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Word Formation Exercises

The document discusses word formation exercises and provides links to practice exercises. It explains how to identify a word's part of speech and how words change form depending on context. Tips are provided on using context clues to determine the meaning of unknown words. A variety of online exercises are listed to help practice these skills.

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68 views

Word Formation Exercises

The document discusses word formation exercises and provides links to practice exercises. It explains how to identify a word's part of speech and how words change form depending on context. Tips are provided on using context clues to determine the meaning of unknown words. A variety of online exercises are listed to help practice these skills.

Uploaded by

mesi.kun2013
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Word Formation Exercises:

In most tests word formation exercises will check your understanding of how a base word will change
forms depending on what part of speech it needs to be in a sentence. You already know this but
remembering it will help you figure out what is required if you aren’t sure.

One of the first steps is to review and check your ability with the different word forms. This helps refresh
your vocabulary but also highlights how there is often a pattern. Sadly as in all things English, there are
several rules (often depending on the source language of the word) as well as numerous exceptions to
the rules but don’t let this stop you from making educated guesses.

I. So the first step is to refresh your memory of how words change forms:

A. This link takes you to a main page with the first 7 pages being fill in the blank but for word forms
only – no context is given. https://www.grammarbank.com/word-formation.html

B. Check the pre- and -suffix information and charts but it will be hard to remember them all. Do
consider the word form exercises that help highlight meaning and endings:
https://www.grammarbank.com/root-prefix-suffix.html

C. and then noun/verb/adjective/adverb choices https://www.grammarbank.com/noun-verb-


adjective-adverb.html

II. The mulitple-choice cloz, allows you some guidance but these can also be difficult because they
will offer words with similar meanings so it is about choosing the one word that fits best with
the idea.

A. This first set is sentences only: https://www.esl-lounge.com/student/first-certificate/fce-


046-open-cloze-exercise.php

B. Now for exercises that will look like those you will find on the erettsegi cloz exercises like
you might meet in the exam: This starts sites with blanks in a paragraph

https://www.flo-joe.co.uk/fce/students/tests/mchtst3.htm

https://michigan-test.com/cloze-exercises/

https://www.flo-joe.co.uk/fce/students/tests/2_oclts3.htm

III. The OPEN cloz is when you have to supply the word as well as knowing its form. Set phrases
(words that usually go together), as well as prepositions, and other function words are
frequently also being tested. Because this is a bit more difficult it isn’t usually the first one.

There are links to several exercises that are ranked, beginner, intermediate, advanced. If you have
the time, I suggest you do one or two beginner exercises to get used to the format of this kind of
test. The Intermediate level is a good place to do most practice with a couple of advanced to
challenge you. The ones I’ve see on the erettsegi are mixed between these two.

https://www.english-grammar.at/online_exercises/open-cloze/open-cloze-index.htm
https://www.esl-lounge.com/student/first-certificate-word-formation.php

And finally, not sure you will need this but it might help if you meet a word you don’t know. A quick
check for understanding the meaning of a word you don’t know is understanding that English sentences
often let you understand the meaning with clues and/or repeating the same information. This is done
by using:

1) An antonym or contrast is a way of letting you know the word is opposite of something said
within the sentence: Although Henry was smart and had studied for the exam, his results were
execrable. (really bad)

2) An example: High stakes tests such as the Matura Exam are no longer considered the best way
to assess a students learning.

3) A synonym or the definition is used within the sentence: The counterfeit money was not
accepted at the store because they’d been warned to look out for fake bills.

This link is a practice in seeing how this works with a couple of exercises that asks you which context
clue you used: https://www.grammarbank.com/context-clues-worksheet.html

Here is a link to some more exercises to practice this and scroll down the page to level 3:
https://www.ereadingworksheets.com/free-reading-worksheets/reading-comprehension-worksheets/
context-clues-worksheets/

Once you have finished these exercises, check the past exams that are posted on line for even more
focused practice. Although we won’t have too many more official classes together, I will be available to
go over your work with you if you find talking about it, your best practice.

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