Skip to main content
DigiTransact Mastermind
English•SHS Lexis & Structure

Word formation & register

Senior High 6 questions
AI-drafted from platform data — specialist review scheduledBy DigiTransact Mastermind editorial teamLast updated
Start practice

What word formation & register means

You learn how words change form when prefixes and suffixes are added. You also choose the word that fits a formal, neutral, or informal context, so your writing and answers sound accurate.

What you will practise

  • Add prefixes to make negative or opposite meanings.
  • Use suffixes to change verbs into nouns and other forms.
  • Choose the word that matches the register of the sentence.
  • Spot the correct form of a word in a given context.

Before you start

You should already know common English words and their meanings. It also helps if you can tell nouns, verbs, and adjectives apart.

Worked example

One question from this skill's own question bank, shown with its full working.

Question

Add a prefix to “possible” to mean “not possible”.

  • un-
  • im-
  • dis-
  • re-
Answer: im-

Working: The correct negative prefix here is “im-”, giving “impossible”.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Using the wrong prefix for a negative meaning, such as choosing one that does not fit the base word.
  • Changing a verb into the wrong noun form, instead of checking how the spelling changes.
  • Picking a word that sounds natural but does not match the register of the sentence.
  • Ignoring the context and answering from memory instead of reading the whole sentence carefully.

Curriculum and exam alignment

Ghana GES SHS syllabusWASSCE

This kind of work normally appears in SHS English language lessons on lexis and structure, where learners build vocabulary and sentence accuracy. It also supports WASSCE preparation because questions often test word formation and appropriate word choice in context.

Curriculum notes are a general guide to where this work normally sits. Always check the syllabus your school or examination body is currently using.

Related skills

Other SHS Lexis & Structure skills in English, at the same point in the course.

Other English topics

Letters and SoundsEarly Reading and WritingSHS English and LiteratureAcademic and Professional WritingGrammarVocabulary

Related study guides

Exam Guides
IELTS vs TOEFL vs PTE: Which English Test Should You Take in 2026?

Planning to study or work abroad? IELTS, TOEFL and PTE Academic all prove your English — but they di…

8 min read
Exam Preparation
How to Master WASSCE Core Mathematics: Topics, Traps and Tactics

Core Maths is compulsory and it fails more WASSCE candidates than any other paper. This guide breaks…

7 min read

Exams that assess word formation & register

Senior High work on this skill feeds directly into these exam papers. Each page lists the English topics that appear on it.

WASSCEWASSCE practice questionsFree WASSCE practice across the subjects at this stage, with worked answers.GESGES practice questionsFree GES practice across the subjects at this stage, with worked answers.BECEBECE practice questionsListed as a related subject on the BECE practice page.

How this page was produced

This text was drafted with AI assistance from the questions and topics already stored on the platform. A subject-specialist review is scheduled but has not yet been recorded, so we do not claim it here.

Written by
DigiTransact Mastermind editorial team
Human review
Not yet. Subject-specialist review is scheduled; this page will say so once it has happened. See which content receives human review.
Last updated

Spotted a mistake on this page? Report a content correction and we will check it against the source. You can also read our editorial policy and how we use AI and where it falls short.

All English skills

Practise word formation & register

6 questions with a worked answer after every attempt, and a SmartScore that tracks how close you are to mastery.

Start practice