Transforming verbs to nouns

Chapter 2

Transforming verbs to nouns

Objective
To change verbs to nouns using the suffixes ‘-ity’, ‘-ism’ and ‘-ness’.
Background knowledge
Certain verbs can be changed into nouns by adding a suffix. When the root word ends in the vowel ‘e’ and the suffix begins with a vowel, as in ‘-ity’ and ‘-ism’, the final vowel of the root word is dropped. When the suffix begins with a consonant, as in ‘-ness’, it is simply added to the root word, whatever the final letter.
To join root words to these suffixes, different joins will be used depending on the final letter of the root and the beginning letter of the suffix, including the end-low diagonal and the end-high horizontal join.
Left-handers may wish to lift their pen from the paper while joining, thus avoiding having to push awkwardly across the page. If the ink or pencil trace disappears, do not tell them they have to produce a joining mark. However, do ensure they are joining just above the paper, rather than printing. Left-handers may also want to produce a sharper, more italic-style exit to their end-low joins. This is fine as long as they leave enough space between their words and don’t cramp their letters together.

● Photocopiable page 55 ‘Verbs to nouns (2)’ In this activity, the children are given five verbs ending in ‘-ise’ and asked to change them to nouns by adding the suffix ‘-ism’. Remind them that the second form of ‘s’ will be used in the suffix. They practise a number of different types of join including end-high horizontal and diagonal joins. Remind the children about dropping the final ‘e’ of the root word before adding a vowel suffix. ● Photocopiable page 56 ‘Verbs and adjectives to nouns using ‘-ness’’ The children are given a list of verbs and adjectives to change into nouns by adding the suffix ‘-ness’. The joins they practise are the end-low diagonal join, and the end-high horizontal and drop-on joins. When adding this consonant suffix, the children do not need to alter the root word when they add the suffix, unless the root word ends in ‘y’. They have further practice by choosing three of the nouns to use in sentences, thus demonstrating an understanding of the meaning and use of the nouns.
Further ideas
● Alliterative sentences: Ask the children to choose words from the activities in this section and write alliterative sentences. Encourage them to have fun with the sentences; they can be silly sentences and don’t need to make sense.
What’s on the CD-ROM

Activities
● Photocopiable page 54 ‘Verbs to nouns (1)’ The children change a verb in a sentence into a noun by adding the suffix ‘-ity’. They practise the end-low diagonal join from the letters ‘u’, ‘t’, ‘d’, ‘l’ and ‘s’ to ‘i’, and the end-high horizontal join from ‘r’ and ‘v’ to ‘i’. Certain root words need care as the root changes when a suffix is added (‘brief’ to ‘brevity’).

On the CD-ROM you will find: ● Animation of the joins. ● All of the photocopiable pages.

Scholastic Literacy Skills Handwriting: Years 5–6 53