C2 — MasteryVocabulary· Word formation
Advanced Word Formation
Build precise nouns, adjectives and verbs with prefixes and suffixes, as tested in proficiency exams.
15 min Challenging
Productive suffixes
- -ance / -ence: reluctance, coherence
- -ity: feasibility, ambiguity
- -ise / -ify: prioritise, exemplify
- -ous / -ive / -al: meticulous, persuasive, marginal
Prefixes that change meaning
- under- / over-: underestimate, overstate
- mis-: misinterpret; dis-: disregard
- counter-: counterproductive; pre-: presuppose
Exam tasks usually require a change of word class plus a possible negative prefix, so read the whole sentence first.