A fast way to expand your vocabulary is to make sure you know the different forms of the
words you learn.
Exercise 1. The words in this list are all verbs. What are the noun forms? Write them in the
second column. The first one has been done for you as an example.
Exercise 2. First, check your answers to Exercise 1 in the key. Then rewrite the sentences
below, changing the verbs (which are in bold) to nouns. Do not change the meaning of the
sentences, but be prepared to make grammatical changes if necessary. The first one has
been done for you as an example.
2
Unit 0000
For reference see A & C Black Dictionary of Medical Terms (0 7136 7603 5).
Word formation: nouns
1. diagnose diagnosis
2. examine ______________
3. prescribe ______________
4. suffer ______________
5. operate ______________
6. cure ______________
7. recover ______________
8. analyse ______________
9. infect ______________
10. carry ______________
11. replace ______________
12. degenerate ______________
13. refer ______________
14. paralyse ______________
15. obstruct ______________
1. I diagnosed that the patient had a heart
condition.
My diagnosis was that the patient had a heart
condition.
2. I examined the patient fully.
I made a full
3. I prescribed a course of antibiotics.
I wrote a
4. He suffered very little.
He experienced very little
5. We operated immediately.
The
6. This disease cannot be cured.
There is no
7. He has recovered fully.
He has made a full
8. The lab analysed the blood sample.
The lab made an
9. We found that the tissue was infected.
We found an
10. Ten per cent of the population are thought to
carry the bacteria.
Ten per cent of the population are thought to be
11. We replaced the patient's hip.
The patient was given a hip
12. His condition has degenerated.
There has been a
13. The patient was referred to a specialist.
The patient was given a
14. His arm was paralysed after the stroke.
He suffered
15. The artery was obstructed by a blood clot.
The blood clot was forming an
Make 15 two-word expressions connected with medicine by combining words from the
two lists: A and B. Match each expression with the appropriate phrase. Use each word
once. The first one has been done for you as an example.
Unit 0000
3
For reference see A & C Black Dictionary of Medical Terms (0 7136 7603 5).
Two-word expressions
A
allergic
balanced
bedside
biological
bone
brain
clinical
digestive
general
general
heart
malignant
plastic
primary
surgical
B
anaesthetic
attack
clock
death
diet
intervention
manner
marrow
practitioner
reaction
surgery
system
tooth
trial
tumour
1. A condition in which the heart has a
reduced blood supply because one of the
arteries becomes blocked by a blood clot,
causing myocardial ischaemia and
myocardial infarction
heart attack
2. A substance given to make someone lose
consciousness so that a major surgical
operation can be carried out
3. Soft tissue in cancellous bone.
4. The treatment of disease or other condition
by surgery.
5. Any one of the first twenty teeth which
develop in children between about six
months and two-and-a-half years of age,
and are replaced by the permanent teeth at
around the age of six.
6. Surgery to repair damaged or malformed
parts of the body.
7. A condition in which the nerves in the brain
stem have died, and the person can be
certified as dead, although the heart may
not have stopped beating.
8. The way in which a doctor behaves towards
a patient, especially a patient who is in bed.
9. An effect produced by a substance to which
a person has an allergy, such as sneezing or
a skin rash.
10. A trial carried out in a medical laboratory on
a person or on tissue from a person.
11. A tumour which is cancerous and can grow
again or spread into other parts of the
body, even if removed surgically.
12. A doctor who provides first-line medical
care for all types of illness to people who
live locally, refers them to hospital if
necessary and encourages health
promotion.
13. The rhythm of daily activities and bodily
processes such as eating, defecating or
sleeping, frequently controlled by
hormones, which repeats every twenty-four
hours.
14. The set of organs such as the stomach, liver
and pancreas which are associated with the
digestion of food.
15. A diet that provides all the nutrients needed
in the correct proportions.
The italicised words in the sentences in Column A are all nouns. What are the adjective
forms? Complete the sentences in Column B using the correct adjective forms.
Unit 0000
5
For reference see A & C Black Dictionary of Medical Terms (0 7136 7603 5).
Word formation: adjectives
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
The surgeons operated to repair the
defect on the patient's heart valve.
His diet has a calcium deficiency.
She has a physical dependence on
amphetamines.
The doctor noted an excess of bile in
the patient's blood.
An attack of hypoglycaemia can be
prevented by eating glucose or a lump
of sugar when feeling faint.
The vaccine should give immunity to
tuberculosis.
They have periods of complete
inactivity.
The pain in his foot is so great that he
can hardly walk.
I injured my spine in the crash.
She complained of stiffness in the
joints.
The surgeons operated to repair the
patient's …
His diet is calcium-…
She is physically …
The doctor noted an …
A …
The vaccine should make you …
They have periods when they are
completely …
His foot is so …
I suffered …
She complained of …
Column A Column B