Grammar So and SuchConditionalsReported SpeechPerfect TensesAs/Even + If/ThoughPassivesModal VerbsVery/Absolutely etc Word formation verbsnegativesnouns (-ion)nouns (-ance/ence)nouns (-ment/ness)nouns (irregular)adjectives

(ful/less)height, width ... Phrasal verbs Phrasal verbs: upPhrasal verbs: downPhrasal verbs: 3-word Expressions Linking prepositionsAs-As expressions Collocations Make/do/have/take 1Make/do/have/take 2

FCE (First Certificate) Word Formation: height, width ...

The word formation part of the FCE use of English exam often tests adjectives such as 'short', 'wide', 'dark' and their nouns and verbs. Here is a list of some of the more common adjectives and their forms.

Look at the information in the table for 1-2 minutes and try to remember the words. Then click below to hide the information and try to answer the questions at the bottom.

Adjective deep high wide long short large low tight loose strong weak dark bright

Noun depth height weight width length shortage (= not enough) shortness (= not tall) enlargement tightness looseness strength weakness darkness dark brightness

Verb deepen heighten weigh widen lengthen shorten enlarge lower tighten loosen strengthen weaken darken brighten

 Grammar So and SuchConditionalsReported SpeechPerfect TensesAs/Even + If/ThoughPassivesModal VerbsVery/Absolutely etc Word formation verbsnegativesnouns (-ion)nouns (-ance/ence)nouns (-ment/ness)nouns (irregular)adjectives (ful/less)height, width ... Phrasal verbs Phrasal verbs: upPhrasal verbs: downPhrasal verbs: 3-word Expressions Linking prepositionsAs-As expressions Collocations Make/do/have/take 1Make/do/have/take 2

FCE (First Certificate) Word Formation: Nouns with -ion

One of the most common ways to change a verb to a noun is with -ion (e.g. act to action) and -ation (e.g. observe to observation). Sometimes we also change the verb stem as well when we make the noun like this (e.g. explain to explanation). The table below shows common nouns in which the spelling of the stem also changes.

Look at the information in the table for 1-2 minutes and try to remember the words. Then click below to hide the information and try to answer the questions at the bottom.

Noun application permission solution description intention competition decision explanation production repetition consumption qualification

Verb apply permit solve describe intend compete decide explain produce repeat comsume qualify

Adjective applicable permissable unsolved descriptive unintended competitive decisive unexplained productive repetitive consumable qualified

Verb achieve amuse argue develop encourage excite improve involve judge measure Adjective aware dark forgetful happy homeless lazy lonely rude tidy weak Noun care harm help hope pain power use thought taste

Noun achievement amusement argument development encouragement excitement improvement involvement judgement measurement Noun awareness darkness forgetfulness happiness homelessness laziness loneliness rudeness tidiness weakness Verb care harm help hope pain power use think taste

Adjective careful/careless harmful/harmless (un)helpful/helpless hopeful/hopeless painful/painless powerful/powerless useful/useless thoughtful/thoughtless tasteful/tasteless

The adjectives in this table take -ful or -less, but not both.

Noun count end home

Verb count end -

Adjective countless/countable endless homeless

peace play price success truth worth

peaceful playful priceless (un)successful (un)truthful/(un)true worthless unin disimunexpected inaccurate disapprove unaware inappropriate dislike improbable unbelievable inefficient disagree impossible impolite unknown incapable disbelief imperfect impatient unable ineffective dishonest ilirmis-less illegal irregular misbehave illiterate irresponsible misunderstand careless harmless illogical irrational misspell helpless endless illegible irregular misuse Noun (-ence) Adjective Verb evidence evident existence existing to exist (in)dependence (in)dependent to depend difference different to differ intelligence intelligent (dis)obedience (dis)obedient to (dis)obey excellence excellent to excel silence silent to silence violence violent to violate innocence innocent occurrence to occur (im)patience (im)patient Noun (-ance) attendance attendant (person) assistance assistant (person) (dis)appearance distance (un)importance acceptance reassurance (ir)relevance (in)significance Adjective apparent distant (un)important accepting reassured (ir)relevant (in)significant Verb to attend to assist to (dis)appear accept to reassure to signify

play price succeed worth

Noun (dis)belief a choice a defense a death a gift a loss a marriage practice pretense proof safety a sight a speech a success a thought

Verb (dis)believe choose defend die give lose marry practise pretend (dis)prove save see speak succeed think

Adjective (un)believable chosen defensive dead/deadly lost (un)married practising (un)proven (un)safe unseen (un)spoken (un)successful thoughtful/less

Adverb (un)believably defensively deadly safely (un)successfully thoughtfully/lessly