Word Formation Tips & Strategies

What to do

For each gap you get one word in capitals which you have to change so the grammar and meaning fit in the sentence. Here you have to show how well you know word families and if you can change words by using prefixes and suffixes.

You need to read the whole text to get the writer’s opinion on the topic. That’s because sometimes a negative prefix will be required. There is usually at least one word requiring a negative prefix, so look out for these.

In the exam always write something. You never know, you might be lucky even if you are not sure of the answer!

Strategy

1. Read the title and the whole text so that you understand what it is about.
2. Look at each sentence in detail.
3. Think about what kind of word you need and whether you need a negative prefix or a suffix.
4. Read the sentence again to check whether you need a plural form.
5. Check your spelling, as it must be correct.