Interchanging Word Classes in Primary 5 Synthesis & Transformation & List of Adjectives to Nouns

In the P5 and P6 English Synthesis & Transformation (S&T) component, interchanging word classes appear regularly. There is almost always one question in every exercise that tests students’ ability to change a verb in a noun or an adjective to a noun.

This question type appears so frequently that in the Synthesis and Transformation section of the PSLE 2022, it is featured in 3 out of 5 questions.

So, what are interchanging word classes, and how can we help our students excel in this? If you want more resources like this, please refer to our Primary 5 Paper 2 overview.

What are interchanging word classes?

Word classes are categories of words based on their function in a sentence. Common word classes include:

• Nouns (naming words)
• Verbs (action or being words)
• Adjectives (describing words)
• Adverbs (describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs)

Interchanging word classes means changing a word from one class to another form of the same root word.

This process is also known as word formation or conversion.

Why do students need to know how to use this?

It can help students understand grammar better

It expands vocabulary through word families

It improves writing with more variety, especially in compositions

It prepares students for synthesis and transformation tasks

How can students excel in this?

Reading widely can help students see how different classes of words are used in literature and grammar

Learning how to change the suffixes of verbs and adjectives to nouns

Having a list to help you

Doing S&T practices to use them correctly

Below is are 2 lists of common Adjectives to Nouns for Primary 5 students.

To understand how these word classes are used in P5 Synthesis & Transformation, let us take a look at the exercises below

She is very brave and everyone admires her.

Everyone admires her ___________________________________.

Answer : Everyone admires her for her bravery.

He is very honest. People trust him.

_____________________________________ because of _____________________________.

Answer : People trust him because of his honesty.

Mary is kind. She often helps her classmates.

__________________________________ out of ____________________________________.

Answer : Mary often helps her classmates out of kindness.

Now that you know what interchanging word classes are and how knowing them can help you in your synthesis & transformation, remember to do more practices to help you perfect it. Create you own lists and memorise them if needed.