Word Formation: Adjective Derivation 1

Starter

Show learners the first slide and the three sentences. Ask them to identify the adjectives and to think of an affix they could attach to each one to change the meaning. Show some possible solutions in the next slide and explain how, just like with nouns, we can use affixes to alter the meaning of adjectives. 

Activity 1

Show the learners the five sentences in the next slide. Ask learners to work in pairs or small groups to identify a prefix or suffix they can add to each adjective to alter the meaning. Ask learners to share their answers with the whole class before revealing the solution in the next slide. Accept any feasible alternatives e.g. yellowish

Activity 2

Next, show the learners two more suffixes: -ish and -ly and explain how they are used to show that the adjective indicates the qualities of the base noun with the two examples. Ask learners if they can think of any other examples of nouns that can be derived in the same way, and if they notice any pattern in their meaning. 

In the next slide, reveal the solution: adjectives formed with -ish have more negative connotations, while those with -ly are more positive. Next, ask learners to attempt the mix-and-match activity. Have them copy down the base words and suffixes, and then match the appropriate parts together. Ask them to compare with a partner before completing the activity as a whole class. Ask volunteers to come up to the white board to connect the words and suffixes. Drag and drop to connect, and double click to separate. Make note of the spelling changes in the next slide. 

To finish, as the learners to write at least seven sentences using the adjectives they formed in the previous activity. Have them share their sentences with a friend before sharing the best examples with the whole class. 

 

This lesson is adapted (with permission) from Words and Meanings: A Systematic Guide for the Teaching of English Vocabulary, by Gabriele Stein.

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Word Formation: Adjective Derivation 1

Starter

Read these three sentences. Identify the adjective in each. Discuss if you can add an affixes to change the meaning of the adjective in each sentence. 

  1. This is the only weekly magazine.
  2. She had a cold and a red nose.
  3. My kids always get too active after having sweets.

Here are some ways you could have changed the adjectives with affixes. 

  1. This is the only bi-weekly magazine.
  2. She had a cold and a reddish nose.
  3. My kids always get too hyperactive after having sweets.

Just like with nouns, we can use prefixes and suffixes to alter the meaning of adjectives. 

Activity 1

Read these sentences. Use affixes to alter the meaning of each highlighted adjective.  

  1. The pupils don't like that teachers since he's always critical.
  2. The newspaper had been left out in the sun and turned yellow.
  3. These rich people travel round the world on their private yachts.
  4. For a girl on the basketball team, she's on the short side.
  5. We arranged the chairs into a circular shape.

Here are some examples of how you may have changed the sentences: 

  1. The pupils don't like that teachers since he's always hypercritical.
  2. The newspaper had been left out in the sun and turned yellowy.
  3. These superrich people travel round the world on their private yachts.
  4. For a girl on the basketball team, she's on the shortish side.
  5. We arranged the chairs into a semi-circular shape.

Activity 2

The suffixes -ish and -ly are added to nouns to indicate that the adjective has the qualities of the noun. 

Can you list any other adjectives derived in the same way? What do you notice about their meaning? 

Usually, adjectives with -ish have a more negative connotation while those with -ly are more positive. 

In the next activity, match the suffixes to the correct adjective. Discuss which ones are more positive or negative, and note any spelling changes. 

 

Note the spelling changes:

Look back at the adjectives in the last activity. Write seven sentences each using a different -ish or -ly adjective.

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Word Formation: Adjective Derivation 2

Starter

Show learners the first slide and the four sentences. Ask them to transform the base word in brackets into an adjective by using an affix. Ask them to attempt this individually, then in pairs and finally to share with the whole class. Discuss to see if they noticed any patterns. Show the solutions in the next slide. All these examples use suffixes to change a noun into an adjective that shares the same qualities. Also, note that sometimes spelling changes are required. 

Activity 1

In the next activity, learners will try to match base nouns to the correct suffix to form an adjective. First, ask learners to copy down the words and suffixes and attempt to match them independently. Then, share their answers in pairs or groups, before completing the activity as a whole class on the interactive white board. Drag and drop the cards to connect and double click to separate. There are twenty examples in total. Use the 'new examples' button to see more. Remember to show the next slide to check which ones require spelling changes. Finally, ask learners to write and share at least ten sentences using adjectives from the activity.

Activity 2

Explain that there are more suffixes that can be used to change nouns to adjectives. Ask the learner to convert the two bracketed base nouns in the example sentences. Show the solution in the next slide. 

Show the learners the list of ten base nouns in the next slide. Ask learners to work indepently: first, to add the correct suffix (bearing in mind spelling changes), and second, to write a sentence using each of the newly formed adjectives. Once they have finished, ask them to compare in small groups before revealing the correct spellings in the last slide and sharing some of the best sentences with the whole class. 

This lesson is adapted (with permission) from Words and Meanings: A Systematic Guide for the Teaching of English Vocabulary, by Gabriele Stein.

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Word Formation: Adjective Derivation 2

Starter

Read these four sentences. Each one has a base word in brackets you need to transfrom into an adjective by adding an affix.

What do the examples have in common? Where do they differ?

  1. The crowd was listening to the (beard) man giving a speech.
  2. She was (hope) that the weather would change soon.
  3. The (fury) child ran out the room.
  4. He picked up the old clock which was broken and (dust).

All these sentences use different suffixes to turn nouns into adjectives. The adjectives express having what the noun denotes. There are many different suffixes used to form adjectives.

  1. The crowd was listening to the bearded man giving a speech.
  2. She was hopeful that the weather would change soon.
  3. The furious child ran out the room.
  4. He picked up the old clock which was broken and dusty.

Sometimes, they require spelling changes such as fury - furious

Activity 1

In the next activity, match together the base noun with the right suffix to form an adjective. 

Drag the cards together to connect and double-click to separate. There are twenty total examples to try!

Write out a list of all twenty. How many require spelling changes? 

 

The words which need spelling changes are: 

  • envy - envious
  • glory - glorious
  • harmony - harmonious
  • juice - juicy

Choose ten adjectives from your list and write a sentence for each. 

Activity 2

There are more suffixes we can use to change nouns into adjectives. Read these two sentences. Use a suffix to transform the base noun in brackets into an adjective.

  1. The teacher searched online to find some (education) materials for their class.
  2. The girls received an award for her (hero) behaviour.

In both these sentences, the adjective expresses the quality denoted by the base noun.

  1. The teacher searched online to find some educational materials for their class.
  2. The girls received an award for her heroic behaviour.

There are many more suffixes which are used to convert nouns into adjectives. 

Read this list of ten base nouns. Then, choose the correct suffix to transform each into an adjective. Watch out for any spelling changes! Finally, write a sentence for each one.

  1. allergy
  2. alphabet
  3. culture
  4. fact
  5. government
  6. metal
  7. nonsense
  8. philosophy
  9. region
  10. revolution

Compare with a partner. What sentences did you come up with for each word?

  1. allergic
  2. alphabetical
  3. cultural
  4. factual
  5. governmental
  6. metallic
  7. nonsensical
  8. philosophical
  9. regional
  10. revolutionary

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