Word formation tasks

PART 1. Advanced Word Formation

Use the word in CAPITALS to form a word that fits the sentence.

1. We need a more ______ approach if we want to attract international clients. (STRATEGY)

2. Her presentation was clear and highly ______. (PERSUADE)

3. There seems to be some ______ about the new pricing policy. (CONFUSE)

4. The manager expressed his ______ with the team’s performance. (SATISFY)

5. This decision will have long-term ______ for the company. (IMPLY)

6. Thank you for your ______ in resolving this issue so quickly. (ASSIST)

7. The product launch was a complete ______. (FAIL)

8. He handled the negotiation very ______. (PROFESSION)

9. We are looking for someone with strong ______ skills. (ANALYSE)

10. There is a growing ______ for flexible working hours. (PREFER)

Extension (more nuanced / abstract forms):

11. The CEO announced a major ______ of the company structure. (REORGANISE)

12. We need to improve internal ______ to avoid misunderstandings. (COMMUNICATE)

13. The contract includes a clause on data ______. (CONFIDENT)

14. His comments were open to ______. (INTERPRET)

15. The sudden market decline caused considerable ______ among investors. (ANXIOUS)

16. She showed great ______ in dealing with a difficult client. (PATIENT)

17. The project was delayed due to ______ issues. (LOGISTIC)

18. There has been increasing ______ from international competitors. (COMPETE)

19. The proposal lacks ______ and clear direction. (ORGANISE)

20. We value transparency and ______ in all our partnerships. (RESPONSIBLE)

PART 2. Challenging Email Word Formation 

Complete the email using the correct form of the word in brackets.

Subject: Follow-up on Strategic Proposal

Dear Mr Reynolds,

Following our recent discussion, I would like to provide further ______ (CLARIFY) regarding the proposed expansion strategy.

Our market research indicates strong growth potential, particularly in terms of customer ______ (ACQUIRE) and brand ______ (RECOGNISE).

However, successful implementation will require careful ______ (COORDINATE) across departments and ongoing performance ______ (EVALUATE).

We are confident that this initiative will strengthen our competitive ______ (POSITION) and contribute to long-term financial ______ (STABLE).

Please do not hesitate to contact me should you require any additional ______ (INFORM) or further ______ (DISCUSS).

I look forward to your ______ (RESPOND).

Kind regards,
…

PART 3. Expanded Word Family Builder (Career & Performance)

A. Complete the table

Discussion Questions with Word Formation

1. How important is ______ in your current job? (ACHIEVE)
   → What kind of ______ matter most in your field?

2. What gives a company a real ______ advantage today? (COMPETE)
   → Technology? Brand? People?

3. How do you build ______ within a team? (RELY)
   → What makes someone reliable at work?

4. What is the biggest ______ for employees in your industry? (MOTIVATE)
   → Salary, recognition, growth?

5. When making a difficult ______, what factors do you consider? (DECIDE)
   → Data? Experience? Advice?

6. How important is ______ for long-term business success? (INNOVATE)
   → Can companies survive without innovation?

7. What influences your ______ decisions? (INVEST)
   → Risk level? Market trends?

8. What qualities define strong ______ in your opinion? (LEAD)
   → Confidence? Vision? Communication?

9. How should companies handle customer ______? (COMPLAIN)
   → What makes a response professional?

10. What areas need the most ______ in modern workplaces? (IMPROVE)
    → Communication? Efficiency? Work-life balance?

11. How does emotional ______ affect leadership? (INTELLIGENT)

12. What can damage a company’s ______? (REPUTE)

13. How can poor ______ lead to conflict in teams? (COMMUNICATE)

14. Is financial ______ always necessary for business growth? (STABLE)

15. What role does cultural ______ play in international business? (AWARE)