Word Formation

WORD FORMATION

Word formation is advanced level alphabet test. This test is meant to test the ability of the
candidate in word building process. In word formation, a main word is given and we have to
choose that word, which can or cannot be formed from the main word. Sometime, a set of
English letters are given in a jumbled order, and the candidates are asked to arrange them
in a meaningful order. In some situations, we are asked to choose particular letters from a
word and arrange them to form a meaningful word.

Different Questions of Word Formation

Type 1: Word Formation Using Letters from a Given Word

In this type, three sub-types of questions are asked.

First, a word has been given, followed by four other words, one of which can or cannot
be formed by using the main word.
Second, a word has been given and candidates are asked to make new meaningful
words using letters like 1st, 3rd, 5th, 8th, etc. of the given word.
Third, a word has been given and candidates are asked to form as many meaningful
English words as possible from the given word, using each letter only once in each
word.

Directions (1-2): In each of the following questions, a word has been given, followed by four
other words, one of which cannot be formed using the letters of the given word. Find that
word.

1. CONSTRUCTION

A) SUCTION

B) COINS

C) CAUTION

D) MOTION

Answer: C

Explanation: CAUTION—All the letters except ‘A’ are present in the main word. Hence,
‘CAUTION’ cannot be formed from the letters of the given word ‘CONSTRUCTION’.

2. NATIONALISATION

A) NOTATION

B) SALINATION

C) INSTALLATION

D) SANITATION

Answer: C

Explanation: INSTALLATION - All the letters except second ‘L’ are present in the main word.
Hence, ‘INSTALLATION’ cannot be formed from the letters of the given word
‘NATIONALISATION’.

Directions (3-4): In each of the following questions, a word has been given, followed by four
other words, one of which can be formed by using the letters of the given word. Find that
word.

3. MEASUREMENT

A) ASSURE
B) MASTER

C) SUMMIT

D) MANTLE

Answer: B

Explanation: MASTER—All the letters of this word are present in the main word. Hence,
‘MASTER’ can be formed from the letters of the given word ‘MEASUREMENT’.

4. COMPENSATION

A) TINY

B) COPY

C) MENTION

D) MOTIVE

Answer: C

Explanation: MENTION—All the letters of this word are present in the main word. Hence,
‘MENTION’ can be formed from the letters of the given word ‘COMPENSATION’.

Directions (5-6): If it is possible to make a meaningful word with the 1st, 4th, 7th and 11th
letters from the word ‘INTERPRETATION’, which of the following will be the third letter of
that word?

5. If more than one such word can be made, given ‘M’ as the answer and if no such word
can be formed, give ‘X’ as the answer.

A) T

B) R

C) M

D) X
Answer: C

Explanation: 1st, 4th, 7th and 11th letters are I, E, R and T respectively. Hence, two meaningful
words RITE and TIRE can be formed.

6. How many meaningful English words can be formed by using letters of the word ‘ALEP’?

A) One

B) Two

C) Three

D) More than three

Answer: C

Explanation: Such meaningful words are: ‘PEAL’, ‘LEAP’, ‘PALE’.

Type 2: Word Formation by Scrambling Letters

In these types of questions, a set of English letters is given in a jumbled order. The candidate
is required to arrange these letters to form a meaningful word. Let us look at some
examples.

1. Select the combination of numbers so that the letters arranged will form a meaningful
word.

HNRCAB

1234 56

A) 2, 5, 3, 4, 1, 6

B) 3, 5, 6, 4, 1, 2

C) 4, 1, 5, 6, 2, 3

D) 6, 3, 5, 2, 4, 1

Answer: D
Explanation: Clearly, the given letters, when arranged in the order of’6, 3, 5, 2, 4, 1,’ form the
word ‘BRANCH’.

2. Rearrange the letters given below to form a meaningful word and select from the given
alternatives, the word which is almost opposite in meaning to the word so formed.

A, R, T, Y, D

A) Dirty

B) Quiet

C) Quick

D) Slow

Answer: C

Explanation: The word is ‘Tardy’ which means ‘Sluggish’, opposite of which is ‘Quick’.

Logical Order of Words

As the name implies, in this type of problems, a sequence is formed with a certain number
of words given in such a way that a particular arrangement of the words gives a logical
step-by-step completion of the process.

1. Arrange the following words in a logical and meaningful order.

1) Travel

2) Destination

3) Payment

4) Berth/Seat number

5) Reservation

6) Availability of berth/seat for reservation

A) 6, 2, 5, 4, 3, 1
B) 5, 3, 4, 1, 6, 2

C) 2, 6, 3, 5, 4, 1

D) 1, 2, 5, 4, 3, 6

Answer: C

Explanation: From the above words, it is clear that in order to perform a journey, first, a
Solution. (A), from the above words, it is deduced destination is to be identified; secondly
availability of berth seat is ascertained, followed payment for reservation. As a result, berth
is allotted and travelling is completed.

2. Arrange the following words in a logical and meaningful order.

1) Country

2) Furniture

3) Forest

4) Wood

5) Trees

A) 1, 3, 5, 4, 2

B) 1, 4, 3, 2, 5

C) 2, 4, 3, 1, 5

D) 5, 2, 3, 1, 4

Answer: A

Explanation: From the above words, it is deducted that a country contains forests, a forest
has trees and trees give wood that is used to make furniture.

In this type of questions, certain inter-related words are given and numbered, followed by
various sequences of the numbers denoting them, as alternatives. The candidate is
required to arrange these words in a logical sequence based on a common property and
then choose the correctly graded sequence from the given alternatives. Some common
sequences have been discussed below:

Sequence of occurrence of events or various stages in a process:

1. Arrange the following in a meaningful sequence:

1) Consultation

2) Illness

3) Doctor

4) Treatment

5) Recovery

A) 2, 3, 1, 4, 5

B) 2, 3, 4, 1, 5

C) 4, 3, 1, 2, 5

D) 5, I, 4, 3, 2

Answer: A

Explanation: Clearly, illness occurs first. One then goes to a doctor and after consultation
with him, undergoes treatment to finally attained recovery. Thus, the correct order is 2, 3, 1,
4, 5. Hence, the answer is (A).

2. Arrange the following in a logical order:

1) Birth

2) Death

3) Funeral

4) Marriage

5) Education
A) 1, 3, 4, 5, 2

B) 1, 5, 4, 2, 3

C) 2, 3, 4, 5, 1

D) 4, 5, 3,1, 2

Answer: B

Explanation: Clearly, the given words when arranged in the order of various events as they
occur in a man’s life form the sequence: Birth, Education, Marriage, Death, Funeral. So the
correct order becomes 1, 5, 4, 2, 3. Hence, the answer is (B).

Sequence of objects in a class or group, from part to the whole:

1. Arrange the following in a meaningful order.

1) Family

2) Community

3) Member

4) Locality

5) Country

A) 3, 1, 2, 4, 5

B) 3, 1, 2, 5, 4

C) 3, 1, 4, 2, 5

D) 3, 1, 4, 5,2

Answer: A

Explanation: Clearly, a member is a part of a family, which in turn is a part of community.

The community lives in a locality which lies within a country. Thus, the correct order is 3, 1, 2,
4, 5. Hence, the answer is (A).
2. Arrange the following in a logical order.

1) Shoulder

2) Wrist

3) Elbow

4) Palm

5) Finger

A) 2, 4, 5, 3, 1

B) 3, 1, 4, 2, 5

C) 3, 4, 5, 2, 1

D) 5, 4, 2, 3, 1
Answer: D

Explanation: Clearly, we are given the names of parts of a hand, which may be arranged-

From top to bottom, i.e., Shoulder, Elbow, Wrist, Palm, Finger, which is 1, 3, 2, 4, 5; or

From bottom to top, i.e., Finger, Palm, Wrist, Elbow, Shoulder, which is 5, 4, 2, 3, 1.

Out of these, the sequence 5, 4, 2, 3, 1 is given in the alternatives provided.

Hence, the answer is (D).

Sequence of increasing/decreasing size, value, intensity etc.

1. Arrange the following in a logical sequence from small to big.

1) Bungalow

2) Flat

3) Cottage

4) House
5) Palace

6) Mansion

A) 3, 2, 1, 4, 6, 5

B) 3, 2, 4, 1, 5, 6

C) 3, 2, 4, 1, 6, 5

D) 5, 6, 4, 1, 2, 3

Answer: C

Explanation: Clearly, the names of various dwelling units (when arranged in increasing order
of their sizes, form the sequences: Cottage, Flat, House, Bungalow, Mansion, Palace

Thus, the correct order is 3, 2, 4, 1, 6, 5.

Hence, the answer is (C).

2. Arrange the following in a logical order:

1) Gold

2) Iron

3) Sand

4) Platinum

5) Diamond

A) 2, 4, 3, 5, 1

B) 3, 2, 1, 5, 4

C) 4, 5, 1, 3, 2

D) 5, 4, 3, 2, 1

Answer: A
Explanation: Clearly, the given names when arranged in order of increasing values, i.e., from
cheapest to the most expensive, form the sequence: Sand, Iron, Gold, Diamond, Platinum.

Thus, the correct answer is 3, 2, 1, 5, 4

Hence, the answer is (B).

3. Arrange the following in a logical order.

1) Euphoria

2) Happiness

3) Ambivalence

4) Ecstasy

5) Pleasure

A) 1,4,2,5,3

B) 2,1,3,4,5

C) 3, 2, 5, 1, 4

D) 4, 1, 3, 2, 5

Answer: C

Explanation: All the given words stand for ‘joy”, but the intensity increases in the order —
Ambivalence, Happiness, Pleasure, Euphoria, Ecstasy

Thus, the correct order is 3, 2, 5, 1, 4

Hence, the answer is (C).

Sequence in which a chain of given objects is formed:

1. Arrange the following in a meaningful sequence:

1) Phrase
2) Letter

3) Word

4) Sentence

A) 1, 2, 3, 4

B) 1, 3, 2, 4

C) 2, 3, 1, 4

D) 2, 3, 4, 1

Answer: C

Explanation: A group of letters makes a word. A group of words makes a phrase. A group of
phrases makes a sentence. Thus, the correct order is 2, 3, 1, 4.

Hence, the answer is C.

2. Arrange the following in a logical order:

1) Frog

2) Eagle

3) Grasshopper

4) Snake

5) Grass

A) 1, 3, 5, 2, 4

B) 3, 4, 2, 5, 1

C) 5, 3, 1, 4, 2

D) 5, 3, 4, 2, 1

Answer: C
Explanation: Clearly, a grasshopper feeds on grass, a frog feeds on a grasshopper, a snake
feeds on a frog and an eagle feeds on a snake. Thus, a food-chain is formed. So, the correct
order is 5, 3, 1, 4, 2. Hence, the answer is (C).