Changing Word Forms
In this type of activity, students are given words in a list, not in text, and are required to change their forms according to the directions (e.g., singular noun to plural noun, present tense verb to past tense verb). Initially, this category included exercises involving the alteration of words within a text. However, in order to create a clear distinction between Changing Word Forms and exercises found under the heading Fill-in-the-Blank, such examples were eliminated from this class and reassigned to the Fill-in-the-Blank category.
Other Related Categories in this Inventory
ACTIVITIES:
1. Form modifying compounds or expressions from the following phrases.
1. a student that is hunting a job a job-hunting student
2. an event that shakes the world ____________________
3. a situation that produces fear ____________________
4. a public that goes to films ____________________
5. a salesman who talks fast ____________________
6. a woman who is oriented toward a career ____________________
7. a house that is newly renovated ____________________
8. a man who has dark hair ____________________
9. a scarf that is woven by hand ____________________
10. an apartment that has five rooms ____________________
11. a man who has stooped shoulders ____________________
12. a composition that has 500 words ____________________
13. a training program that is fast paced ____________________
14. a decision that rends the heart ____________________
15. an area that is stricken with poverty ____________________
Dunham, H. and Summers, C. (1986). English Integrated.
2. Write the comparative and superlative forms of these adjectives.
| Comparative | Superlative | |
| expensive | ||
| cheap | ||
| safe | ||
| dangerous | ||
| long | ||
| short | ||
| small |
Foley, B. and Dowling, G. (1990). Grammar in Action, Book Two.
3. In the space provided below, form the singular and plural possessives of the following words.
| Noun | Singular Possessive Form | Plural Possessive Form |
| book | book's | books' |
| 1. woman | ||
| 2. girl | ||
| 3. pen | ||
| 4. baby | ||
| 5. brother | ||
| 6. roommate | ||
| 7. anybody | ||
| 8. neighbor | ||
| 9. child | ||
| 10. wife | ||
| 11. teacher |
Byrd, P. and Benson, B. (1992). Applied English Grammar.
4. Write the plural form of each noun, then pronounce each plural form.
EXAMPLES: leaf leaves
toy toys
| 1. dish __________ | 17. mosquito __________ |
| 2. country __________ | 18. lion __________ |
| 3. half __________ | 19. fly __________ |
| 4. book __________ | 20. cow __________ |
| 5. boy __________ | 21. shark __________ |
| 6. girl __________ | 22. roach __________ |
| 7. bench __________ | 23. fox __________ |
| 8. box __________ | 24. horse __________ |
| 9. table __________ | 25. turkey __________ |
| 10. stereo __________ | 26. chicken __________ |
| 11. knife __________ | 27. wolf __________ |
| 12. story __________ | 28. dog __________ |
| 13. sofa __________ | 29. squirrel __________ |
| 14. key __________ | 30. pony __________ |
| 15. movie __________ | 31. duck __________ |
| 16. bath __________ | 32. moth __________ |
Elbaum, S. (1996). Grammar in Context, Book 1, 2nd ed.
5. The following is a partially completed chart of the most common irregular verbs in English. Check your knowledge of irregular verbs by filling in the blanks to complete the entire chart. You may work with other students to share your knowledge, or you might want to refer to a dictionary for the forms you are not sure of.
| Simple Form | Past Tense Form | Past Participle |
| become | ||
| begin | ||
| bent | ||
| bet | ||
| bind | ||
| bet | ||
| bled | ||
| blow | ||
| broke | ||
| brought | ||
| build | ||
| bought | ||
| catch | ||
| chose | ||
| come | ||
| cost | ||
| cut | ||
| dug | ||
| do | ||
| drew | ||
| drunk | ||
| drive | ||
| ate | ||
| fallen | ||
| feed | ||
| felt | ||
| fought | ||
| find | ||
| fit | ||
| fly | ||
| forbid | ||
| forget | ||
| forgave | ||
| frozen |
Thewlis, S. (1993). Grammar Dimensions, Book Three.
Return to Table of Contents for Grammar Activities Inventory