English Word Building Exercise

Study carefully how Verbs are formed from Nouns and Adjectives and how Nouns are formed from Verbs and Adjectives. The following tables will help you to build up your vocabulary also.

FORMATION OF VERBS FROM NOUNS

NounsVerbsNounsVerbs
AdviceAdviseHorrorHorrify
BathBatheIdolIdolise
BeliefBelieveJusticeJustify
BreathBreatheJoyEnjoy
CampEncampKneeKneel
CircleEncircleMassAmass
ClassClassifyMemoryMemorise
ClothClotheNationNationalise
CompanyAccompanyOfficeOfficiate
CourageEncouragePatronPartonise
CriticismCriticisePeacePacify
CustomAccustomPopulationPopulate
DangerEndangerPracticePractise
FoodFeedPrisonImprison
ForceEnforceSaleSell
FriendBefriendSlaveEnslave
FrightFrightenSpeechSpeak
GloryGlorifySuccessSucceed
GoldGildSympathySympathise
GrassGrazeTaleTell
HabitHabituateTerrorTerrify
HalfHalveThroneEnthrone
HandHandleTitleEntitle
HasteHastenUtilityUtilise
HealthHealVacancyVacate
HeightHeightenVapourEvaporate
HeirInheritWebWeave
FertileFertilityPerfectPerfection
FewFewnessPiousPiety
FinancialFinancePoorPoverty
FoolishFoolishnessPopularPopularity
FrankFranknessQuickQuickness
FreeFreedomRareRarity
GallantGallantryRealReality
GayGaietyRedRedness
GenerousGenerosityRichRiches
GrandGrandeurRigidRigidity
GreatGreatnessRivalRivalry
HappyHappinessRoundRoundness
HardHardshipRoyalRoyalty
HighHeightSacredSacredness
HolyHolinessSafeSafety
HonestHonestyScarceScarcity
HumbleHumilitySevereSeverity
InferiorInferiorityShortShortness Shortage
InnocentInnocenceSlowSlowness
JustJusticeSmallSmallness
LiberalLiberalitySpecialSpeciality
LittleLittlenessSplendidSplendour
LocalLocalityStrongStrength
LongLengthStupidStupidity
LoyalLoyaltySweetSweetness
MagnificentMagnificenceTimidTimidity
MeanMeannessTrueTruth
MerryMerrimentUniformUniformity
MoistMoistureVacantVacancy
MortalMortalityVainVanity
NecessaryNecessityVitalVitality
NewNewnessWeakWeakness
NobleNobilityWideWidth
ObedientObedienceWiseWisdom
OneOnenessZealousZeal

Formation of Nouns from Verbs

VerbsNouns
AboundAbundance
AcceptAcceptance
SitSeat
SlaySlaughter
SpeakSpeech
StealStealth
StrikeStroke
SucceedSuccess/Succession
SeizeSeizure
TellTale
TryTrial
ThinkThought
VacateVacancy
VaryVariety
WeaveWeb
WedWedding
WeighWeight
WriteWrit, writing

FORMATION OF ABSTRACT NOUNS

WordsAbstract Nouns
ActAction
AgentAgency
BabyBabyhood
BeggarBeggary
BondBondage
BoyBoyhood
ChildChildhood
DictatorDictatorship
FriendFriendship
HeroHeroism
InfantInfancy
KingKingship
MotherMotherhood
ManManhood
OwnerOwnership
PatriotPatriotism
PriestPriesthood
RobberRobbery
SpeakSpeech
SlaveSlavery
ThiefTheft
WomanWomanhood
WidowWidowhood
YoungYouth

FORMATION OF ADJECTIVES FROM NOUNS

NounsAdjectives
AdventureAdventurous
AdviceAdvisable
AffectionAffectionate
AirAiry
AncestorAncestral
AngelAngelic
AngerAngry
AutumnAutumnal
BeautyBeautiful
BloodBloody
BodyBodily
BookBookish
BoyBoyish
BrassBrazen
BrotherBrotherly
BruteBrutal
CentreCentral
CeremonyCeremonial
NounsAdjectives
CheerCheerful
ChildChildish/Childlike
CircleCircular
ClassClassic/Classical
ComfortComfortable
CourageCourageous
CowardCowardly
CrimeCriminal
CustomCustomary
DangerDangerous
DayDaily
DeathDeathly
DewDewy
DramaDramatic
DutyDutiful
EarthEarthly/Earthen
EaseEasy
EastEastern
EmphasisEmphatic
EnemyInimical
EssenceEssential
ExampleExemplary
ExpenseExpensive
ExpressionExpressive
FaithFaithful
FameFamous
FancyFanciful
FateFateful
FatherFatherly
FaultFaulty
FavourFavourable
FeatherFeathery
FeverFeverish
FireFiery
FleshFleshy
FlowerFlowery
FogFoggy
FoolFoolish
FriendFriendly
FruitFruitful
FuryFurious
GhostGhostly
GlassGlassy
GloomGloomy
GloryGlorious
GodGodly
GoldGolden
GrassGrassy
GreedGreedy
GriefGrievous
HabitHabitual
HairHairy
HandHandly
HarmHarmful
HasteHasty
HeartHearty
HeatHot
HeavenHeavenly
HerbHerbal
HeroHeroic
HillHilly
HomeHomely
HonourHonourable/Honorary
HourHourly
IceIcy
IdiotIdiotic
IgnoranceIgnorant
IndustryIndustrial/Industrious
JokeJocular
JoyJoyful, joyous
KingKingly
LabourLaborious
LadyLadylike
LifeLifelike, lifeless
LordLordly
LoveLovely, lovable
LawLawful, lawless
MomentMomentary
MoneyMonetary
MonthMonthly
MuscleMuscular
MysteryMysterious
MachineMechanical
ManManly
MannerMannerly
MedicineMedicinal
MemoryMemorable
MerchantMercantile
MercyMerciful
MightMighty
MiracleMiraculous
MirthMirthful/Merciless
NationNational
NatureNatural
NavyNaval
NeedNeedful/Needless
NeighbourNeighbourly
NerveNervous
NeuterNeutral
NightNightly

Exercise : Fill in the blanks With proper forms of words given in the brackets:

  1. We must show______ towards animals. (kind)
  2. Some students become____ at the time of examination (fever)
  3. I was______ pleased with his good manners. (immense)
  4. My friends wanted me to__ them to witness the cricket match. (company)
  5. He showed great____ . (patient)
  6. ___________ can overcome mountains. (persevere)
  7. ___________ before self should be our aim in life. (serve)
  8. Are you______ when you are alone in the dark? (nerve)
  9. There is no______ among rotten apples (choose)
  10. Too much ___________ breeds contempt. (familiar)
  11. At the ___________ of his speech he was highly cheered. (conclude)
  12. An actor must have a clear ___________ of the part he is to play, (conceive)
  13. There is keen ___________ in every trade. (compete)
  14. There is no ___________ between them. (compare)
  15. He received a ___________ ticket. (compliment)
  16. A defeated country usually signs a treaty of peace under ___________ .(compel)
  17. You must take your parents into  ___________. (confide)
  18. I sent a ___________ letter to her. (console)
  19. He was ___________ enough to have a qood income. (fortune)
  20. He was on ___________ terms with his employer. (friend)
  21. He is at ___________ with his neighbour. (enemy)
  22. Smoking is ___________ to health. (injury)
  23. He is an ___________ politician. (influence)
  24. It was an ___________ lecture. (inform)
  25. He is suffering from an ___________ disease. (infection)
  26. His ___________ was hailed by all. (acquit)
  27. You are ___________ to me for this money. (account)
  28. He was ___________ shot dead by his friend. (accident)
  29. This book is a useful ___________ to our library. (add)
  30. I ___________ you there’s no danger. (sure)

Exercise : Rewrite the following sentences after filling in the blank in the second senetence of each pair with the appropriate form of the word given in italics in the first sentence.

  1. He is very familiar with the languages spoken in South India.
    His_______ with the languages spoken in South India surprised me.
  2. I have no doubt that he will succeed.
    Are you______ of his success?
  3. He is regular in attending school.
    He won a prize for____ in attending the school.
  4. He is always dressed in the latest
    He is a_______ man.
  5. He comes of a noble
    Everyone likes him for his___.
  6. I suspect his honesty.
    I am______ about his honesty .
  7. He is a responsible young man.
    He always realises his _____.
  8. Very few people could survive the earthquake.
    The Prime Minister sent help to the___ of the earthquake.
  9. You will slipif you don’t walk carefully.
    It is difficult to walk on___ roads.
  10. Many people smuggleSwiss watches into India.
    His uncle is a______ of watches.
  11. He is a sincere friend.
    He is loved by his friends for his ______
  12. He believes in spiritualism.
    He is a_____ .
  13. Man is the only animal that can speak
    Man is the only animal that has the faculty of ______.
  14. Advani is very diligent.
    He is admired by everyone for his___.
  15. I feel confident that he will not deceive us.
    I hope he will prove worthy of our__.
  16. Has the news of Rani’s marriage been confirmed?
    No, we are waiting for the____ of the news.
  17. He is determined to succeed.
    His_______ is praiseworthy.
  18. She resembles her sister very much.
    Their_______ has created confusion many a time.
  19. You should be respectful to your seniors.
    I know you all come of___ families.
  20. What medicines has the doctor prescribed for you?
    You must take medicines according to the doctor’s ______.
  21. I accept your offer.
    Your offer is______ to me.
  22. Do fairies exists?
    Not in real life. Their_____ is confined to fairly tales only.
  23. He is always
    He is always sunk in deep____.
  24. Roman died in an accident.
    His death was_____ .
  25. It is normal for a child to eat four times a day.
    _______ , a child eats four times a day.
  26. There were two similar statements.
    The______ between them was hardly noticeable.
  27. How do you pronounce this word?
    His_______ is improving.
  28. Can you prove your nationality?
    Does it require any______ ?
  29. We are often deceived by appearances.
    Appearance are often. ___ .
  30. She defied her husband.
    Her______ naturally irritated her husband.

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