• Exam: FCE
    • Course:
      SUPPORT DOCUMENTS
    • CONCEPTS: SUFFIXES

Instructions

Complete the sentences by dragging and dropping, or typing the correct word, or its corresponding letter, into the answer box.

Once all the sentences have been completed, click on CHECK to identify mistakes.

If the word chosen is correct, it will show in green.

If the word chosen is not correct, it will show in red, and when that happens, try another word and press the CHECK button again until all the answers show in green.

SUFFIXES 2 - THE FORMATION OF VERBS

Theory

A suffix is a letter or a group of letters attached to the end of a word to form a new word.
This is how NOUNS, ADJECTIVES, VERBS and ADVERBS are created.
For example:
The verb READ can be made form the noun READER by removing the suffix -ER.
READ can be made from the adjective READABLE by removing the suffix -ABLE.

Common suffixes used to make VERBS are:
ATE - which is used to change the noun ACCOMODATION to the verb ACCOMODATE.
EN - which is used to change the adjective SOFT to the verb SOFTEN.
IFY - which is used to change the adjective INTENSE to the verb INTENSIFY.
ISE - which is used to change the noun TERROR to the verb TERRORISE.

The normal form for verbs is the infinitive, such as TO PLAY.
There are three other forms:
The regular past, which is formed by adding the suffix ED.
The GERUND, which is formed by adding the suffix ING.
The third person present simple, which is formed by adding the suffix S.
For example:
ED - which is used to change the regular verb LIFT to the past simple LIFTED.
ING - which is used to change the regular verb LIFT to the gerund LIFTING.
S - which is used to change the regular verb LIFT to the third person present simple LIFTS.

TYPICAL FCE EXERCISES
(Use the words given on the right to generate the words needed for the spaces.)

The mystery of pigeons

Pigeons (1) behaviour that is extremely interesting according to a recent report which (2) a new role for pigeons. (3) by a pharmaceutical company to measure the effects of drugs on animal behaviour, Jones (4) one day that some 70 women were (5) to check flawed capsules. "That is a job any pigeon could do," he said, because he knew about the pigeon's learning ability. On completion, capsules left the production line. There, Jones (6) for a bright, narrow beam of light to pass through them. If a capsule was perfect, the light (7) a single spot; if it was imperfect, the light showed a double spot. In their training, two pigeons were (8) with food every time they correctly (9) a wrong capsule. The experiment (10) . A conveyor belt (11) the capsules as fast as two a second past the pigeon inspector , who (12) 99 per cent success within a week. But the company (13) employment of the pigeons on a permanent basis. They (14) publicity that might be bad: The public might think pigeons were not as reliable as humans. "A main obstacle to progress," (15) Jones sadly, " remains man's obstinate belief in his superiority over other creatures."



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