Grammar Word Formation Verbs From Adjectives. For example glad becomes gladden, dark becomes darken, wide becomes widen

English Language 

Grammar Work 

Second Term Lesson Note

Week 6

Primary 6 

Grammar Word Formation Verbs From Adjectives. For example glad becomes gladden, dark becomes darken, wide becomes widen 

Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to 

1. Form verbs from adjectives 
2. Recognize the suffixes that are used to form verbs from adjectives 
3. Use the formed verbs and adjectives in sentences to show their meanings 

Entry Behaviour

Pupils have previous knowledge of words like verbs, Nouns or adjectives. They have been taught parts of speech in their previous classes or lessons .

Instructional Materials

• Audio Visual Resources 
• Flash cards 
• Online Dictionary 
• Recommended English Textbook 
• Chart 
• Hard copy dictionary 

Methods of Teaching

• Class Discussion
• Group Discussion
• Asking Questions
• Explanation
• Role Modelling
• Role Delegation

Reference Materials 

• Scheme of Work
• Online Information
• Textbooks
• Workbooks
• 9 Year Basic Education Curriculum

Content 

In English, it is common to form verbs from adjectives by adding the suffix -en. This is called verbing or verbing out, and it is a productive process in the English language, meaning that it can be applied to many different adjectives to create new verbs.

For example:

• Glad can be verbed out to form the verb gladden, meaning “to make glad or happy.”
• Dark can be verbed out to form the verb darken, meaning “to make or become dark.”
• Wide can be verbed out to form the verb widen, meaning “to make or become wider.”

Other examples of adjectives that can be verbed out in this way include:

• Bright (to brighten)
• Deep (to deepen)
• High (to heighten)
• Light (to lighten)
• Long (to lengthen)
• Strong (to strengthen)

It is important to note that not all adjectives can be verbed out in this way, and the meaning of the resulting verb may not always be immediately clear. It is always a good idea to consult a dictionary or other reliable source when trying to understand the meaning of a new word.

More examples in sentences 

1. Alison is sure that her love for her husband will deepen over the years.
2. Oh dear… This sauce is much too liquid. It’ll have to be thickened with a little flour.
3. This road is much too narrow and lorries can’t take it. It should be widened before next year.
4. Exercising twice a week will develop his muscles and will really strengthen him before the competition.
5. Please, stay calm and polite. Cursing and threatening me will not help at all!
6. This banana is green. Let it ripen for a day or two, and it will taste better.
7. Pamela! Turn down the volume, please… Your music is deafening. Stop it now!
8. Really! I think the economic situation is worsening in that country…
9. Lucy! This dress is much too long! I’ll shorten it for you!
10. This lemon drink is too bitter! Can you sweeten it for me, please?

Presentation

The lesson presentation is done step by step. The class teacher or subject teacher does the following

Warm-up: Review the concept of adjectives with students. Ask them to provide examples of adjectives and have them share their examples with the class.

Introduction: Introduce the concept of verbing or verbing out, which is the process of forming verbs from adjectives by adding the suffix -en. Provide examples of verbs formed from adjectives, such as “brighten” (from the adjective “bright”), “darken” (from the adjective “dark”), and “widen” (from the adjective “wide”).

Activity 1: Have students work in pairs or small groups to come up with a list of at least 10 adjectives that can be verbed out by adding -en. Encourage them to think of as many different adjectives as possible and to use a dictionary or thesaurus if needed.

Activity 2: Have students share their lists with the class and write the verbed-out versions of the adjectives that they have.

Evaluation 

1. To make something wider, you can use the verb __________. a. widen b. widthen c. widther
2. To make something brighter, you can use the verb __________. a. brighten b. brightenize c. brightenizey
3. To make something stronger, you can use the verb __________. a. strengthen b. strengthenize c. strengthenizey
4. To make something longer, you can use the verb __________. a. lengthen b. lengthify c. lengthenize
5. To make something lighter, you can use the verb __________. a. lighten b. lightify c. lightenize
6. To make something deeper, you can use the verb __________. a. deepen b. deepify c. deepifyer
7. To make something taller, you can use the verb __________. a. heighten b. heightify c. heightenize
8. To make something shorter, you can use the verb __________. a. shorten b. shortify c. shortenize
9. To make something thicker, you can use the verb __________. a. thicken b. thickify c. thickifyer
10. To make something fresher, you can use the verb __________. a. freshen b. freshenize c. freshenizey

Conclusion

• In English, it is common to form verbs from adjectives by adding the suffix -en. This is called verbing or verbing out, and it is a productive process in the English language, meaning that it can be applied to many different adjectives to create new verbs.
• By understanding and using verbs formed from adjectives, you can expand your vocabulary and communicate more effectively in English. It is important to note, however, that not all adjectives can be verbed out in this way, and the meaning of the resulting verb may not always be immediately clear.
• As a final review, let’s look at a few more examples of verbs formed from adjectives: __________ (from “happy”), __________ (from “weak”), __________ (from “heavy”), __________ (from “dark”). Can you think of any other adjectives that can be verbed out in this way?
• Practice using verbs formed from adjectives in your own writing and speaking. Try using a dictionary or thesaurus to find new adjectives to verb out and see how you can use them in sentences.
• Remember, verbing out is a useful technique for expanding your vocabulary and improving your communication skills in English. With practice and a little bit of creativity, you can use it to express yourself more effectively and add variety to your language.