Practice exercises

Word formation
I. Prefixes
NEGATIVE PREFIXES
1. In each sentence, add a word from the list to the prefix to
make a negative word.
advantage agree appear appointed correct
employed fortunately interesting√ patient
understanding

a. I didn’t read the whole book because I found it uninteresting………

…. .
b. Cycling to school has one dis……………………. . It makes you feel hot
and sweaty.
c. Paula had a ticket for the theatre, but un………………………. she fell ill
that night.
d. Terry can’t stand waiting in queues, because she is very im……………
……..
e. My brothers always dis…………………. when it’s time to do the
washing-up.
f. My teacher marked the word in red because it was in……………………
…. .
g. After Jack lost his job, he was un………………………. For three months.
h. I’m sorry, but I completely dis…………………. with you. I think it was a
great film.
i. Because of a mis………………………., half the class went to the wrong
classroom.
j. Ann felt really dis………………………. when she didn’t get the job.

OTHER PREFIXES
2. Add a prefix form the list to the word in each sentence.
out- over- under- inter-
re-
a. My alarm clock didn’t go off, so I ……..overslept this morning.
b. Peter packed some shirts and socks, some ………….wear, and his
jeans.
c. You have to go to the …………..national airport to catch a plane to the
USA.
d. It’s very cold this morning, so wear your ……………coat.
e. Helen decided to …………..line all the important words in her French
book.
f. Our team was completely ……………played the team from Wales.
g. I’ve decided to …………..write my letter, because I made too many
mistakes.
h. Bill …………..cooked the meat, and it was burnt in places.
i. I have to go to the library today and …………..new my ticket.
j. The staff went on strike because they were ……………paid and
overworked.
II. Suffixes
NOUN FROM NOUN
3. Complete the word in each sentence with a suffix from the
list. Make any other necessary changes to the word.
-er -let -ess -hood -ship -ful
-ery
a. After two years of friendship…., Kate got to know David really well.
b. If you don’t speak the language you feel more like a foreign……. .
c. Sarah spent a very happy child……. on a small island.
d. I asked a steward……. what time the plane arrived, but she didn’t
know.
e. Every teenage……. knows that parents worry a lot.
f. Don’t forget to add a spoon……. of sugar, and some milk.
g. We live in a beautiful neighbor……. on the outskirts of the city.
h. Tina picked up a hand……. of snow, and threw it in my face.
i. Under the floor there was a rumbling sound of machine…….. .
j. The college sent Sue a small book……. describing its courses.

NOUN FROM ADJECTIVE

4. Change the word in capitals into its best form. All of them end
in –ness except three.
a. You could see the patience and …goodness…….. in her eyes.
GOOD
b. There was an atmosphere of deep ……..……….. in his funeral.
SAD
c. Scientists have discovered a cure for some kinds of ……..……….. .
BLIND
d. He was well-known for his ……..……….. and extravagance.
WEIRD
e. In my opinion, ……..……….. is the biggest problem in my country.
POOR
f. The true ……..……….. of a method is seen only in the long term.
EFFECTIVE
 g. ……..……….. is an important quality for a good teacher.
CREATIVE
h. The ……..……….. of his ideas is pathetic.
SHALLOW
i. Always check the ……..……….. of a river before you swim in it.
DEEP
j. ……..……….. in the eye could be a symptom of conjunctivitis.
RED

NOUN FROM VERB

5. Complete each sentence with a noun made from the verb
given.
a. You need a lot of …imagination……… to write a good story.
imagine
b. This is the tallest ………………… in the whole country.
build
c. There are over one million ………………… in this city.
inhabit
d. There has been a big ………………… in your work this term.
improve
e. The police are investigating the ………………… at the museum.
rob
e. I am writing to complain about your ………………… to change a CD I
bought.
refuse
f. Their first concert was a great ………………….
succeed
g. The new minister promised to fight ………………… in his opening
speech.
employ
i. All ………………… must be under 18 years old.
compete
j. He likes Art, but he’s studying ………………… because it will be easier
to get a job.
advertise

ADJECTIVES ENDING IN –ED OR –ING

6. Choose the correct word underlined in each sentence.
a. By 11.00 I felt so tired/tiring that I went to bed.
b. I heard the film was good, but it was very
disappointed/disappointing.
c. Being alone in an old house at night can be frightened/frightening.
 d. Julie was so embarrassed/embarrassing that her whole face turned
red.
e. Jim gets bored/boring if he has to study too much
f. It’s very confused/confusing to be taught in so many classrooms.
g. Andy said that the twenty-mile walk was exhausted/exhausting.
h. Are you interested/interesting in going to the beach tomorrow?
i. I was really surprised/surprising when my boss gave me the day off.
j. Why don’t you go away and stop being so annoyed/annoying!

ADJECTIVE FROM NOUN

7. Complete the word in each sentence with one of the suffixes
in the list.
-ful -less -ly -like -y -ish -ic
-al -ous
a. On rainy…. days, we spend a lot of time indoors watching television.
b. The mystery creature has a long snake……. body, and six legs.
c. Paul received most of his music……. education from his mother.
d. The government is going to provide more houses for home……..
people.
e. Mary’s mother……. qualities made her a favorite with the children.
f. This road is extremely danger……. when the weather is bad.
g. It was a scar…… situation to be in that big house all alone.
h. It was very fool……. of you to eave all the doors and windows open.
i. Everyone thanked the fire-fighters for their hero……. efforts.
j. Lisa’s party was the most success……. she had ever had.