Grammar: Word Formation – Verbs from Adjectives Basic 6 English Studies Lesson Note

How to Form Verbs from Adjectives:

Common Suffixes:

• -en: Make adjectives into verbs
• -ify/-fy: Change adjectives to verbs meaning “to make”
• -ize/-ise: Transform adjectives into action verbs

Examples:

Adding -en:

• dark → darken (to make dark)
• wide → widen (to make wide)
• deep → deepen (to make deep)
• short → shorten (to make short)
• sweet → sweeten (to make sweet)

Adding -ify:

• simple → simplify (to make simple)
• pure → purify (to make pure)
• clear → clarify (to make clear)

Adding -ize:

• modern → modernize (to make modern)
• legal → legalize (to make legal)

More Examples:

• glad → gladden
• hard → harden
• soft → soften
• weak → weaken
• bright → brighten
• straight → straighten

Exercise E – Verb Formation

Form verbs from these adjectives:

1. thick → __________
2. loose → __________
3. sharp → __________
4. tight → __________
5. fresh → __________
6. rich → __________
7. cheap → __________
8. quick → __________

Exercise F – Complete the Sentences

Use the correct verb form of the adjective in brackets:

1. Please ________ (wide) the road for more cars.
2. The medicine will ________ (sweet) the bitter taste.
3. We need to ________ (deep) our understanding of the topic.
4. The tailor will ________ (short) your dress tomorrow.
5. Can you ________ (simple) this explanation for the children?

Exercise G – Match Adjectives with Their Verbs

Draw lines to connect each adjective with its verb form: