B2 First: word formation (nouns with -ment and -ness)
Many verbs can form nouns with the suffix -ment. And many adjectives can form their nouns with the suffix -ness.
Look at the examples in the table for a few minutes and try to remember the words. Then click below to hide the information and try to answer the questions at the bottom.
Verb | Noun |
---|---|
achieve | achievement |
amuse | amusement |
argue | argument |
develop | development |
encourage | encouragement |
excite | excitement |
improve | improvement |
involve | involvement |
judge | judgement |
measure | measurement |
Adjective | Noun |
---|---|
aware | awareness |
dark | darkness |
forgetful | forgetfulness |
happy | happiness |
homeless | homelessness |
lazy | laziness |
lonely | loneliness |
rude | rudeness |
tidy | tidiness |
weak | weakness |
Practice 1: word formation (use of English part 3)
Write the correct form of the word in brackets to complete these sentences. There are lots more examples here than in the list above, so remember that often verbs use '-ment' to make nouns, and often adjectives use '-ness'. And remember that sometimes the nouns will be plural!