How do I know whether to use -ise, -en or -ify in B2 First Word Formation?

You don't choose the suffix by instinct or by what sounds plausible. In Part 3 you first read the grammatical category the gap needs: if it wants a verb, you then check which derived verb actually exists from that base. The problem is that not every base accepts every suffix. Knowing the general rule isn't enough — you have to recognise real lexical families like modernise, strengthen and simplify.

Can I invent a verb with a suffix if it sounds logical in the exam?

No. In B2 First Word Formation, an answer that 'sounds possible' but doesn't exist in standard English is penalised like any other error. That's one of the big dangers with -ise, -en and -ify: you see a base and manufacture something like fastify or hiddenize. The exam doesn't reward morphological creativity; it rewards lexical control. Your job is to recall the correct derived verb, not to build a plausible one from a rule.

What mistakes do learners make with -ise, -en and -ify verbs in the First?

The typical mistake is assuming English derives verbs the same way for every base. A learner who knows simplify tries to apply the same pattern to any word and creates forms that don't exist. Another frequent Part 3 error is confusing the category: the gap wants an adjective or a noun, but the learner inserts a verb with a suffix because they recognise the lexical family. In this format, getting it right depends on vocabulary as much as on reading the sentence structure.

How is this kind of suffix different from other word formation tasks in B2 First?

The difference is that here it isn't enough to add a common suffix and move on. In Part 3, verbs in -ise, -en and -ify pass through two filters at once: whether the sentence really needs a verb, and whether that derived verb exists with that specific base. Nouns and adjectives have more transparent patterns; with these verbs there's a higher risk of overapplying a rule. That's why this point demands more control of real word families.

How do I practise Word Formation so I don't fall for invented derivatives in B2 First?

Practise by lexical families, not by loose lists of suffixes. When you study a base, note which forms genuinely exist: adjective, noun, verb and possible negatives. Then drill with Part 3-style sentences where you first decide the category and then the exact form. If you only memorise that -ify 'turns something into a verb', you'll end up inventing answers. If you study simplify, strengthen and modernise in context, you cut that risk sharply in the exam.

Suffixes – verbs (-ise, -en, -ify) in B2 First | Mastery

Where it appears in the exam

What is it?

This competency covers the suffixes that form verbs from other words: -ise, -en and -ify, as in modernise, strengthen and simplify. In English, you can't assume that any base accepts any suffix: some combinations exist and others don't. That's exactly where learners tend to fail, because they apply a single derivation pattern to any base word instead of recalling the verb that family actually uses.

Why it matters in the exam

In B2 First it shows up clearly in Part 3, where Cambridge gives you a base word and you have to produce the exact form. If you misread the category or invent a verb that doesn't exist, you lose the whole mark even when the general idea looks logical.

The cognitive trap

Instinct

"Your instinct invents a plausible verb from any base"

This is overgeneralisation: your brain learns that -ise, -en and -ify 'make a verb' and reaches for the most familiar one on any base, producing forms like *fastify, *clearen or *broadise. The rule feels productive, so you trust it instead of checking whether the word family is real.

Rule

We need to simplify the process and modernise the system — but we cannot just invent forms like *fastify or *clearen.

In English, verb derivation depends on whether that lexical family actually exists. It isn't enough to think 'I want a verb'; you have to know which derived verb that base accepts.

Recognition pattern

Which derived verb form do I use

Does the gap need a verb formed from the given base?

YES

Do you recognise a real verb family with this base?

YES

Use the correct existing verb and check the spelling: for example modernise, strengthen, simplify, broaden.

NO

Don't invent a derivative. Check whether the base belongs to another known family, or whether you're forcing a suffix because the rule feels productive.

NO

This competency doesn't apply: you probably need a noun, adjective, adverb or a negative form from another family.

In the exam, look for the key signal first. The answer follows.

Signals that ask for a derived verb

Signal Form

modal + gap use the derived base verb if the base allows it

"The changes could simplify the booking process."

Signal Form

to + gap use the base infinitive, not a noun or adjective

"The campaign aims to modernise the image of the town."

Signal Form

subject + frequency adverb + gap usually asks for a present-tense verb

"Longer stays often broaden travellers' views."

Signal Form

will / would / should + gap use a base verb; check that the derivative really exists

"Better lighting would brighten the room."

Signal Form

the base expresses an idea of change or transformation consider a verb in -ise, -en or -ify, but only if it belongs to a real family

"The software can simplify several routine tasks."

The errors that Cambridge penalises in Word Formation

Wrong

"The app was designed to simplefy everyday tasks."

Cambridge penalises this because the spelling of the derivative is part of the competency too. Getting close to the sound isn't enough.

Right

"The app was designed to simplify everyday tasks."

Simplify is the real derived verb of simple, and it fits because after to you need a base verb form.

Wrong

"The new measures should strongen public confidence."

This error comes from applying an invented rule. The base strong does not form the verb *strongen; the real form is strengthen.

Right

"The new measures should strengthen public confidence."

After should comes a base verb, and strengthen is the correct verb derived from strong.

Wrong

"Several cities want to modern their transport systems."

Here the verb derivation is missing. Modern on its own usually works as an adjective, not as the verb the structure requires.

Right

"Several cities want to modernise their transport systems."

Modernise is the correct verb of modern in this context of change or updating.

Wrong

"The museum hopes to broadify its appeal to younger visitors."

Cambridge penalises this because *broadify doesn't exist. The base broad forms its verb with -en (broaden), not with -ify; inventing a derivative that 'sounds possible' loses the mark all the same.

Right

"The museum hopes to broaden its appeal to younger visitors."

Broaden is a real verb formed with -en and expresses 'to make wider' in a literal or figurative sense.

Why your brain gets it wrong

The learner's short circuit

Analyse the trap by exam format

Part 3 — Word Formation

Tourists who stay for longer often ______ their understanding of local customs. (BROAD)

Your brain

You wrote broadise ✗

Correct broaden ✓

You want 'to make wider' and reach for the most frequent verb suffix, -ise, creating *broadise. But the base broad forms its verb with -en: broaden. In Word Formation you don't decide by meaning, but by the real lexical family.

The signal

often

After often, the sentence needs a present-tense verb; the base BROAD forces you to find its existing derived verb.

→ broaden

The real trap: spotting the verb isn't enough

In Part 3, this competency is hard because you often do correctly detect that the gap needs a verb, but you fail at the second step: you choose an invented or misspelt derivative. The exam exploits exactly that moment when you think: “it sounds logical, so it'll do”.

Strategy

Always ask two questions: which grammatical category does the gap need? and does this base really have a verb with -ise, -en or -ify? If you can't recall the full family, don't improvise with creative spelling: in Word Formation, a non-existent form loses the mark all the same.

Suffixes - verbs (-ise, -en, -ify) is 1 of 82

The exam tests 82 grammar competencies across 19 families. Mastering one is the first step. Automating all 82 is passing.

Tiempos verbales 6

Modales 5

Pasiva y causativa 2

Condicionales 6

Infinitivo, gerundio y participio 5

Énfasis y orden de palabras 4

Oraciones de relativo 4

Reported Speech 4

Comparativos y superlativos 5

Conectores 5

Preposiciones 4

Colocaciones y phrasal verbs 4

Formación de palabras 6

Determinantes y cuantificadores 4

Adjetivos y adverbios 5

Preguntas y negación 4

Patrones verbales 3

Concordancia y ortografía 3

Vocabulario 3

Related competencies

Practise this topic with real exercises

Suffixes - verbs (-ise, -en, -ify) in B2 First

Where it appears in the exam

Part 3 — Word Formation

Part 3 — Word Formation

Recognition pattern

The learner's short circuit

Suffixes - verbs (-ise, -en, -ify) is 1 of 82