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    Learn English > English lessons and exercises > English test #113964: Vocabulary: making verbs
    > Other English exercises on the same topics: How words are built | Find the word [Change theme]
    > Similar tests: - Finals in -y and -ie - Vocabulary: words starting with self- - Means, results : a synthesis... - Forming adjectives from nouns - Prefixes (1) - Words and suffixes - Prefixes 2 - Suffixes
    > Double-click on words you don't understand


    Vocabulary: making verbs


    How can you increase your vocabulary quite easily? This is a problem that the most hardworking learners keep trying to solve... There are methods to do so...

    We're going to have fun today: learning how to  make verbs... (it's often a true discovery and quite a wonder for learners!) and of course, the different tenses and forms of the verbs will be available to your creativity! 

    In order 'to make' a verb, you only have to follow a simple pattern:

    some nouns and many adjectives are added the suffix -EN : VERB= ADJECTIVE/ NOUN + -EN

    You may use these new easily learnt verbs, in many various ways! Literally speaking, it's a CHILDREN'S PLAY! 

     

    1° Some  NOUNS will give VERBS:  Don't forget: if you double-click on a word, you'll get the online dictionary...)

        (ADJECTIVES)         NOUNS         VERBS
           (High)   => the height    to heighten
           (Long)  => the length    to lengthen
               X  => a fright    to frighten
          (Hasty)   => haste    to hasten
          (Strong)  => the strength     to strengthen 
              X  => a threat    to threaten

     

    2° Many ADJECTIVES give birth to VERBS expressing:  

    a) Sizes, or dimensions: 

     Wide  => to widen
     Broad  => to broaden 
     Deep => to deepen 
     Right => to righten 
     Short  => to shorten
     Thick => to thicken

    b) Colours and aspects: 

     Bright => to brighten 
     Dark  => to darken 
     Light  => to lighten
     Red => to redden
     White  => to whiten
     Black => to blacken

     

    3° Many other ADJECTIVES:

     Awake => to awaken Ripe => to ripen
     Coarse  => to coarsen Rough => to toughen 
     Damp => to dampen   Sad => to sadden
     Dead => to deaden  Sharp => to sharpen
     Deaf => to deafen Sick => to sicken
     Fat => to fatten Smart => to smarten

      Soft => to soften
     Flat => to flatten Stiff => to stiffen
     Fresh => to freshen Straight   =S to straighten   
     Glad  => to gladden Sweet => to sweeten
     Hard => to harden Thick => to thicken
     Less => to lessen Tough => to toughen
     Loose => to loosen Weak => to weaken
     Mad => to madden Worse => to worsen
     Quick => to quicken Quiet => to quieten

     

    4° Do we, or don't we double the final consonant?  This is one of the questions you'll have to answer:

    Must we, or mustn't we, double the final consonant before adding the suffix - EN?

    -  If ever the noun (or the adjective) ends with  A CONSONANT,  preceded by a SINGLE vowel, which is preceded by a consonant, then, you must double the final consonant: glad=> to gladden; fat=> fatten.

     If the word ends with a double consonant, it remains unchanged:  less=> to lessen ; stiff=> stiffen.

    -  If the word ends with a vowel, preceded by a consonant, itself preceded by two vowels, the pattern  will be unchanged and the suffix is added: loose=> to loosen; you'll slowly get used to the words; in the meantime, do examine the pattern of the spelling of the root word carefully, and everything will be all right. Well well! You're ready to face the test! Go for it!

     

                      

     



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