy
solve
react
tempt



Use a suitable form of the verbs below to fill in the spaces in the sentences.
Suggest attract recognise demonstrate
Explain promote cancel hesitate
1. The _________ between Tom and Mary was immediate.
2. The Oscar award was in ________ of her great acting ability.
3. I can say without ______ that shes the best student Ive ever had.
4. He couldnt give the court any __________ for his strange behaviour.
5. Id like a job with good ________ prospects
6. Were fully booked but sometimes there are last-minute ______
7. Can I make a __________? Why dont we hire a car?
8. The students decided to hold a ____________ against higher fees.

Complete the second sentence so that it is as similar as possible in meaning to the first
sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given.
0 They use local labour when they construct roads. CARRY
They carry road construction out with local labour.
1 I calculate the bill as being much less. COMES
According to my ____________________ to much less.
2 They were determined to educate their daughter the way they wanted.
They were determined to ________________ they wanted . GIVE
3 Will he be fit enough to compete in the match on Saturday? TAKE
Will he be fit enough to ______________ on Saturday?
4 The authorities are planning to investigate the crash thoroughly. THOROUGH
The authorities are planning to carry ____________ into the crash.
5 Shortly afterwards, Dawson was invited to speak at the conference. GIVE
Shortly afterwards, Dawson __________ to speak at the conference
6 They celebrate New Years Day in the main square of the city. HELD
New Years Day _____________ the main square of the city.

Fill in the spaces in the following text using a suitable form of the word given at the end of the
lines.
It is no ___________ to say that the world has become a global village. EXAGGERATE
Modern methods of _______ have made the world much smaller COMMUNICATE
and the problems we face such as _______ are not restricted to this POLLUTE
country. The _________ of the rainforests in Brazil is everyones DESTROY
problem and the ________ which is common in many African countries STARVE
is a challenge for Europe too. The ____________ of rare species is EXTINCT
a tragedy for the planet as a whole and the _________ of oil EXHAUST
supplies will shake the __________ of the worlds economy. FOUND
The __________ of the environment is the responsibility of all PROTECT
nations, rich and poor. However, uncontrolled economic ________ COMPETE
between strong and weak nations leads to the _________ of CREATE
greater inequality between the rich and poor nations of the world.