WORD FORMATION

1.     Forming nouns form verbs

This exercise focuses on people and their jobs using the most common suffixes.
Use the word in bold to form the noun which refers to the person who does that job.

1. A person who acts for a living is called an .......... .
2. A ..... is someone who earns money from writing music.
3. She didn't become famous as a ..... until her 17th novel was published.
4. In Part 5 of the FCE Exam your speaking ability will be assessed by the ..... .
5. At the end of the interview the ..... asked if he could be shown around the company.

6. The waiter asked the ..... if she would help him deal with a difficult customer.

7. An ..... is someone who will be able to go through your accounts and work out how much money you have.

8. ..... to the castle are expected to come during visiting times only.

2. Forming other nouns

This exercise looks at forming nouns from verbs, nouns and adjectives by using suffixes.
Type the correct form of the word in the box.

1. My teacher says there has been a big (IMPROVE) .......... in my English lately.
2. The recipe says you only need to add two (SPOON) .......... of salt.
3. Why did you do that? I thought you had more (INTELLIGENT) .......... than that.
4. The singer gave a briliant (PERFORM) .......... on stage yesterday.
5. Have you seen her magazine (COLLECT) ..........? She must have over 200 editions.

6. On hearing the news, everyone was overcome with a feeling of (SAD) .......... .

7. When you take the FCE Speaking paper you will be given marks for your (ACCURATE) .......... and also on how fluent you are.

8. She has the (ABLE) .......... to pass the exam first time round providing she works hard.

3) Forming opposite meanings

This exercise focuses on the common prefixes and suffixes used to form opposite words. Choose the correct prefix or suffix to form the opposite of the word in CAPITALS.

in-

im-

il-

un-

-less

dis-

ir-

1 When he became a teenager he wanted to be more (DEPENDENT) from his parents.
2 It was really (HONEST) of you to take that money without asking.
3 If you hadn't been so (CARE) with that book you'd still have it now.
4 My broken leg means I'll be (ABLE) to go on holiday with you.
5 In many countries it is (LEGAL) to smoke cigarettes under the age of 16.
6 He waited (PATIENTLY) for the train to arrive at the station.
7 The teacher told me it was (RESPONSIBLE) of me to set off the fire alarm.

4) Forming verbs

This exercise looks at some common suffixes used in creating verbs.
Choose from one of the endings (-EN / -IFY / -IZE) to create a verb that completes the sentence. Pay attention to tenses and spelling!

1. He told her that he (SYMPATHY) .......... with her problem but couldn't do anything to help.    

2. My belt feels a bit tight after that huge lunch. I think I'll have to (LOOSE) .......... it a little.

3. She was severely (WEAK) .......... by the long illness she had.
4. There are many different ways to (CLASS) .......... areas of English Grammar.
5. If you're really sorry for what you said you won't mind (APOLOGY)..........
6. There's no need to (CRITIC) .......... my work. I'm trying as hard as I can.
7. The pain in his back (LESS) .......... as soon as he took the medication.
8. Everybody was (HORROR) .......... by the news of the earthquake.

5) Forming adjectives and adverbs This exercise looks at the most common adjective and adverb endings. Write the correct form of the adjective or adverb of the word in CAPITALS. For questions 5-8 you will need to make TWO changes to the stem word. 1. Be sure to contact him if you need advice. He's a very (HELP) .......... person. 2. It was a really (ENJOY) .......... party. Thanks for inviting me. 3. He has just taken out a (MONTH) .......... subscription to the magazine. 4. She smiled (HAPPY) .......... when they offered her the new job. 5. (HOPE) .......... we'll have enough money saved to get married next year. (2 changes required) 6. In order for the medicine to work (EFFECT) .......... you must take the correct amount. (2 changes required) 7. Although our teacher is very strict in class, she is (FRIEND) .......... than you would expect. (2 changes required) 8. What a beautiful vase! That's the (LOVE) .......... present I've ever had. (2 changes required)

6) Difficult spellings
This exercise focuses on tricky spelling changes.
Choose from A or B the word with the correct spelling to complete the sentence.

1 He tried to fix his machine but it was (POSSIBLE) ..........
impossible       inpossible
2 You don't need to wear a suit to the party. You can look (FORMAL) .......... if you wish.
informal          imformal
3 She won the bicycle race (EASY) .......... .
easily               easily
4 The weather forecast says it's going to be (RAIN) .......... today.
rainy                rainny
5 The body was discovered (LIE) .......... on the floor.
lieing               lying
6 He told her that he was (TRUE) .......... in love with her.
truly                truly
7 She was filled with (HAPPY) .......... when she heard the good news.
happiness                    happyness
8 He was the (BIG) .......... in the class.
biggest                        bigest

Modal Verbs (Activities)

 A)      Fill in the blanks with mustn’t,  don’t have to / needn’t.

1. Pupils  don’t have to / needn’t   attend the game. It’s optional.
2. You ............................... leave knives in places where babies can get hold of them.
3. We ................................ bring sandwiches. Food will be provided.
4. You ................................. play with that knife! You’ll cut yourself.
5. We ............................... rush. We’ve got plenty of time.
6. If the snow continues, you ........................................ drive that long way.
7. I .................................... pay the phone bill until next week.
8. People ................................ smoke in non-smoking areas.

 

B)      Fill in the blanks with the positive or negative form of should / ought to.

1. People should  check their tyres frequently.
2. You ....................................... tell him all your problems when he’s feeling so ill.
3. Jerry ................................... be here by now. He said he would be leaving his house at 8.30.
4. You ....................................... pay the gas bill. It’s due tomorrow.
5. My  bike has got a flat tyre. What ..................................... I do? Take it to the garage or fix it myself?
6. Your soup might be cold. ..................................... I heat it up for you?
7. Do you have a headache again? Maybe you .....................................  lie in the sun so much.
8. Why are you home so early? You ......................................  be at work now.
9. Someone broke into Tom’s house last night. I  .............................. go and see if he needs help.
10. You really .............................. bite your nails. It’s a disgusting habit.

 

C)      Find the mistake and correct it.

1. He must to be there by six o’clock.
2. Do you like to go out tonight?
3. You don’t have to park here. It’s forbidden.
4. You should talked to him. He’s very upset.
5. He can be able to speak three languages.
6. I had like some coffee, please.
7. You ought see a doctor.
8. Did you can finish your work last night?
9. Shall you go out tonight?
10. Will you like some coffee?
11. They mustn’t read that book. It’s not included in the list for the exam.
12. We always spend our summer holidays in Scotland, but we don’t may  go there this year.
13. I think she will can drive in a week.

D)  Translate these sentences into Spanish and make up your own ones based on them.

1. It may not rain again this winter.               It may not be sunny for the whole weekend.

  Puede que no llueva de nuevo este invierno.

2. You ought to wear your coat today.

3. You mustn’t park next to the yellow lines.

4. You’ll have to move your car.

5. Yes, you may buy a new dress today.

6. We have to take Timmy to the doctor. He’s got a temperature.

7. Could I please have the car tonight?

8. Do you always have to call during dinner?

9. I really should visit her, shouldn’t I?

10. Most of the members won’t be able to come to the meeting next week.

 E)  Rewrite the following sentences using modals.

1. If you want my advice, get a good lawyer!                            You should get a good lawyer!

2. A university degree is not necessary for that job.   You ...

3. He can only leave work at ten o’clock tonight. ( able )           He ...

4.        Perhaps my father will pick you up.        My father ...

5. It isn’t necessary to make an appointment at the hairdresser’s.                              You ...

6. Eating is forbidden in class. ( eat )                          You ...

7. The boss allows the workers to have one afternoon off a week.    The workers ...

8. Don’t take the CD without asking permission.         You ...

9. My  car needs cleaning. I’ll take it tomorrow.          I ...

10. She hasn’t phoned. Perhaps she is abroad. ( may )             She ...

11. Perhaps Mike will be to busy to see us. ( be )        Mike ...

12. I expect her to pass her driving test. She drives well.               She ...

13. I suggest you go and see a doctor             You ...

REPHRASING MODAL VERBS

MUST = It's compulsory (es obligatorio)

              I'm sure (+ affirmative)

              I think (because of some evidence)

              It's absolutely necessary

              It is essential

MUSTN'T = It's forbidden (está prohibido)

                   It's not allowed (no está permitido)

                  

CAN'T = I'm sure (+ negative)

              I don't think (because of some evidence)

              

NEED TO = It's necessary

DON'T HAVE TO / DON'T NEED TO / NEEDN'T =

                It isn't compulsory

                It isn't necessary

               

SHOULD / OUGHT TO = If I were you

                                      Had better

   (you'd better drink more milk = you should drink more milk)

CAN / BE ABLE TO (ability) = know how to

CAN / MAY (possibility) = be likely to

             (he's likely to win = he can/may win)

MAY / MIGHT / COULD = It's possible

                                       Perhaps (quizás)

                                       Maybe (puede)

COULD = Would you mind...?

      (would you mind closing the door? = could you close the door?)