1.

FCE (First Certificate)

Word Formation: Negatives
For the FCE exam, there's nearly always at least one negative in the word formation
paper. There are lots of prefixes and suffixes we can use to make negatives.

1. Negative prefixes can be used with nouns, verbs, adjective and adverbs. For
example disapproval, disapprove, disapproving, disapprovingly.

2. Usually im + p (impatient) but not always (unpleasant).

3. Often il + l (illegal) but not always (unlikely).

4. Often ir + r (irregular) but not always (unresponsive).

5. Usually -ful changes to -less (harmful/less) but not always (endless).

6. If you can't remember, choose un - it's the most common negative prefix.

un- in dis- im-

unexpected, inaccurate, disapprove, dislike, improbable,
unaware, inappropriate, disagree, disbelief, impossible, impolite,
unbelievable, inefficient, incapable, dishonest imperfect, impatient
unknown, unable ineffective

il- ir- mis- -less

irregular, misbehave,
illegal, illiterate, careless, harmless,
irresponsible, misunderstand,
illogical, illegible helpless, endless
irrational, irregular misspell, misuse,
 Exercise - Write the correct NEGATIVE form of the word in brackets to complete these
sentences. Be very careful: some words have different negative forms (e.g.
unbelievable/disbelief, unlikely/dislike, unable/disabled).

1. The politician was accused of being (HONEST)

2. His story was so I thought he was crazy. (BELIEVE)

3. She looked at him in when he told her the shocking news. (BELIEVE)

4. Many people are of the dangers of mobile phones. (AWARE)

5. He's invited me to his party. It would be to say no. (POLITE)

6. Too many children nowadays are growing up . (LITERATE)

7. That's not what I said! You've me. (UNDERSTAND)

8. My dog is completely . I promise he won't bite. (HARM)

9. The medicine was - he didn't recover. (EFFECT)

10. His answers were very so he failed the Maths exam. (ACCURATE)
11. It's that people will ever live on the moon. (LIKELY)

12. He waited for the train. (PATIENT)

13. It's to smoke in public places nowadays. (LEGAL)

14. I would never teach children. They always . (BEHAVE)

15. The shirt he's wearing is completely for a job interview. (APPROPRIATE)

16. His speech was . I thought he'd never stop talking. (END)
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.

Noun Verb Adjective

application apply applicable
permission permit permissable
solution solve unsolved
description describe descriptive
intention intend unintended
competition compete competitive
decision decide decisive
explanation explain unexplained
production produce productive
repetition repeat repetitive
consumption comsume consumable
qualification qualify qualified
 Exercise - Write the correct form of the word in brackets to complete these sentences.
Some of the answers are irregular (from the table above), but there are other regular
nouns included here. Don't forget to use an -s if necessary.

1 Please send a photograph with your CV and form. (APPLY)

2 You need to make a today. (DECIDE)

3 Her of the grammar was very unclear. (EXPLAIN)

4 We had a long about our problems. (DISCUSS)

5 Students must have their parent's to come on the trip. (PERMIT)

6 He is still in hospital, recovering from his . (OPERATE)

7 I entered a bowling . (COMPETE)

8 My children never show for anything I do! (APPRECIATE)

9 I can't come up with a to this problem. (SOLVE)

10 The of junk food has increased over the last 20 years. (CONSUME)
11 You need a lot of for this job. (QUALIFY)

12 When I lived abroad, I found the from my family very difficult. (SEPARATE)

13 The of the new flats is nearly finished. (CONSTRUCT)

14 We don't want a of the violence at last year's football match. (REPEAT)

15 The police are conducting an into the murder. (INVESTIGATE)

16 I gave the police a of the thief. (DESCRIBE)

17 It wasn't my to offend you. (INTEND)

18 We are making for the wedding. (PREPARE)

19 I've just had a very interesting with your sister. (CONVERSE)

20 You can try our product for free, with no to buy it. (OBLIGE)

3. FCE (First Certificate)

Word Formation: Nouns with ence/ance

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) Adjective Verb

attendance
- to attend
attendant (person)
assistance
- to assist
assistant (person)
(dis)appearance apparent to (dis)appear
distance distant -
(un)importance (un)important -
acceptance accepting accept
reassurance reassured to reassure
(ir)relevance (ir)relevant -
(in)significance (in)significant to signify
Note: I have only given the more common words here. There are other forms (for example,
it is possible to use "to evidence something" as a verb) but these are less common.
Exercise - Write the correct form of the word in brackets to complete these sentences.
The answer could be a noun or an adjective. Don't forget to use an -s or a negative prefix if
necessary.

1. Unfortunately, accidents are a common along this road. (OCCUR)

2. It's difficult to believe in the of aliens. (EXIST)

3. The police are looking for of the attack. (EVIDENT)

4. She thinks everyone hates her and needs from her friends all the time.

(REASSURE)

5. Scientist believe that the mysterious of millions of bees is due to disease.

(APPEAR)

6. What's the best punishment for a teenager? (OBEY)

7. What he said was true, but it was completely . (RELEVANCE)

8. 100% is necessary to pass this course. (ATTEND)

9. I'm the only person who believes in his . Even the police think he's guilty.

(INNOCENT)

10. There are three shop over there - you should ask one of them for help.

(ASSIST)

11.Some people think that if you enjoy your job, the salary is , but I love

money! (IMPORTANCE)

12. I'm excited because I've just got a letter of from Cambridge University!

(ACCEPT)

13. Cats are extremely animals. They don't really need people. (DEPEND)

14. You need a lot of if you want to work with children. (PATIENT)
4. FCE (First Certificate)
Word Formation exercises:

Look at the information in the table for 1-2 minutes and try to remember the words.

Noun Verb Adjective Adverb

(dis)belief (dis)believe (un)believable (un)believably
a choice choose chosen -
a defense defend defensive defensively
a death die dead/deadly deadly
a gift give - -
a loss lose lost -
a marriage marry (un)married -
practice practise practising -
pretense pretend - -
proof (dis)prove (un)proven -
safety save (un)safe safely
a sight see unseen -
a speech speak (un)spoken -
a success succeed (un)successful (un)successfully
a thought think thoughtful/less thoughtfully/lessly
 Write the correct form of the word in brackets to complete these sentences.

1. The flowers are poisonous - don't eat them! (DIE)

2. You have no - you must do it. (CHOOSE)

3. Their was a very happy one. (MARRY)

4. You need to do some more of this grammar. (PRACTISE)

5. We don't have any that he committed the crime. (PROVE)

6. She's really about her new haircut.(DEFEND)

7. The company made a on their new product. (LOSE)

8. I stared at him in . (BELIEVE)

9. Your parents really care about your . (SAVE)

10. The politician's really made me think about the issues. (SPEAK)
11. We tried to keep up the that everything was OK. (PRETEND)

12. I need to get a for my parents' wedding anniverary. (GIVE)

13. I'm really sorry. You were in your job application. (SUCCEED)

14. He lost his in the accident (SEE)

15. He's really selfish and . (THINK)

5. FCE (First Certificate)
Word Formation: Adjectives which end in -ful

Most adjectives which end in -ful make the negative with -less. But, not all. Note also that
we can make adverbs from these adjectives with -fully or -lessly. For example, carefully
and carelessly. This is a list of key words which might appear in the FCE exam.

Look at the information in the table for 1-2 minutes and try to remember the words.

The words in this table all use -ful and -less to make the adjectives.

Noun Verb Adjective

care care careful/careless
harm harm harmful/harmless
help help (un)helpful/helpless
hope hope hopeful/hopeless
pain pain painful/painless
power power powerful/powerless
use use useful/useless
thought think thoughtful/thoughtless
taste taste tasteful/tasteless

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

Noun Verb Adjective

count count countless/countable
end end endless
home - homeless
peace - peaceful
play play playful
price price priceless
success succeed (un)successful
truth - (un)truthful/(un)true
worth worth worthless

Write the correct adjective or adverb for each of these questions. You will need to use -ful/-
less or -fully/-lessly. Some answers will also need un-.
1. What a lovely present! That was very of you. (THINK)

2. He drives really - one day he's going to have an accident. (CARE)

3. He's told me times about how good he is at football. (COUNT)

4. Because of his bad interview, he was in his job application. (SUCCEED)

5. "I didn't eat your chocolate," she said , hiding the empty wrapper. (TRUE)

6. It's . England will never win the World Cup football again. (HOPE)

7. My best friend is a rich, lawyer. (POWER)

8. You must remember to recharge your phone. Without its batteries, it's .

(USE)

9. Cigarettes are to your health. (HARM)

10. The sales assistant was really and rude. (HELP)

11. A newborn baby is completely . (HELP)

12. "Don't worry - this injection will be completely . (PAIN)

13. Thieves broke into the museum and stole a painting by Van Gogh.

(PRICE)

14. She's really rich, but her clothes are always very and elegant. (TASTE)

15. I bought some shares in the company 5 years ago, but unfortunately now they are

. (WORTH)

16. His speech went on . I thought he'd never stop talking. (END)
6. FCE (First Certificate)
Word Formation exercises:

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.

Adjective Noun Verb

deep depth deepen
high height heighten
- weight weigh
wide width widen
long length lengthen
shortage (= not enough)
short shorten
shortness (= not tall)
large enlargement enlarge
low - lower
tight tightness tighten
loose looseness loosen
strong strength strengthen
weak weakness weaken
darkness
dark darken
dark
bright brightness brighten
Write the correct form of the word in brackets to complete these sentences.

1. Normally I prefer tall men, but my husband's isn't a problem. (SHORT)

2. The news report covered the economic crisis in . (DEEP)

3. A healthy diet will your life expectancy. (LONG)

4. If they this road, there would be fewer accidents. (WIDE)

5. I think I'll this photograph. (LARGE)

6. The airport has security at passport control. (TIGHT)

7. I do yoga to my back. (STRONG)

8. There is a water nearly every summer in the south of England. (SHORT)

9. The moment I left work I my tie and started to relax. (LOOSE)

10. When I myself, I found out I'd lost 10kg! (WEIGHT)

11. The of my computer screen gives me a headache. (BRIGHT)

12. I'm afraid of so I couldn't live on the 10th floor. (HIGH)

13. The lights went out and the room was plunged into . (DARK)

14. I'm afraid of the so I sleep with the lights on. (DARKEN)

15. The government are going to the legal drinking age to 18. (LOW)

16. His long illness has him. (WEAK)

7. FCE (First Certificate)
Word Formation exercises:

Look at the information in the table for 1 minute and try to remember the words.

en- -ify -ise -en

widen
televise lengthen
enlarge beautify
advise deepen
enable clarify
organise shorten
entrust specify
specialise tighten
enrage identify
prioritise brighten
ensure terrify
criminalise darken
endanger purify
apologise weaken
strengthen
 Write the correct form of the word in brackets to complete these sentences. Be very
careful - these are verbs. So, for example, if the word is DEEP, the verb could be deepen,
deepens, deepening or deepened.

1. I find it difficult to my work. (PRIORITY)

2. I'm studying medicine. I want to in genetics. (SPECIAL)

3. This photograph is too small. Can you it for me? (LARGE)

4. I didn't understand what you just said. Could you it? (CLEAR)

5. My electronic dictionary me to listen to the pronunciation of new words.

(ABLE)

6. He loves insects. He can over 50 different types of beetle.(IDENTITY)

7. There are a lot of accidents on this road - the council should it. (WIDTH)

8. The time we spent apart only my love for him. (STRONG)

9. You didn't what flavour you wanted, so I got you chocolate. (SPECIFIC)
10. His speech was too long. He should have it. (SHORT)

11. He always thinks he's right. He never for his mistakes. (APOLOGY)

12. I think the government should alcohol. (CRIMINAL)

13. Thank you for the flowers. They really up the room. (BRIGHT)

14. The burglar that no one was in the house before he broke in. (SURE)

15. The film "The Ring" me. I couldn't sleep for days. (TERROR)

16. The government's plans for the hospitals will thousands of lives.

(DANGER)