Word Formation: Nouns helps you communicate about naming actions, states, qualities and people. Start with the meaning, notice the pattern, and then use it in complete sentences.
By the end of this lesson, you can
- I can form nouns from verbs and adjectives using common suffixes.
- Recognise and build the form: base + -tion/-ment/-ness/-ity/-er/-ance and spelling changes.
- Use the pattern accurately in a meaningful sentence.
Meaning and use
Use Word Formation: Nouns for naming actions, states, qualities and people. Always read the whole situation before choosing the form: grammar expresses a meaning, not only a pattern.
The team celebrated its achievement.
Add '-ment' to 'achieve' to form the noun 'achievement'.
We need more information before deciding.
The noun derived from 'inform' is 'information'.
Her kindness helped everyone relax.
Add '-ness' to the adjective 'kind' to form an abstract noun.
base + -tion/-ment/-ness/-ity/-er/-ance and spelling changesKeep this pattern visible while you study the examples. Then cover it and rebuild one example from memory.
Key rules to notice
These rules explain why the form is correct. Focus on the subject, auxiliary, verb form, word order and time or meaning clues.
- Add '-ment' to 'achieve' to form the noun 'achievement'.
- The noun derived from 'inform' is 'information'.
- Add '-ness' to the adjective 'kind' to form an abstract noun.
- The noun from 'populate' is 'population'.
- 'Priority' is the noun naming something more important than others.
Common mistakes
Not:The team celebrated its achieve.
Use:The team celebrated its achievement.
Add '-ment' to 'achieve' to form the noun 'achievement'.
Not:We need more inform before deciding.
Use:We need more information before deciding.
The noun derived from 'inform' is 'information'.
Not:Her kind helped everyone relax.
Use:Her kindness helped everyone relax.
Add '-ness' to the adjective 'kind' to form an abstract noun.
Check before you practise
Complete each sentence mentally, then reveal the answer.
The city has a large student ____.
population
The noun from 'populate' is 'population'.
Safety is our main ____.
priority
'Priority' is the noun naming something more important than others.
The ____ of the new system took months.
development
Add '-ment' to form the process noun 'development'.