Cambridge Exam English (Part 3): Word formation
In this part of the exam the candidate is given the most basic form of a word, known as “the root” form. You need to change the prefix or suffix to adapt the word into the correct form and make it fit in the 8 gaps in the text so that it makes perfect sense.
The best way to do this exercise is to focus on the word class (type of word: noun, verb, adjective, adverb), grammar (singular or plural, verb tenses, +/-) and spelling. The words must be spelled correctly and if a capital letter is needed, it must be used.
You ought to think of this as a 3 step process:
- What type of word do I want? Noun, verb, adjective or adverb.
- What grammar is needed? Singular or plural noun, the tense of the verb
- Is it affirmative or negative? Which prefix or suffix do I need?
To aid the candidate´s understanding of this part of the exam. we have included a prefix and suffix list, high frequency root words list and also example sentences with answers in the extra resource section.
The best way to improve this part of the exam is to focus on the root words and learn all of the different word classes for each one. We have provided a comprehensive list for you.
Download these words in PDF HERE
ROOT |
VERB |
NOUN |
ADJECTIVE |
ADVERB |
ABSENT | N/A | ABSENCE | ABSENT | ABSENTLY |
APPROPRIATE | APPROPRIATE | N/A | APPROPRIATE | APPROPRIATELY |
ATTRACT | ATTRACT | ATTRACTION | ATTRACTIVE | ATTRACTIVELY |
ABLE | ENABLE | ABILITY | ABLE | N/A |
ACCURATE | N/A | ACCURACY | ACCURATE | ACCURATELY |
ASSIST | ASSIST | ASSISTANCE | ASSISTED | N/A |
APPEAR | APPEAR | APPEARANCE | APPEARED | N/A |
ADVANCE | ADVANCE | ADVANCEMENT | ADVANCED | N/A |
ADD | ADD | ADDITION | ADDED | N/A |
ADDICT | ADDICT | ADDICTION | ADDICTED | ADDITIVELY |
ARGUE | ARGUE | ARGUMENT | ARGUMENTATIVE | ARGUMENTATIVELY |
ACT | ACT | ACTION | N/A | N/A |
AFFORD | AFFORD | N/A | AFFORDABLE | N/A |
ADVISE | ADVISE | ADVICE | ADVISED | ADVISINGLY |
ARRANGE | ARRANGE | ARRANGEMENT | ARRANGED | N/A |
BEGIN | BEGIN | BEGINNING | BEGUN | N/A |
BELIEVE | BELIEVE | BELIEF | BELIEVED | N/A |
BORE | BORE | BOREDOM | BORED/BORING | BORINGLY |
BRAVE | BRAVE (OUT) | BRAVERY | BRAVE | BRAVELY |
BEHAVE | BEHAVE | BEHAVIOUR | BEHAVED | N/A |
BLOCK | BLOCK | BLOCKAGE | BLOCKED | N/A |
BROAD | BROADEN | N/A | BROAD | N/A |
BEG | BEG | BEGGAR | BEGGED | BEGGINGLY |
BELONG | BELONG | BELONGING(S) | N/A | N/A |
BOOK | BOOK | BOOKING | BOOKED | N/A |
CREDIT | N/A | CREDIT | CREDITED | N/A |
CREATE | CREATE | CREATION | CREATED | N/A |
COMMON | N/A | COMMONER | COMMON | COMMONLY |
COME | COME | N/A | N/A | N/A |
CHARGE | CHARGE | CHARGE/ CHARGER | CHARGED | N/A |
COVER | COVER | COVER | COVERED | N/A |
CERTAIN | N/A | CERTAINTY | CERTAIN | CERTAINLY |
CYCLE | CYCLE | CYCLE/BICYCLE | N/A | N/A |
CHOOSE | CHOOSE | CHOICE | CHOSEN | N/A |
COLLECT | COLLECT | COLLECTION | COLLECTED | COLLECTIVELY |
CONFIDE | CONFIDE | CONFIDENCE | CONFIDENT | CONFIDENTLY |
CONTINUE | CONTINUE | CONTINUATION | CONTINUED | N/A |
COMBINE | COMBINE | COMBINATION | COMBINED | N/A |
CONTAIN | CONTAIN | CONTAINER | CONTAINED | N/A |
CORRECT | CORRECT | CORRECTION | CORRECTED | N/A |
CALL | CALL/RECALL | CALL | N/A | N/A |
COMPLAIN | COMPLAIN | COMPLAINT | N/A | N/A |
CONSIDER | CONSIDER | CONSIDERATION | N/A | N/A |
DESCRIBE | DESCRIBE | DESCRIPTION | DESCRIBED | N/A |
DIFFER | DIFFER | DIFFERENCE | DIFFERENT | DIFFERENTLY |
DANGER | ENDANGER | DANGER | DANGEROUS | DANGEROUSLY |
DEPEND | DEPEND | DEPENDENCE | DEPENDENT | DEPENDENTLY |
DESIGN | DESIGN | DESIGN | DESIGNED | N/A |
DECIDE | DECIDE | DECISION | DECIDED | DECIDEDLY |
DENY | DENY | DENIAL | DENIED | DENYINGLY |
DEVELOP | DEVELOP | DEVELOPMENT/DEVELOPER | DEVELOPED | N/A |
DISTANT | DISTANCE | DISTANCE | DISTANT | DISTANTLY |
DESTROY | DESTROY | DESTRUCTION | DESTROYED | N/A |
DETAIN | DETAIN | DETENTION | DETAINED | N/A |
DISAPPOINT | DISAPPOINT | DISAPPOINTMENT | DISAPPOINTED | DISAPPOINTEDLY |
DELIVER | DEVIVER | DELIVERY | DELIVERED | N/A |
DO | DO | N/A | DONE | N/A |
DEAL | DEAL | DEALING/DEALER | DEALT | N/A |
EASY | EASE | EASE | EASY | EASILY |
EXTREME | N/A | N/A | EXTREME | EXTREMELY |
EMOTION | EMOTE | EMOTION | EMOTIONAL | EMOTIONALLY |
EXCITE | EXCITE | EXCITEMENT | EXCITED/EXCITING | EXCITEDLY |
EXCEPT | EXCEPT | EXCEPTION | N/A | N/A |
EFFECT | N/A | EFFECT | EFFECTIVE | EFFECTIVELY |
ENJOY | ENJOY | ENJOYMENT | ENJOYED | ENJOYINGLY |
EQUIP | EQUIP | EQUIPMENT | EQUIPPED | N/A |
ELECTRIC | ELECTROCUTE | ELECTRICITY | ELECTRIC | ELECTRICALLY |
EMPLOY | EMPLOY | EMPLOYMENT | EMPLOYED | N/A |
EVADE | EVADE | EVASION | EVADED | EVADINGLY |
ERODE | ERODE | EROSION | ERODED | N/A |
EMIT | EMIT | EMISSION | EMITTED | N/A |
EXPLODE | EXPLOSE | EXPLOSION | EXPLODED | N/A |
ENDURE | ENDURE | ENDURANCE | ENDURED | N/A |
EDUCATE | EDUCATE | EDUCATION | EDUCATED | N/A |
EAGER | N/A | EAGERNESS | EAGER | EAGERLY |
END | END | ENDING | N/A | N/A |
EARN | EARN | EARNINGS | EARNED | N/A |
EXPECT | EXPECT | EXPECTATION | EXPECTED | EXPECTEDLY |
FORTUNATE | N/A | FORTUNE | FORTUNATE | FORTUNATELY |
FAR | N/A | N/A | FAR/FURTHER | N/A |
FASCINATE | FASCINATE | FASCINATION | FASCINATED | FASCINATINGLY |
FEED | FEED | FEED | FED | N/A |
FANTASY | FANTASIZE | FANTASY | FANTASTIC | FANTASTICALLY |
FEEL | FEEL | FEELING | FELT | N/A |
FREE | FREE | FREEDOM | FREE | FREELY |
FIND | FIND | FINDINGS | FOUND | N/A |
FOLLOW | FOLLOW | FOLLOWER | FOLLOWED | N/A |
FLY | FLY | FLIGHT | N/A | N/A |
GROW | GROW | GROWTH | GROWN | GROWINGLY |
GET | GET/FORGET | N/A | FORGETFUL | FORGETFULLY |
GATHER | GATHER | GATHERING | GATHERED | N/A |
GAIN | GAIN | N/A | GAINED | N/A |
GO | GO/UNDERGO | GONER | GONE | N/A |
GUESS | GUESS | GUESS | GUESSED | GUESSINGLY |
GAMBLE | GAMBLE | GAMBLER | GAMBLED | N/A |
HEAL | HEAL | HEALTH | HEALTHY | HEALTHILY |
HIGH | HEIGHTEN | HEIGHT | HIGH | HIGHLY |
HUMAN | HUMANIZE | HUMAN | HUMANE | HUMANELY |
HAPPY | N/A | HAPPINESS | HAPPY | HAPPILY |
HOOK | HOOK | HOOK | HOOKED | N/A |
HOLD | HOLD | HOLDING | HELD | N/A |
HAND | HAND (IN) | HAND | HANDY | HANDILY |
HELP | HELP | HELP/HELPER/HELPING | HELPFUL/HELPLESS | HELPFULLY/HELPLESSLY |
IMPRESS | IMPRESS | IMPRESSION | IMPRESSIVELY | IMPRESSIVELY |
ILL | N/A | ILLNESS | ILL | N/A |
INTEND | INTEND | INTENTION | INTENDED | INTENTIONALLY |
IMPROVE | IMPROVE | IMPROVEMENT | IMPROVED | N/A |
INFORM | INFORM | INFORMATION | INFORMED/INFORMATIVE | INFORMATIVELY |
INSIST | INSIST | INSISTENCE | INSISTENT | INSISTENTLY |
INSTANT | N/A | INSTANT/INSTANCE | INSTANT | INSTANTLY |
INTEREST | INTEREST | INTEREST | INTERESTED/INTERESTING | INTERESTINGLY |
INVENT | INVENT | INVENTION | INVENTED | N/A |
IMPORT | IMPORT | IMPORTATION | IMPORTED | N/A |
IMAGINE | IMAGINE | IMAGINATION | IMAGINATIVE | IMAGINATIVELY |
ILLUSTRATE | ILLUSTRATE | ILLUSTRATION | ILLUSTRATED | N/A |
INVEST | INVEST | INVESTMENT | INVESTED | N/A |
INSTRUCT | INSTRUCT | INSTRUCTION | INSTRUCTIVE | INSTRUCTIVELY |
KNOW | KNOW | KNOWLEDGE | KNOWLEDGEABLE | N/A |
KNACKER | KNACKER | N/A | KNACKERED | N/A |
LONG | LENGTHEN | LENGTH | LENGTH | N/A |
LOSE | LOSE | LOSS | LOST | N/A |
LUCK | N/A | LUCK | LUCKY | LUCKILY |
LAND | LAND | LANDING | LANDED | N/A |
LIE | LIE | LIE/LIAR | N/A | N/A |
MIX | MIX | MIXTURE | MIXED | N/A |
MOVE | MOVE/REMOVE | MOVEMENT | MOVED | MOVINGLY |
MEASURE | MEASURE | MEASUREMENT | MEASURED | N/A |
MEAN | MEAN | MEANING | N/A | N/A |
MATURE | N/A | MATURITY | MATURE | MATURELY |
MEMORY | MEMORIZE | MEMORY | MEMORIZED | N/A |
MANAGE | MANAGE | MANAGEMENT | MANAGED | N/A |
MARK | MARK | MARK | MARKED | N/A |
NATURE | NATURALIZE | NATURE | NATURAL | NATURAL |
NEED | NEED | NECESSITY | NEEDY | N/A |
NEW | RENEW | RENEWAL | NEW/RENEWABLE | N/A |
NOISE | N/A | NOISE | NOISY | NOISILY |
NOTE | NOTICE | NOTE/NOTICE | NOTABLE | NOTABLY |
OPEN | OPEN | OPENING | OPEN | N/A |
ORIGIN | ORIGINATE | ORIGIN | ORIGINAL | ORIGINALLY |
OCCUPY | OCCUPY | OCCUPATION | OCCUPIED | N/A |
OWN | OWN | OWNER | OWNED | OWINGLY |
ORDER | ORDER | ORDER | ORDERED | ORDEREDLY |
PICK | PICK | PICKINGS | PICKY | PICKILY |
PEACE | N/A | PEACE | PEACEFUL | PEACEFULLY |
PLEASE | PLEASE | PLEASURE | PLEASANT | PLEASANTLY |
POPULAR | POPULATE | POPULATION | POPULAR | POPULARLY |
PERFORM | PERFORM | PERFORMANCE | ||
PERFECT | PERFECT | PERFECTION | PERFECT | PERFECTLY |
POSSIBLE | N/A | POSSIBILITY | POSSIBLE | POSSIBLY |
POSITIVE | N/A | POSITIVITY | POSITIVE | POSITIVELY |
PRACTICE | PRACTISE | PRACTICE | PRACTICAL | PRACTICALLY |
PATIENT | N/A | PATIENCE | PATIENT | PATIENTLY |
PROVE | PROVE | PROOF | PROVABLE | N/A |
PRODUCE | PRODUCE | PRODUCT/PRODUCTION | PRODUCED | N/A |
PRESS | PRESS | PRESS/PRESSURE | PRESSURIZED | N/A |
PROUD | N/A | PRIDE | PROUD | N/A |
PRONOUNCE | PRONOUNCE | PRONUNCIATION | PRONOUNCED | N/A |
PAIN | N/A | PAIN | PAINFUL | PAINFULLY |
PACK | PACK | PACKAGE | PACKED | N/A |
PLAY | PLAY | PLAYER | PLAYFUL | PLAYFULLY |
PAY | PAY | PAYMENT | PAID | N/A |
PUNISH | PUNISH | PUNISHMENT | PUNISHED | N/A |
RECYCLE | RECYCLE | RECYCLING | RECYCLED | N/A |
REPAIR | REPAIR | REPAIRS | REPAIRED | N/A |
REMARK | REMARK | REMARKS | N/A | N/A |
RELY | RELY | RELIANCE | RELIABLE | RELIABLY |
RELAX | RELAX | RELAXATION | RELAXED/RELAXING | RELAXINGLY |
RESPOND | RESPOND | RESPONSE | RESPONSIVE | RESPONSIVELY |
RESIDE | RESIDE | RESIDENT/RESIDENCE | RESIDED | N/A |
REGRET | REGRET | REGRET | REGRETFUL | REGRETFULLY |
REGARD | REGARD | REGARDS | REGARDED | N/A |
REFUSE | REFUSE | REFUSAL | REFUSED | N/A |
SEARCH | SEARCH | SEARCH | N/A | N/A |
SURROUND | SURROUND | SURROUNDING | SURROUNDED | N/A |
SPEND | SPEND | EXPENSE(S) | EXPENSIVE | EXPENSIVELY |
SUPPORT | SUPPORT | SUPPORT/SUPPORTER | SUPPORTIVE | SUPPORTIVELY |
STATE | STATE | STATEMENT | STATED | N/A |
SATISFY | SATISFY | SATISFACTION | SATISFIED/SATISFYING | SATISFYINGLY |
SURRENDER | SURRENDER | SURRENDER | SURRENDERED | N/A |
STARE | STARE | STARE | N/A | N/A |
SUCCESS | SUCCEED | SUCCESS | SUCCESSFUL | SUCCESSFULLY |
SOLVE | SOLVE | SOLUTION | SOLVED | N/A |
SCIENCE | N/A | SCIENCE/SCIENTIST | SCIENTIFIC | N/A |
SUIT | SUIT | SUIT | SUITABLE | SUITABLY |
SURPRISE | SURPRISE | SURPRISE | SURPRISED/SURPRISING | SURPRISINGLY |
SURE | ENSURE | SECURITY | SURE | SURELY |
STRONG | STRENGTHEN | STRENGTH | STRONG | STRONGLY |
SURVIVE | SURVIVE | SURVIVAL | SURVIVED | N/A |
SOCIAL | SOCIALIZE | SOCIETY | SOCIAL | SOCIALLY |
SENSE | SENSE | SENSE | SENSITIVE | SENTETIVELY |
STORE | STORE | STORAGE | STORED | N/A |
SIGNIFY | SIGNIFY | SIGNIFICANCE | SIGNIFICANT | SIGNIFICANTLY |
SUGGEST | SUGGEST | SUGGESTION | SUGGESTIVE | SUGGESTIVELY |
STUBBORN | N/A | STUBBORNESS | STUBBORN | STUBBORNLY |
SPECIAL | SPECIALIZE | SPECIALITY | SPECIAL | SPECIALLY |
SHAME | SHAME | SHAME | ASHAMED | ASHAMINGLY |
TRUE | N/A | TRUTH | TRUE | TRULY |
TYPE | TYPE | TYPE | TYPICAL | TYPICALLY |
TOLERATE | TOLERATE | TOLERATION | TOLERATED | N/A |
TEST | TEST | TEST | TESTED | TESTEDLY |
TALK | TALK | TALK | TALKATIVE | N/A |
USE | USE | USE/USAGE | USEFUL | USEFULLY |
UNDERSTAND | UNDERSTAND | UNDERSTANDING | UNDERSTOOD/UNDERSTANDING | UNDERSTANDINGLY |
VARY | VARY | VARIETY | VARIED | N/A |
VALUE | VALUE | VALUE | VALUABLE | VALUABLY |
WHOLE | N/A | WHOLE | WHOLE | WHOLEY |
WIDE | WIDEN | WIDTH | WIDE | WIDELY |
WEIGH | WEIGH | WEIGHT | N/A | N/A |
WARN | WARN | WARNING | WARNED | WARNINGLY |
WIN | WIN | WINNINGS | WON | N/A |
WORRY | WORRY | WORRY | WORRIED | WORRIEDLY |
WORK | WORK | WORK | HARDWORKING | N/A |
WEAR | WEAR | N/A | WORN | N/A |
WINGE | WINGE | WINGE | WINGING | N/A |
WARRANT | WARRANT | WARRANTY | N/A | N/A |
WIND | WIND | N/A | WOUND (UP) | N/A |