Synthesis & Transformation – What are Interchanging Word Classes?

In the P5 and P6 English Synthesis & Transformation (S&T) components, interchanging word classes appear regularly. There is almost always one question in every exercise that tests students on their ability to change a verb to a noun or an adjective to a noun etc.

1. What are word classes?

2. How do we transform the word class?

Today we will look at two categories of word classes that commonly appear in S&T:

3. Examples of Verb to Noun transformation

We are able to change a verb to a noun by adding one of the following suffixes :

The ‘-ance’ suffix

from appeared to appearance

The ‘-ion’ suffix

From conclude to conclusion

The ‘-ment’ suffix

From achieve to achievement

The ‘-nce’ suffix

From avoid to avoidance

The ‘-ion’ suffix

From confused to confusion

The ‘-ion’ suffix again

From create to creation

The ‘-y’ suffix

From injure to injury

The ‘-er’ suffix

From farm to farmer

Here are a few Synthesis & Transformation questions that require you to change from a verb to a noun for practice.

Can you change the verb to the correct noun?

4. Examples of Adjective to Noun transformation

Now, let’s look at adjective to a noun, which is found more frequently in P6 synthesis & transformation questions.

We are able to change an adjective to a noun by adding one of the following suffixes :

The ‘-dom’ suffix

From free to freedom

The ‘-ness’ suffix

From kind to kindness

The ‘-th’ suffix

From true to truth

The ‘-ty’ suffix

From safe to safety

The ‘-ity’ suffix

From similar to simliarity

Here are a few Synthesis & Transformation ‘adjective to noun’ questions for practice. Can you change the adjective to the correct noun?

We hope this has helped you understand how to transform a verb or adjective into a noun. At TF, our students are given such lists in P5 and then again in P6. As this is one of the common S&T question types to appear in examinations, do take time to make a list of verbs and adjectives on your own.