Vocabulary and Word Formation
Vocabulary and Word Formation tests your ability to choose the word that fits meaning, grammar, and collocation, and to build new words from roots, prefixes, and suffixes.
Synonym precision
Synonyms overlap but rarely coincide. Check register, collocation, and strength. Refuse and decline both mean not accept, but decline an invitation is idiomatic while refuse an invitation is blunter.
Antonyms and context
Antonyms may be gradable (hot/cold), complementary (alive/dead), or relational (buy/sell). Negative prefixes are not interchangeable: in-, im-, il-, ir-, un-, dis-. Compare illegal, impossible, irregular, disagree, unfair.
Idioms and phrasal verbs
Treat them as single units. Put off = postpone; put up with = tolerate; call off = cancel. The particle changes the meaning, so learn verb + particle + example together.
Word formation
Identify the part of speech the slot requires: after a determiner you need a noun; before a noun, an adjective; after to, a base verb. Then apply a suffix: -tion, -ment, -ness (nouns); -ive, -ous, -al (adjectives); -ly (adverbs); -ise/-ize (verbs).
Worked example
The scientist's findings were ___ (revolution). Reasoning: the slot follows were and functions as a subject complement, so an adjective is needed. Revolution → revolutionary. The suffix -ary forms an adjective meaning causing major change; revolutional is not standard, and a noun would leave the sentence without a complement.
Traps that cost marks
- Choosing a synonym that changes the grammar pattern.
- Reading idioms literally.
- Confusing affect/effect and practice/practise.
- Using the wrong suffix class.
- Assuming every in- word is negative: inflammable means flammable.