Converting Words into Verbs · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

Turning words into verbs

English · Grammar & Punctuation · ages 9-10
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. What does the verb 'advertise' mean?

    • To build something new
    • To tell people about something
    • To hide something away

  2. Which suffix turns 'pollen' into a verb?

    • -ify
    • -ous
    • -ate

  3. Before you add -ify, what kind of word is 'simple'?

    • A describing word
    • An action word
    • A naming word

  4. 'Pollen' is an action word.

    Circle one:   True   False

  5. Which verb correctly comes from the noun 'class'?

    class+ -ify
    • classify
    • classate
    • classise

  6. Choose the sentence that correctly uses a verb made from 'active'.

    • The team wants to activation the alarm.
    • The team wants to activate the alarm.
    • The team wants to active the alarm.

  7. Choose the sentence that uses 'simplify' correctly.

    • Good pictures simplify the rules.
    • The simplify fell off the board.
    • The rules were very simplify.

  8. Which root word hides inside 'activate'?

    • act
    • tivate
    • active

  9. Leo wrote: 'We should modern the hall before the fair.' What is his mistake?

    • There is no mistake
    • He needs the verb form 'modernize' instead of 'modern'
    • He needs 'modernness' instead

  10. Read: 'We classify the rocks.' Why does the sentence need a word like 'we' at the front?

    • A verb needs someone or something doing the action
    • It just makes the sentence longer
    • Verbs are not allowed to start a sentence
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Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Turning words into verbs W1-mt_p3tZiUaWAa-s1

  1. To tell people about something · Advertise means to tell people about something, like a sale or a show.
  2. -ate · Pollen plus -ate makes pollinate, an action word.
  3. A describing word · Simple describes something, like a simple game. The suffix -ify turns it into the action word simplify.
  4. False · Pollen names a thing. The action word is pollinate, made by adding -ate.
  5. classify · Class takes -ify to become classify, meaning to sort into groups.
  6. The team wants to activate the alarm. · Active plus -ate makes activate, the verb form you use for the action.
  7. Good pictures simplify the rules. · Simplify is an action word, so it needs someone or something doing the action.
  8. active · Activate is active plus -ate, so the root word is active.
  9. He needs the verb form 'modernize' instead of 'modern' · Modern is a describing word. To show the action, Leo needs the verb modernize.
  10. A verb needs someone or something doing the action · Classify shows an action, and an action needs a doer. 'We' tells you who does the sorting.
Worksheet · LightMySky