Word building: work out new words in the Reading paper

The Reading paper can use words built from words on the vocabulary list. Learn the building rules and you can work them out.

Practise this lesson free (6 questions)

Prefixes: in- and im-

in- or im- at the start can mean not, un- or the opposite. im- comes before b, m and p.
Base wordBuilt wordEnglish
possibleimpossibleimpossible
utileinutileuseless
égalitéinégalitéinequality
sécuritéinsécuritéinsecurity
dépendantindépendantindependent
connuinconnuunknown

Suffixes: -ième, -able, -ion and -ation

-ième makes ordinal numbers: deux: deuxième; quatre: quatrième (drop the e); cinq: cinquième (add u); neuf: neuvième (f becomes v). Only first is different: premier / première.
-able on a verb stem: changer: changeable; accepter: acceptable; recycler: recyclable.
-ion / -ation on a verb stem makes a noun: préparer: préparation; organiser: organisation; réserver: réservation; inviter: invitation.

Adverbs and people

-ment on the feminine adjective makes an adverb: premier, première: premièrement (firstly). -ent / -ant: -emment / -amment: patient: patiemment.
Higher: -eur / -ateur on a verb stem makes the person who does it: jouer: joueur; vendre: vendeur; organiser: organisateur; utiliser: utilisateur.
Worked example

Work out the meaning: "La réservation est inutile."

  1. réservation = réserver + -ation: the booking
  2. inutile = in- + utile: not useful, useless

Answer: The booking is unnecessary (useless).

Key idea

in- / im- = not or the opposite. -ième = ordinal (cinquième). -able = -able. -ion / -ation = noun from a verb. -ment, -emment, -amment = -ly. Higher: -eur / -ateur = the person who does it.

Quick check

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Extra practice

2 more questions

Try each one, then tap to check.

  1. What does "malheureux" mean?

    1. unhappy
    2. happy
    3. happiness
    4. luckily
    Show the answer

    Answer: unhappy

    Mal- + heureux = unhappy.

  2. How do you say "the fifth day"?

    1. le cinqième jour
    2. le cinq jour
    3. le cinquième jours
    4. le cinquième jour
    Show the answer

    Answer: le cinquième jour

    Cinq + u + -ième.

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Sources and references

Last updated 2 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we will fix it.

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