Word Formation — Nouns

FCE Part 3 · -tion, -ment, -ness, -ity suffixes.

FCE Use of English Part 3 · Suffixes · Derivation

B2 Vocabulary

Why word formation matters

FCE Use of English Part 3 always tests word formation. You are given a base word and must change it to fit the gap. Most gaps require nouns, adjectives, verbs or adverbs.

-tion / -sion

innovate → innovation · discriminate → discrimination

-ment

achieve → achievement · employ → employment

-ness

aware → awareness · weak → weakness

-ity

diverse → diversity · equal → equality

-ance / -ence

resist → resistance · depend → dependence

-er / -or / -ist

employ → employer · innovate → innovator

Key noun formations

employ → employment

also: unemployment (un- prefix)

vary → variation / variety

two possible nouns from vary

automate → automation

the process of automating

equal → equality

also: inequality (in- prefix)

diverse → diversity

the quality of being diverse

sustain → sustainability

the ability to be sustained

Strategy for Part 3

Step 1: Read the sentence for meaning. Step 2: Decide what form is needed (noun). Step 3: Check if negative prefix is needed (un-, in-, dis-). Step 4: Check for irregular forms.

There is growing ______ of climate change. (AWARE) → awareness

The ______ in the workforce has declined. (DIVERSE) → diversity

______ has risen since automation began. (EMPLOY) → Unemployment

Summary of noun suffixes

-tion / -sion

most common — from Latin-root verbs

-ment

from verbs — achievement, development

-ness

from adjectives — awareness, weakness

-ity

from adjectives — diversity, equality

-ance / -ence

from verbs — resistance, dependence