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Noun Suffixes (Nominal Suffixes)

Recognize a variety of noun forms

an aircraft landing
 

 

In Context

Our plane departed from San Francisco on time. We arrived in San Diego at 11:00 a.m. The plane landed without difficulty. A bus transported us promptly and comfortably to our hotel.

The departure of our plane from San Francisco was on time. Our arrival in San Diego was at 11:00 a.m. The landing of the plane was not difficult. The transportation by bus to our hotel was prompt and comfortable.

VERB WORD FORM

Nouns may be formed from verbs, adjectives or other nouns. The forms are often Latin or Greek in origin.  There is no simple rule for adding suffixes, but there are patterns.                                         

SUBJECT PREDICATE + COMPLEMENT
NOUN PHRASE VERB +   PP / ADJ

Our plane

departed from San Francisco on time.

We

arrived in San Diego at 11:00 a.m.

The plane

landed without difficulty.

A bus

transported us to our hotel promptly and comfortably.

NOUN WORD FORM

Adding a suffix to a verb (base) is one way of forming a noun.  A suffix is a part added to the end of a word. Examples of suffixes are listed below. Modifiers to the noun are enclosed in brackets [ ]. 

SUBJECT PREDICATE + COMPLEMENT
NOUN PHRASE "BE" VERB +  PP / ADJ

The departure [of our plane from San Francisco]

was on time. 

Our arrival [in San Diego]

was at 11:00 a.m.

The landing [of the plane]

was not difficult.

The transportation [by bus to the hotel]

was prompt and comfortable.

 

an affix — is a small unit of meaning that is added to another word to change its meaning; affixes include: prefix (before) pre-pare; infix (between) [rare in English]; and suffix (after) prepara-tion.

derive (V) — come from a source or origin; derivation (N) the formation of a word from another word or base

prompt (Adj) — on time or timely, not delayed

morpheme (N) — a small unit of meaning which is dependent upon the word to which it is added

a suffix, a morpheme (small dependent unit of meaning) placed at the end of a word, can change a word as follows: [1] word category—noun "nominalization", adjective "adjectivalization", verb "verbalization", adverb of manner -ly; [2] person (3rd per. sing.); [3] number (singular/plural); [4] tense (present/past).

(Swan 384 noun + complement ; 445.2 noun suffixes)

Also see Plural Noun Forms | Adjective Suffixes  | Word Forms | Adverb Suffixes | Negative Noun Prefixes | Noun Properties.

 

 

 

 
SUFFIX VERB – NOUN VERB – NOUN VERB – NOUN

-AL    condition, quality

arrive –arrival

approve – approval

deny –denial

propose –proposal

refuse – refusal

dismiss – dismissal

-ANCE / -ENCE     action, state, condition or quality

attend –attendance

accept –acceptance

prefer – preference

insure – insurance

refer – reference

exist –existence

-ATION / -TION  action or resulting state

educate – education

inform – information

eliminate – elimination

declare – declaration

combine – combination

immigrate – immigration

-SION  action or resulting state 

confuse – confusion

decide – decision

divide –division

revise – revision

impress – impression

profess–profession

-URE   action or resulting state

depart – departure

erase – erasure

fail – failure

enclose – enclosure

press – pressure

legislate – legislature

-MENT  state, act, condition

agree– agreement

pay – payment

employ – employment

argue – argument

punish – punishment

govern – government

-AGE  action, state, process

break – breakage

post – postage

pack – package

pass – passage

bag– baggage

marry – marriage

-ING   action, state, process

bless – blessing

land – landing

write – writing

feed – feeding

end –ending

seat – seating

-ERY a business or trade, a behavior, a condition

cream – creamery

slave (N) – slavery

bake –bakery

brave (Adj) – bravery

brew – brewery

machine (N) – machinery

Nominalization – the forming of words from other categories , verbs and nouns, by suffixation. (Huddleston 1706)

stress – the part of the word that receives emphasis is bolded. You can also Control-click the word to access your computer's dictionary.

Pop-Q "The fix"      

 

 

 

 

Noun Forms

Nouns derived from adjectives

Passengers

 

 

VERB WORD FORM

Nouns may be formed from  adjectives.  The forms are often Latin or Greek in origin.  There is no simple rule for adding suffixes, but there are patterns. 

SUBJECT PREDICATE COMPLEMENT

The passengers

were happy.

The aircraft

was safe.

The flight attendants

were polite.

Their information

is private.

NOUN WORD FORM

Adding a suffix to an adjective is another way of forming a noun.  A suffix is the part added to the end of a word.

SUBJECT PREDICATE COMPLEMENT

Their happiness

was obvious.  easy to see

Safety

was important.

Politeness

is not always easy. 

Privacy

is expected.

 

 

 

 

 
SUFFIX ADJECTIVE – NOUN ADJECTIVE – NOUN ADJECTIVE – NOUN

-NESS state, quality, condition

happy – happiness

useful – usefulness

kind – kindness

truthful – truthfulness

 quiet – quietness

sleepy – sleepiness

-ITY  state or condition

active – activity

stupid – stupidity

curious – curiosity

mobile – mobility

real – reality

tranquil – tranquility

-ISM  state, practice 

ideal – idealism

colonial – colonialism

human – humanism

imperial – imperialism

conservative – conservatism

favorite – favoritism

-TH  condition 

wide – width

dead – death

long – length

foul – filth

born (V) – birth

grow (V) – growth

-Y  condition 

private – privacy

difficult – difficulty

honest – honesty

jealous – jealousy

modest – modesty

 

-ERY location, collective, behavior condition

brave – bravery

 

 

 

-TY  condition 

safe – safety

cruel – cruelty

certain – certainty

subtle – subtlety

loyal – loyalty

admiral (N) – admiralty

Also see Adjective Forms for:  -able, -ant, -ary, -ed, -en -ent, -ful, -ic, -ical, -less, -ing, -ive, -ish, -like, -y.

Also see Negative Prefixes for : a-, dis-, il-, in-, im-, ir-, non-, un-.

 

 

 

 

Personal Noun Forms

Personal nouns derived from other nouns

Employee helping clients

 

 

VERB WORD FORM

Personal nouns may be formed from other word forms—specific verbs, adjectives and nouns.

SUBJECT PREDICATE + COMPLEMENT

The company

employs workers. (V)

The man

took refuge in the US. (N)

Nature

Beauty

is real. (Adj)

is ideal.

NOUN WORD FORM

Specific verbs adjectives and nouns permit the addition of suffixes such as -ee, -ant or -ent, -ist, -man, -ster, -arian, and -eer. The suffix is unstressed.

SUBJECT PREDICATE + COMPLEMENT

Employees  (V→N)

work for the company.

The refugee   (N→N)

asked for protection.

The realist (Adj→N)

The idealist (Adj→N)

sees things as they are.

sees things as they should be.

 

refuge (N) — shelter, protection from danger

 

 

 

 

 
SUFFIX VERB – PERSONAL NOUN VERB – PERSONAL NOUN VERB– PERSONAL NOUN

-ANT / ENT person / instrument / agent

attendattendant

assist – assistant

inform – informant

correspond – correspondent

presidepresident

resideresident

-EE  person / instrument / recipient of action

appoint – appointee

attend – attendee

pay – payee

trust – trustee

divorce¹ – divorcée (V/N)

license – licensee (V/N)

-IST  person who practices 

tour – tourist

 

machine (V) – machinist

type – typist

-AR  person who does 

 

beg – beggar

burgle – burglar

lie – liar

registrate – registrar

-ER  person who does 

 

advertise – advertiser

believe – believer

build – builder

buy – buyer

call – caller

interpret – interpreter

keep – keeper

listen – listener

pitch – pitcher

-OR  person who does 

act – actor

collect – collector

dictate – dictator

direct – director

instruct – instructor

legislate – legislator

navigate – navigator

sail – sailor

spectate – spectator

¹divorce — end a marriage: (N) The divorce was final. (V) They will divorce. 

 

 

 

 
SUFFIX ADJ – PERSONAL NOUN ADJ – PERSONAL NOUN ADJ– PERSONAL NOUN

-IST  person who practices 

active – activist

colonial – colonialist

extreme – extremist

human – humanist

ideal – idealist

imperial – imperialist

left – leftist

natural – naturalist

nude – nudist

-STER  person connected to

young¹ – youngster

old¹ – oldster

hip — hipster

 

¹ young / old —  could be an adj or a noun: (Adj) He is young not old. vs. (Group noun) The young have time, the old do not.

 

 

 

 
< /tr>
SUFFIX NOUN – PERSONAL NOUN NOUN – PERSONAL NOUN NOUN– PERSONAL NOUN

-ARIAN  holders of a particular doctrine

/ər i ən/

vegetable – vegetarian

discipline – disciplinarian

human – humanitarian

sect – sectarian

parliament – parliamentarian

-EE  person / instrument 

/i/

address (N/V)  – addressee

refuge (N)  – refugee

 

 

-ER  person concern with

/ər/

farm (N/V) – farmer

hat – hatter

law – lawyer

jewel – jeweler

prison – prisoner

village – villager

-EER  person concerned with

/ɪər /

engine –engineer

profit – profiteer

musket – musketeer

racket – racketeer

auction – auctioneer

mountain – mountaineer

-MAN  person concerned with

/mən/ or /mæn/ (if stressed)

police–policeman

congress – congressman

horse – horseman

fish – fisherman

fire – fireman

post – postman

-IST  person who practices 

/ist/

bicycle – bicyclist (N→N)

cartoon – cartoonist (N→N)

column – columnist

physics – physicist

terror – terrorist

violin – violinist

-STER  person connected to

/stər/ 

game – gamester

gang – gangster

mob – mobster

prank – prankster

song – songster

trick – trickster

old¹ – oldster

spin² – spinster

¹ young / old – could be an adj or a noun: (Adj) He is young not old. vs. (Group noun) The young have time, the old do not.

² spinster – used for a woman who has never married, "a spinner of thread"; a person who does yarn spinning

London – Londoner  See Demonyms.

(Huddleston 19 5.7  Nominalizations)  (Swan 384-6)

 

 

 

 

Feminine Noun Forms

Suffixes that denote females

 

 

 
SUFFIX MASCULINE – FEMININE MASCULINE – FEMININE NEUTER/MASC. – FEMININE

-ETTE  feminine / diminutive

(French)

brunet¹ (Adj) [Fr. masc.] – brunette (fem.)

 

bachelor² (N) – bachelorette

major (N) – majorette

suffrage³ (N) – suffragette

coque (N) [Fr. "rooster"] – coquette

-TRIX / -TRICE  feminine  

(Latin)

 

aviator (N) – aviatrix

dominator (N) – dominatrix

administrator (N) – administratrix

executor (N) – executrix

director (N) – directrice (fem.)

beatus (N) [Latin "who makes happy"] – Beatrice

-TRESS /-ESS feminine

(French from -ISSA Greek)

actor (N) – actress   (wait staff)

master/mister(N) – mistress ( Ms.)

seducer (N) – seductress

lion (N) – lioness

Melissa  ("honey bee")

Clarissa

-IENNE  feminine

(French)

comedian (N) – comedienne

equestrian (N) – equestrienne

Adrian (name masc.)– Adrienne

-ÉE  feminine

(French)

fiancé (Partcpl) – fiancée

 

divorcé (Partcpl) – divorcée

 

¹ brun (French) – brown;  masculine hair color brunet (Fr) feminine brunette (Fr / Eng)

² bachelor (N) – a young unmarried man; a college degree

³ suffrage – the right to vote

-ISSA  (Greek) – meli "honey" Melissa ("honey bee"); Clarissa (fem./diminutive of Clara)

Find word origins (etymology) on  Dictionary.com.

 

 

 

 

 

Diminutive Noun Forms

Suffixes for smallness or affection

 

 

 
SUFFIX STANDARD – DIMINUATIVE STANDARD – DIMINUATIVE STANDARD – DIMINUATIVE

-ETTE  diminutive

(French)

case (N) [Fr. casse] – cassette

towel (N) – towelette

novel (N) – novelette (novela)

vinegar (N) – vinaigrette

kitchen (N) – kitchenette

rouelle (FR. "wheel") – roulette

rose (N) – rosette

cigar (N) – cigarette

toilet (N) – toilette³ (N)

(ethics) (N) [Fr.] – etiquette

vine (N) [Fr.] "vigne" – vignette

-SIE / SY 

 

foot– footsie

one – onesie (one-piece baby wear)

tiny (Adj) – teensie weensie

hot (Adj) – hotsy-totsy

Patricia / Pat – Patty / Patsie

?  – Tootsie

-IE / Y 

 

cook (N/V) – cookie

hood (N) – hoodie

lad (N) – laddie

pup (N) – puppy

duck (N) – ducky

mom (N) – mommy

Bob – Bobby

Thomas – Tommy

Susan – Susie

-LET

book (N) – booklet  

brace (N) – bracelet

cut (N) – cutlet (small cut of meat)

out (Adv) – outlet

owl  (N) – owlet

[alemelle "thin plate" OFr.] – omelet

tart  (N) – tartlet

toile (N "small cloth" Fr.) – toilet

viola (N "purple flower" Lat.) – violet

-LING 

 

change (V) – changeling  (folklore– baby left by fairy)

dear (Adj) – darling

duck (N) – duckling

found (V) – foundling (abandoned baby)

hire (V) hireling (menial or hourly worker)

nest (N) – nestling

prince (N) – princeling 

under (Adv) – underling  (subordinate)

-KIN

[Dutch / German / -quin French]

pumpkin    "pepon" melon (Grk.)

lambkin   "lamb" (1570)

munchkin   Wizard of Oz  (1900)

bumpkin   "little barrel" a simple person  (M. Dutch)

napkin  "nappe" little table cloth  (O. Fr.)

ramekin (little baking dish  "ram") (M. Dutch), ramequin (Fr.)

¹ brun (French) — brown  masculine brunet (Fr) feminine brunette (Fr / Eng)

² bachelor (N) – a young unmarried man; a college degree Bachelor's degree.

³ toilette – may refer to a toilet (commode) or to the process of bathing and grooming

peponi – melon (Greek) 

nape – table cloth in (Middle English)

munchkin – dwarf in Wizard of Oz

-cule — molecule, animacule, capsule

-ello / -ella — bordello, limoncello, salmonella, Ella (name)

silhouette – à la silhouette, after Etienne de Silhouette

Find word origins (etymology)  Dictionary.com.

 

 

 

 

Collective Noun Forms

Collective nouns derived from other nouns

 

 

NOUN WORD FORM

A collective noun may be formed from other nouns. The nouns below refer to individuals.

SUBJECT PREDICATE + COMPLEMENT

A star

lives a public life.

Our partner

is Sky Airways.

A child

enjoys playtime.

COLLECTIVE NOUN WORD FORM

Some nouns permit a suffix such as -ship, -dom or -hood. These suffixes express a state, condition, or office of all the individuals within the group.

SUBJECT PREDICATE + COMPLEMENT

Stardom

can attract too much attention.

Our partnership

has been successful.

Childhood

lasts a short time. 

 

 

 

 
SUFFIX NOUN – COLL. NOUN NOUN – COLL. NOUN OTHER – COLL. NOUN

-DOM  state, condition, dignity, office

star – stardom

fan – fandom

bore – boredom

king – kingdom

free – freedom (Adj→N)

wise – wisdom (Adj→N)

-SHIP state, condition, skill, office, associated with

censor – censorship

partner – partnership

scholar – scholarship

dealer – dealership

workman – workmanship

apprentice – apprenticeship

-HOOD  state, collective

brother – brotherhood

widow – widowhood

neighbor – neighborhood

child – childhood

live – livelihood (V→N)

false – falsehood (Adj→N)

-ERY location, collective, behavior condition

slave – slavery (collective state)

machine – machinery

citizens – citizenry (collective)

-dom archdukedom, bachelordom, boredom, chiefdom, computerdom, coupledom, czardom, freedom, gangsterdom, hippiedom, kaiserdom, kingdom, princedom, serfdom, sheikdom, sheriffdom, wisdom, yuppiedom

-ship airmanship, authorship, captainship, censorship, comradeship, dealership, fellowship, kingship, kinship, lordship, mentorship, partnership, readership, scholarship, sponsorship, sponsorship, viewership, workmanship

-hood  adulthood, babyhood, boyhood, brotherhood, childhood, cousinhood, falsehood, fatherhood, girlhood, knighthood, likelihood, livelihood, manhood, motherhood, nationhood, parenthood, priesthood, sisterhood, statehood, toddlerhood, widowhood, womanhood

-ery  adultery, antislavery, baptistery, bewitchery, buffoonery, chancellery, demagoguery, distillery, effrontery, gendarmerie, housewifery, jackassery, lampoonery, machinery, midwifery, millinery, monastery, perfumery, presbytery, savagery, skullduggery, slavery, snobbery, thievery, tomfoolery, villager, witchery

 

 

 

 

Noun Forms

Noun forms with same verb form ("zero suffix")

aircraft
 

 

 
VERB

A suffix normally marks a word as an adjective, verb, or noun. A suffix is placed at the end of the word.  The words below are verbs.                                                         

The pilots will attempt to take off together. 

The pilots will control their aircrafts. 

The aircraft will rise into the air. 

The aircraft will circle in the air.  (loop)

NOUN

In some cases, the same form of the word is used for the verb or the noun.  The words below are nouns which are resulting states of the action of the verb.

The attempt was successful.  subj NP

The pilot's control was effective.  subj NP

The rise will be sharp.  subj NP

The path of the aircraft will form a circle. obj NP

 

SUBJ NP – subject noun phrase

No suffix — also known as 'conversion' ,  'zero-affixation' or 'zero-derivation'.

 

 

 

 

arrest (V) – arrest (N)

attempt (V) – attempt (N)

bore (V) – bore (N)

cheat (V) – cheat (N)

coach (V) – coach (N)

cough  (V) – cough (N)

desire (V) – desire (N)

flirt (V) – flirt (N)

go (V) – go (N)

grin (V) – grin (N)

laugh (V) – laugh (N)

read (V) – read (N)

smile (V) – smile (N)

sneak (V) – sneak (N)

spy (V) – spy (N)

whisper (V) – whisper (N)

whistle (V) – whistle (N)

win (V) – win (N)

 

 

 

 

 

 

boss (V) – boss (N)

butcher (V) – butcher (N)

butter (V) – butter (N)

cash (V) – cash (N)

eye (V) – go (N)

finger (V) – finger (N)

fish (V) – fish (N)

gesture (V) – gesture (N)

knife (V) – knife (N)

knot (V) – knot (N)

motion (V) – motion (N)

nap (V) – nap (N)

panic (V) – panic (N)

parody (V) – parody (N)

parrot (V) – parrot (N)

queue (V) – queue (N) [Br-En]

ski (V) – ski (N)

skin (V) – skin (N)

water (V) – water (N)

zero (V) – zero (N)

(Huddleston 19 §3.1)

 

 

 

 

acCENT (V) – ACcent (N)

conDUCT  (V) – CONduct (N)

conFLICT (V) – CONflict (N)

conTEST (V) – CONtest (N)

conVERT (V) – CONvert (N)

conVICT (V) – CONvict (N)

deCREASE (V) – DEcrease (N)

deSERT (V) – DESert¹ (N)

diGEST (V) – DIgest (N)

esCORT (V) – EScort (N)

exPORT (V) – EXport (N)

fragMENT (V) – FRAGment (N)

inSERT (V) – INsert (N)

inSULT (V) – INsult (N)

perMIT (V) – PERmit (N)

preSENT (V) – PREsent (N)

reCORD (V) – REcord (N)

reJECT (V) – REject (N)

transFER (V) – TRANSfer (N)

susPECT (V) – SUSpect (N)

¹ de-sert' [Latin (V) deserere "abandon, forsake"] → des' ert [Latin (N) desertum "a land that is abandoned"] → des-sert' [French (N) desservir "to clear the table"].  ("dessert"  See Word Origin from Dictionary.com)

(Huddleston 19 §2.6)

Also see dessert vs. desert in Lesson 15 "Commonly Misspelled Words." Keys to Spelling: Sounds and Syllables,  29 Aug. 2016, www.grammar-quizzes.com/spellingsum.html.  Printable 3MB PDF.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nouns Ending in -ing

Test a word for its Noun properties   

 

 

NOUN WORD FORM

A noun may end in -ing. To test if a word is a noun: (1) put an article before it or (2) a prepositional phrase after it. If not awkward sounding, then the word shares these properties belonging to nouns.            

NOUN PHRASE
(1) ACCEPTS AN ARTICLE

The landing was not difficult.   

The landings were not difficult. 

(2) IS SINGULAR OR PLURAL IN AGREEMENT

The landing / A landing is not difficult. 

The landings / landings are not difficult. 

(3) ACCEPTS MODIFIERS

A smooth landing was not difficult. (Adj)

The landing of the airplane was not difficult.  (Prep Phrase)

The landing that the pilot made was impressive.  (Rel Cls)

(4) DOES NOT ACCEPT A NOUN PHRASE COMPLEMENT

*The landing the plane was not difficult.

GERUND WORD FORM

A verbal form called a gerund (gerund-participle) ends in -ing. If it is a gerund, it (1) will not accept an article or any modifiers and (2) will be singular in agreement. See Gerund-Participle comparison of properties.

GERUND CLAUSE
(1) DOES NOT ACCEPT AN ARTICLE

Landing the plane was not difficult.

*The landing the plane was not difficult.

(2) IS ALWAYS SINGULAR IN AGREEMENT

Landing was not difficult.

(3) DOES NOT ACCEPT MODIFIERS

*Smooth landing the airplane was not difficult.

*Landing of the airplane was not difficult.

*Landing that was smooth was not difficult.

(4) MAY ACCEPT A NOUN PHRASE COMPLEMENT

Landing the plane was not difficult. (Object noun)

 

Also see Participle Modifiers 2 and Gerunds.

Also see Noun Properties | Noun, Verb, Gerund, Participle Properties. (Apply tests to determine if a word functions as other members in a category.)

 

 

 

advertise (V) – advertising (N)

airbrush (V) – airbrushing (N)

beat (V) – beating (N)

bless (V) – blessing (N)

board (V) – boarding (N)

bookmark (V) – bookmarking (N)

come (V) – coming (N)

dance (V) – dancing (N)

edge (V) – edging (N)

end (V) – ending (N)

feed (V) – feeding (N)

forget (V) – forgetting (N)

forward (V) – forwarding (N)

fund (V) – funding (N)

handwrite (V) – handwriting (N)

highlight (V) – highlighting (N)

make (V) – making (N)

market (V) – marketing (N)

open (V) – opening (N)

paint (V) – painting (N)

plant (V) – planting (N)

read (V) – reading (N)

seat (V) – seating (N)

understand (V) – understanding (N)

"deverbal nouns"  (Huddleston 19 5.7.2g)

If you are unsure whether a word ending in -ing is a noun, add a determiner and/or a modifier. For example, compare "landing" and "flying". Add a determiner: The landing was smooth.  *The flying was smooth. Or add a modifier: The landing in Atlanta was smooth.  *The flying in the airplane was smooth. [Use the flight instead.]  However, we could say, "The flying of the national flag is a sign of patriotism."

*incorrect use

 

 

 

 

 

Common Mistakes

Errors and Solutions

 

 

Focus and Solution

ERROR

Informal speech may include using a verb form as a noun when a true noun form exists: 

~ What's the ask on that house?  

~ Let's see the reveal.

~Have a listen to this.

~ Do the reboot and call me later.

Using a noun form as a modifier when a true adjective exists:

~ The education research suggests that we need to improve in math.

SOLUTION

This trendy usage is probably occurring as shortened form in texting.

What is the asking price. / What is the question regarding that house?

Let's reveal the changes. / The revelation caused a protest.

Listen to this.  Take a look at this.

Reboot it and call me later. After rebooting, call me.

The educational research suggests that we need to improve in math.

The research in education suggests that we need to improve in math.

 

Note: In many cases a noun can modify another noun, however, if there is an adjective form for a word, use it.   

* Incorrect use / ~ Questionable use

Pop-Q – "The fix"

 

 

Works Cited

 

 

 

 

 

 

Practice 1

Air Travel

booking a flight
 

 

Read Context

International travel requires passing through airports and that can be challenging. Making a -reserve- is mostly done online nowadays. The -seat- is first come, first served, so it is important to plan ahead. On the day of your trip, you should plan an early -arrive- to the airport. You should be there at least two hours before the -depart- of an international flight. -Process- for checking in passengers can take a long time.

An agent will ask you to show your -identify-. A security agent will ask you a few -quest- about the contents of your baggage. Then they will permit your -enter- into the secure area of the airport. Another agent will announce the -board- of the aircraft. At that time, you will walk down a long -pass- to the door of the airplane.

content – what is inside of something (bag)

process – a series of actions directed toward completing a goal

 

 

 

Select the noun form for each verb.

  1. Select the response from the list that best completes the sentence. 
  2. Compare your response to the feedback by clicking the "Check 1-10" button at the bottom, or click the "Check" button to the left  as you go.

 

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Practice 2

Transportation in my City

City traffic
 

 

Read for Errors

Transportation in my country is very difficulty to use.  There are several buses, but they are always congestion with riding people.  The arrivings and departings are rarely on schedule. The taxis are no better because the pay for a trip is too high.  Most people have a prefer share a ride. The government regulations drivers. 

However, no one does inspections to see if they are following the regulations. Most people prefer the inter-city train ( tram) that connectors the neighborhoods of the city. The train attenders keep the train clean and safe. The other option is to walk and use local shopping and services.

attend (V) –  be present, care for, watch over

congestion (N) – overcrowding, excessive amount in a small place

connect (V)  – join together, link

inspect (V) – examine details

opt (V) – choose, select

regulate (v..) – control by rule

 

 

Change the verbs to noun forms.

  1. Select a response correct or incorrect.
  2. Compare your response to the feedback by clicking the "Check 11-20" button at the bottom, or click the "Check" button to the left  as you go.

 

11.
Transportation in my country is very difficulty to use

     

12.
There are several buses, but they are always congestion with riding people. 

       

13.
The arrivings and departings are rarely on schedule. 

     

14.
The taxis are no better because the pay for a trip is too high.  

     

15.
Most people have a prefer share a ride. 

     

16.
The government regulations drivers. 

     

17.
However, no one does inspections to see if they are following the regulations. 

     

18.
Most people prefer the inter-city train that connectors the neighborhoods of the city. 

     

19.
The train attenders keep the train clean and safe. 

     

20.
The other option is to walk and use local shopping and services. 

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Practice 3

Focusing on the Action

Checking aircraft
 

 

Read Context

It is indispensable to supervise aircraft checks. ⇒

It is important to maintain an airplane.

It is necessary to inspect the engines.

It is critical to employ good technicians.

It is essential to transport passengers safely.

It is dangerous for any part of the airplane to fail.

It is required to approve all work on the aircraft.

It is necessary to replace all worn parts.

It is logical to require safety updates.

It is reasonable to retire an aircraft after twenty years.

The supervision of aircraft is indispensable. 

The…   is important.

The…   is necessary.

The…   is critical.

The…   is essential.

The…   is dangerous.

The…   is required.

The…   is necessary.

The…   is logical.

The…   is reasonable.

 

Also see "It is" + Adjective + Infinitive

 

 

Change the focus from the speaker's opinion to the action.

  1. Reword the sentence so that it begins with a noun clause not an it-clause.
  2. Compare your response to the feedback by clicking the "Check 21-30" button at the bottom, or click the "Check" button to the left  as you go.

 

21.
It is important to maintain an airplane.


22.
It is necessary to inspect the engines.


23.
It is critical to employ good technicians.


24.
It is essential to transport passengers safely.


25.
It is dangerous for any part of the airplane to fail.


26.
It is required to approve all work on the aircraft.


27.
It is necessary to replace all worn parts.


28.
It is logical to require safety updates.


29.
It is reasonable to retire an aircraft after twenty years.