RETEACH

Name: Date:

PATTERNS OF WORD CHANGES

Words that end in the suffix –ion are nouns that express action (such as cognition
or submission) or a condition (relation). These nouns can easily be changed into
an adjective describing an action or condition by changing the suffix to –ive
(cognitive, submissive, relative).
A. DIRECTIONS: Read each of the nouns in the box. Then, change each noun’s suffix
from –ion to –ive to create an adjective that completes one of the sentences below.

action disruption representation decoration relation

1. The volcanoes on the island are so that tourists

are no longer allowed to visit them.

2. The sounds coming from the construction site were very to the
students taking the test.

3. Our front yard is in great disarray to our neighbor’s

lawn.

4. The gardening club in town planted flowers and bushes at the new
entrance to the town park.
5. I hope the rainy weather over the last few days is not of
how the weather will be next week!

B. DIRECTIONS: Read each sentence below with the underlined adjective ending in
-ive. Then, rewrite the sentence, changing the adjective into a noun ending in –ion
that expresses an action or condition.
Example: My brother was very accusative when his bike was stolen.
My brother made accusations when his bike was stolen.
1. The denotative meaning of a word is the dictionary definition of that word.

2. My Mom is so intuitive, she can tell when I’m sad the minute I walk in the
door.

3. I am obsessive about watching old movies, and I could spend an entire

weekend watching them!

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 PRACTICE

Name: Date:

PATTERNS OF WORD CHANGES

A. DIRECTIONS: Read each sentence below. Complete the sentence by filling in the
blank with the correct –ive adjective form of the –ion noun in parentheses.
1. My (communication) grandmother tells stories about
writing long letters and talking on the telephone for hours before she had
email, texting, and social media.

2. The (production) efforts of many volunteers have

made it possible to open the new library on time.

3. Reading (detection) novels taught me how

to solve the mystery of our missing cat.

4. Some people enjoy very (imagination) books, but I

prefer to read non-fiction.

B. DIRECTIONS: For each item, change the noun ending in –ion to an adjective ending
in –ive. Then, write a sentence using the adjective form of the word.
1. creation

2. perception

3. speculation

4. protection

C. DIRECTIONS: Pretend you are a famous inventor that has recently developed a
machine that turns cucumbers into chocolate. Tell us an interesting fact about your
newest creation, using both the –ive and –ion forms of the word invent.

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