Skip to content
Pick TwoActivity

B2 First word formation: Part 3 practice and rules

B2Reading & Use of English40 questionsUpdated

B2 First word formation gives you a root word beside the line and asks you to change it so that it fits the gap. Almost every mark turns on two decisions: which part of speech the gap needs, and whether the word has to be negative or plural. Forty original items follow.

What this task tests

  • Recognising the part of speech a gap needs from the words around it.
  • Noun suffixes: -ment, -ion, -ness, -ity, -ance, -ship, -hood, -th.
  • Adjective suffixes: -ful, -less, -ive, -able, -ous, -al, -ent, -ic.
  • Adverb formation, including irregular spellings such as true and truly.
  • Negative prefixes: un-, in-, im-, il-, ir-, dis-, mis-, over-, under-.
  • Person nouns: -er, -or, -ist, -ian, and when each one is used.
  • Plurals, because a countable noun in a gap often has to be plural to fit.
  • Spelling changes at the join: happy and happiness, able and ability, decide and decision.
  • Words that change stress or shape entirely, such as long and length.
  • Meaning, since two forms from the same root, like economic and economical, are not interchangeable.

How to do it

  1. Step 1:

    Cover the root and read the sentence first

    Decide what the gap needs before the root word influences you: a noun after the, a or an adjective; an adjective before a noun; an adverb next to a verb.

  2. Step 2:

    Say the part of speech aloud

    Label the gap noun, adjective, adverb or verb in your head. Half of all lost marks in this part are the right root with the wrong ending.

  3. Step 3:

    Then ask whether the meaning is positive or negative

    Look for words such as although, but, however, fail, refuse or hardly. They are the usual signal that the answer needs un-, in-, im-, il-, ir- or dis-.

  4. Step 4:

    Check whether the noun should be plural

    If the verb is plural, or the sentence lists examples, add the -s. This is the single most common careless loss on the task.

  5. Step 5:

    Watch for two changes in one word

    Several answers need both a prefix and a suffix, as in unsuccessful or irresponsibility. If your word fits the meaning but not the grammar, you have made only one of the two changes.

  6. Step 6:

    Mind the spelling at the join

    Happy becomes happiness, able becomes ability, decide becomes decision. Write the word out fully rather than adding an ending to the root in your head.

  7. Step 7:

    Reread the sentence with your word in it

    The answer has to work as a sentence, not as a word. Reading back catches the times you wrote a noun where the sentence wanted an adjective.

  8. Step 8:

    Do not change the root word itself

    The answer always uses the root supplied. If you have written a synonym rather than a derived form, you have answered a different question.

  9. Step 9:

    Guess with the most likely suffix if you are stuck

    A noun gap after a determiner most often takes -ion, -ment or -ness at B2. A wrong guess costs nothing; an empty gap is certain zero.

  10. Step 10:

    Allow yourself ten minutes and no more

    The part is short and the items are self-contained, so it is easy to overrun on two hard words. Mark them, finish the rest and return.

Mistakes that cost marks

  • Not thisShe gave me a useful advise.

    ThisShe gave me some useful advice.

    Advise is the verb and advice is the noun. The noun is uncountable, so it takes some rather than a.

  • Not thisThe project was unsuccess.

    ThisThe project was unsuccessful.

    The gap follows was and needs an adjective. Candidates add the prefix and forget to change the ending.

  • Not thisHe behaved very responsible.

    ThisHe behaved very responsibly.

    The word describes how he behaved, so it is an adverb. Adjectives ending in -le take -ly after dropping the e.

  • Not thisThere are many difference between the two systems.

    ThisThere are many differences between the two systems.

    Many needs a plural countable noun, and the verb are confirms it. The right root with a missing -s still scores zero.

  • Not thisThe new boiler is very economic.

    ThisThe new boiler is very economical.

    Economic means relating to the economy; economical means using little fuel or money. Same root, different meanings.

  • Not thisIt is unlegal to park here.

    ThisIt is illegal to park here.

    The prefix il- is used before roots beginning with l. Choosing the wrong negative prefix is a common loss.

  • Not thisThe height of the tower is 90 metres high.

    ThisThe height of the tower is 90 metres.

    Height already carries the meaning, so repeating high is redundant. Word formation answers still have to make a sensible sentence.

Language this task keeps reusing

-ment
noun suffix from verbs: develop, development
-ion
noun suffix from verbs: decide, decision
-ness
noun suffix from adjectives: kind, kindness
-ity
noun suffix from adjectives: able, ability
-ship
noun suffix for a state or role: member, membership
-hood
noun suffix for a period of life: child, childhood
-ful / -less
adjective suffixes meaning full of and without
-able / -ible
adjective suffix meaning can be done
un- / in- / im-
negative prefixes: unfair, incorrect, impatient
il- / ir-
negative prefixes before l and r: illegal, irregular
dis-
negative prefix for verbs and some nouns: disagree, dishonest
mis-
prefix meaning wrongly: misunderstand, misuse
over- / under-
prefixes meaning too much and too little: overcook, underpaid
-ist / -ian
person suffixes: scientist, musician
economic / economical
about the economy / using little money or fuel
sensible / sensitive
showing good judgement / easily affected or upset

Practice: word formation

40 original questions. The first 10 are open to everyone. Answers are checked in your browser and never sent to us, so you can share this page with a class as it is.

1Use the root SUCCESS to complete the sentence.

She now runs a verycatering business.
My tutor gave me some useful ___ about the application.

3Use the root DECIDE to complete the sentence.

It was a difficultto make at such short notice.

4Use the root ABLE to complete the sentence.

He has a remarkableto stay calm under pressure.
Which is the correct negative form of ‘possible’?
Decide whether each statement about word formation is true or false.
  • The answer always comes from the root word printed beside the line.
  • Some answers need both a prefix and a suffix.
  • A noun answer never has to be made plural.
3 to go

7Use the root STRONG to complete the sentence.

The team’s greatestis its defence.
Which is the correct negative form of ‘responsible’?

9Use the root EXPLAIN to complete the sentence.

The teacher gave a very clearof the rule.

10Describe the two questions you ask yourself before writing any word formation answer.

Keep going

30 more questions on this page

Leave your email and the rest of the set opens straight away — on this page and every other exam page on the site. We read every address by hand and write back with practice suited to what you are preparing for. No list, no drip sequence.

One email, once. We never sell it or pass it on.

Note

Pick Two Activity is an independent tool. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Cambridge University Press & Assessment, the British Council, IDP, ETS, Duolingo or any other exam board. Exam names are trademarks of their owners and are used here only to describe the exam you are preparing for. Every question on this page is original practice written by us: we do not provide, copy or reproduce official exam papers.

Frequently asked questions

Does spelling matter in Part 3?

Yes, completely. The right word with a wrong spelling scores nothing, so learn the joins: able to ability, happy to happiness, decide to decision.

How do I know whether a word needs a negative prefix?

Read the whole sentence for contrast words such as although, but, however, unfortunately or fail. They are usually the clue that the positive form would make the sentence contradict itself.

Can an answer be more than one word?

No. Each gap takes a single word formed from the root, although that word may carry both a prefix and a suffix, as in unsuccessful or irresponsibility.

What is the best way to revise word families?

Learn in groups of four: verb, noun, adjective, adverb. Write them as a row rather than a list, and add the negative form beside the adjective.

Are American spellings accepted?

Standard American spellings are accepted as long as they are consistent and correct, for example behavior alongside behaviour.

How long should Part 3 take?

Eight to ten minutes. If you are spending longer, the cause is usually vocabulary rather than technique, and revising word families in rows will fix it faster than more practice tests.