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