Word Formation: Adjectives with -ful/-less
Most adjectives which end in -ful make the negative with -less. But, not all. Note also
that we can make adverbs from these adjectives with -fully or -lessly. For example,
carefully and carelessly.
Look at the information in the table for 1-2 minutes and try to remember the words.
Then click below to hide the information and try to answer the questions at the
bottom.
The words in this table all use -ful and -less to make the adjectives.
Noun
care
harm
help
hope
pain
power
use
thought
taste
Verb
care
harm
help
hope
pain
power
use
think
taste
Adjective
careful/careless
harmful/harmless
(un)helpful/helpless
hopeful/hopeless
painful/painless
powerful/powerless
useful/useless
thoughtful/thoughtless
tasteful/tasteless
The adjectives in this table take -ful or -less, but not both.
Noun
count
end
home
peace
play
price
success
truth
worth
Verb
count
end
play
price
succeed
worth
Adjective
countless/countable
endless
homeless
peaceful
playful
priceless
(un)successful
(un)truthful/(un)true
worthless
Write the correct adjective or adverb for each of these questions. You will need to
use -ful/-less or -fully/-lessly. Some answers will also need un-.
1. What a lovely present! That was very
2. He drives really
of you. (THINK)
- one day he's going to have an accident. (CARE)
3. He's told me
times about how good he is at football. (COUNT)
4. Because of his bad interview, he was
in his job application.
(SUCCEED)
5. "I didn't eat your chocolate," she said
, hiding the empty wrapper.
(TRUE)
6. It's
. England will never win the World Cup football again. (HOPE)
7. My best friend is a rich,
lawyer. (POWER)
8. You must remember to recharge your phone. Without its batteries,
it's
. (USE)
9. Cigarettes are
to your health. (HARM)
10.The sales assistant was really
and rude. (HELP)
11.A newborn baby is completely
. (HELP)
12."Don't worry - this injection will be completely
13.Thieves broke into the museum and stole a
(PRICE)
14.She's really rich, but her clothes are always very
. (PAIN)
painting by Van Gogh.
and elegant.
(TASTE)
15.I bought some shares in the company 5 years ago, but unfortunately now they
are
. (WORTH)
16.His speech went on
. I thought he'd never stop talking. (END)
PHRASAL VERBS
Look at the phrasal verbs and their definitions for 1 minute and try to remember as
many as possible. Then click to hide the information and try to answer the questions.
Phrasal Verb
Meaning
Don't worry, I'll back you up
help/support sb
The bully beat up the other children.
hit/kick sb
repeatedly
Terrorists tried blow up the station.
explode
Why did he break up with me?
end a relationship
You mustn't bring up his divorce.
mention sth
His divorce might come up.
a topic is mentioned
We always end up eating fast food.
finally do this thing
I usually get up early.
leave my bed
I tried to give up eating chocolate.
stop a habit
Children grow up quickly nowadays.
become older/an
adult
I can't keep up.
do sth fast enough
If you don't understand, look it up.
look for a piece of
info
You should take up a new sport.
start doing a hobby
Don't turn up late on a first date.
arrive
Please don't throw up on the sofa.
be sick
Part 1: Multiple Choice ClozeChoose the best word to complete the following sentences.
1.
I _______ up football when I was 12 years old, and I loved it.
came
took
brought
turned
2.
I _______ up football after I broke my leg, because I didn't enjoy it.
gave
took
kept
turned
3.
I couldn't ______ up with the work my teacher gave me - it was too difficult.
back
end
bring
keep
4.
"Tell your boss you want more money. I'll _____ you up.
bring
back
look
put
5.
She's sensitive about her weight, so only talk about it if she _____ it up.
makes
gets
brings
comes
Open Cloze
The missing word could be the verb (e.g. bring/brought/bringing), the pronoun (e.g.
it) or the particle (e.g. up).
1.
I woke up at 6 am, but I didn't
up until I heard the phone ring.
2.
If you don't know the answer, you could
3.
I love films with explosions and things being
it up on the Internet.
up.
4.
Did Tom tell you about his new job? No, it never
5.
I'm not coming to work today. I've thrown
6.
You don't need an appointment - just
7.
He's depressed because he's
8.
I promise I'll back
9.
Simon was attacked on the way home last night. The robbers beat
badly.
10. It's bad manners to
13. I
three times this morning.
up when you like.
up with his girlfriend.
up if you need my help.
up the topic of religion at the dinner table.
11. The party started well, but I
12. He ran so fast. I tried to
up.
up fighting with my best friend.
up but it was impossible.
up in a small town in Scotland.
14. Biting your fingernails is disgusting. You should really give
15. I'd never
up skiing. It looks really dangerous to me.
up.
up
