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Word Forms

Part of Speech
The part of speech indicates how word functions in meaning as well as grammatically within the
sentences. English has four major word classes: nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs. The other word
classes include prepositions, pronouns, determiners, conjunctions and interjections.

Nouns
A noun is the name of person, place, thing, quality, concept or condition.
Ex: Your signature below will represent your acceptance of this contract.
Employees threatened a strike to protect worker benefits.
The woman who misses her bus is in danger.

Verbs
A verb is the word that describes the action or state of being of the subject of a sentence or clause.
Ex: If you cannot substantiate those accusations, I want to hear no more about it.
I dislike radios playing in the office because they distract me while I try to work.
Please stay away from the picture shows.

Adjectives
An adjective modify a noun, noun phrase and pronoun.
Ex: We’re all glad that the new CEO is a very progressive leader.
A cup of coffee tastes bitter and it is too hot to drink.
John’s methodical approach to all his work is so valuable to us.

Adverbs
An adverb modify verb, adjective and adverb.
Ex: Surely, we’re never seen more professionally organized presentation than the one you gave.
When we plan out next year’s budget, let’s do it realistically this time.
She was completely exhausted and thoroughly wet.
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These endings will change the words into nouns, verbs, adjectives or adverbs.
Common Word Endings
Noun
Verb Adjective Adverb
Thing Person
-ance -ian -en -able -ly
-ancy -ist -ify -ible -ward
-ence -er -ize -ical -wise
-ation -or -ate -al
-hood -ee -ful
-ion -ish
-ism -ive
-dom -ous
-ment -ing
-ness -ed
-ship -y
-ity -ic
-logy -less
-ile
-ory
-ly

Common Word Endings

Noun
Verb Adjective Adverb
Thing Person
application applicant apply applicable
competition competitor compete competitive competitively
criticism critic criticize critical critically
decision decide decisive decisively
economy economist economize economical economically
finale finalist finalize final finally
interpretation interpreter interpret interpretative
maintenance maintainer maintain maintainable
management manager manage managerial
mechanism mechanic mechanize mechanical mechanically
nation nationalist nationalize national nationally
negotiation negotiator negotiate negotiable
politics politician politicize political politically
production producer produce productive productively
prosperity prosper prosperous prosperously
repetition repeater repeat repetitious repetitively
simplification simplify simple simply
theory theoretician theorize theoretical theoretically
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Noun and verb suffixes

A The words below feature some of the most common suffixes used with
nouns and verbs. For each word decide whether it is a noun or a verb.

creation N V clarify N V security N V

realize N V darkness N V brighten N V
ownership N V communicate  N V importance  N V
alignment N V owner N V prioritize N V

B Look at the list of suffixes and mark whether each is a noun or verb suffix.
-tion/-sion  noun  verb -ise/-ize  noun  verb

-en  noun  verb -ity  noun  verb

-ness  noun  verb -ate  noun  verb

-(i)fy  noun  verb -ment  noun  verb

-ship  noun  verb -ance/-ence  noun  verb

Adjective and Adverb

The sentences below use some common adjective and adverb endings.
Choose the correct adjective or adverb to complete each sentence.

1. We selected this apartment as the rooms are ............... (comfortable / comfortably)

2. We have ................... problems in our system. (serious / seriously)
3. New employees are expected to listen ............... during training. (attentive / attentively)
4. Our sales have been .............. increased in the last six months. (consistent / consistently)
5. The response to the new commercial has been ................ (wonderful / wonderfully)
6. The contract ................... stated that delivery would be free. (specific / specifically)
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Preposition

The following list is not exhaustive. It only includes some of the most frequently
used verbs or adjective and the prepositions that generally follow them.

ABOUT OF
To be sorry To approve To be short
To be worried To be afraid To be tired
To complain To be aware To be in charge
To think To be guilty To think
To be proud

AT ON
To be surprised To depend
To laugh To live

FOR TO
To apologize Similar
To forgive (somebody for Superior
something) To listen
To be responsible To be able (to + inf.)
To wait To be accustomed (to + ING)
A need (for something) To be / get used (to + ING)
A reason (for something) To look forward (to + ING)

FROM WITH
To be different To agree To be charged
To borrow To compare To be crowded
To recover To be acquainted To be satisfied
To suffer To be bored To be happy

IN NO PREPOSITION
To be interested To access To discuss
To succeed To enter To phone
To have difficulty ( + ing) To call
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Preposition Test

1. Olga is very angry ___________ her daughter.

A. of C. after
B. for D. with

2. I’m thinking ____________ my old car.

A. to sell C. sell
B. of selling D. of to sell

3. He succeeded ___________ the problem.

A. in solving C. to solve
B. solving D. solve

4. I am not responsible _________ what happened.

A. of C. with
B. for D. in

5. He is quite aware __________ the problem.

A. with C. for
B. from D. of

6. I am not interested ____________ politics.

A. in C. at
B. to D. on

7. I am afraid I can’t agree ________ you there.

A. at C. for
B. with D. of

8. It depends ____________ your test scores.

A. of C. by
B. from D. on

9. They borrowed $10,000 __________ the bank.

A. by C. from
B. to D. of

10. Their educational system is different ____________ ours.

A. of C. at
B. from D. on
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Conjunctions
Conjunctions are expressions that join words, phrases and clauses appearing as the following types.

Coordinate conjunctions
These one-word conjunctions are used to join words, phrases and independent clauses.
Conjunction Function Example
and Connects equal similar ideas John works at home and at his office.
but Connects equal different ideas I like to eat fish but not to catch them.
yet Connects equal contrasting ideas It is sunny yet cold.
nor Connects two negative She does not eat meat, nor does she drink milk.
sentences
or Connects two equal choices Do you prefer coffee or tea?
for Connects a reason to a result I am a little hungry, for I didn’t eat breakfast this morning.
so Connects a result to a reason I did not eat breakfast this morning, so I am a little hungry.

Correlative conjunctions (Paired conjunctions)

Correlative conjunctions are always in pairs.
Like coordinating conjunctions, they connect grammatically equal elements.

Conjunction Pairs Example

both…and Both San Francisco and Sydney have beautiful harbors.
not only…but also Japanese food is not only delicious to eat but also beautiful to look at.
either…or Bring either a raincoat or an umbrella when you visit Seattle.
neither…nor My grandfather could neither read nor write, but he was a very wise person.
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Exercise: Mark the choice that best completes the sentence.

1. Lee took the brochures to the printer’s last Friday, ________ Tina picked them up early this morning.
A. and
B. or
C. so
D. either

2. You can continue working at this company where you feel underappreciated and underpaid ________
you can start looking for a better position with another company.
A. and
B. nor
C. but
D. or

3. We can stay at the office all night to finish the report, __________ we can come in early tomorrow
morning and finish it then.
A. or
B. either
C. and
D. but

4. __________ the main office nor the local branch has any record of the transaction you inquired about.
A. Either
B. Neither
C. Nor
D. Or

5. Jeff’s Pet Store will offer free fish and free fish food __________ not a free fish tank.
A. and
B. or
C. so
D. but
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6. All Comfort Hotels will now feature free wifi, not just in the lobby, __________ in all rooms, absolutely
free.
A. and
B. but
C. nor
D. or

7. Although all employees are entitled to a vacation this summer, you still need to make a formal request
__________ receive permission.
A. and
B. but
C. nor
D. yet

8. Some corporations realize the importance of golf to business, _______ they sponsor golf tournament.
A. so
B. due to
C. since
D. because of

9. _________ the mayor but also all of the members of the city council attended the New Year’s
celebrations at city hall.
A. As if
B. Rather than
C. Not only
D. So long as

10. Please review the document now, _________ don’t sign it until you have shown it to your lawyer.
A. or
B. but
C. so
D. unless