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C1 ADVANCED · GRAMMAR · PART 3

Word formation: suffixes

Advanced noun, adjective and adverb endings, spelling changes and words that need two changes.

Finn the puffin with glasses and a book, your grammar teacher
Finn says

C1 Part 3 often needs more than one change: a prefix and a suffix, a plural, or a spelling change. Work step by step and you'll get there!

Step by step

Ask these three questions for every gap.

1. Which word class?
noun, adjective, adverb or verb?
the acquisition of wealth (a noun after the)
2. Plural? Negative?
check the grammar and the meaning
many responsibilities; an unpredictable result
3. Spelling
check every letter
argue → argument, pronounce → pronunciation

Nouns

-ity / -ness
adjective → noun
simple → simplicity, immune → immunity, aware → awareness
-ation / -ition / -sion
verb → noun
acquire → acquisition, conclude → conclusion, immerse → immersion
-ment / -ance / -ence
verb → noun
entitle → entitlement, tolerate → tolerance
-ist / -er / -or
people
philanthropy → philanthropist, regulate → regulator

Adjectives and adverbs

-ive / -ous / -ic / -al
common adjective endings
repeat → repetitive, hazard → hazardous, material → materialistic
-able / -ible
can be done
avoid → unavoidable, access → accessible
-ly / -ically
adverbs; -ic adjectives take -ally
bitter → bitterly, dramatic → dramatically
-ised / -ed
verbs used as adjectives
modern → modernised, pedestrian → pedestrianised

How it comes up in Part 3

In Part 3 you change the word in capitals so that it fits the gap: the right kind of word, the right form and the right spelling.

The museum has a huge collection of ancient coins.
COLLECT

After 'a huge' we need a noun.

His behaviour was completely unpredictable.
PREDICT

Adjective + negative meaning: un- + predict + -able.

Prices have risen dramatically over the past decade.
DRAMATIC

Adjectives ending in -ic take -ally.

Common mistakes

  • ✗ Her explaination was clear.✓ Her explanation was clear.Explain → explanation: the i disappears.
  • ✗ It was a very enthusiastical audience.✓ It was a very enthusiastic audience.Enthusiasm → enthusiastic.
  • ✗ There were many responsibilitys.✓ There were many responsibilities.y → ies in the plural.
Finn the puffin, smiling kindly
Finn's exam tip

Spelling counts! After writing, read your word letter by letter. Common traps: pronounce → pronunciation, explain → explanation, argue → argument, maintain → maintenance.

Quick check

Use the word in capitals to form a word that fits the gap.

← All grammar topicsPractise Part 3 →

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