Word Formation

Word Formation is a topic where a word is given and you have to find whether a new word can be formed using the letters of that word, or you have to arrange letters to form a meaningful word. It is a quick and easy topic in SSC CGL Reasoning.

Types of Word Formation Questions in SSC CGL:

1. Can a Word be Formed? A long word is given and you have to check if a smaller word can be formed using only the letters present in that word.

Example: 

Can the word RENT be formed from the letters of GOVERNMENT?

Check: 

G-O-V-E-R-N-M-E-N-T 

R - Yes

E - Yes

N - Yes

T - Yes

Answer: Yes, RENT can be formed.

Example 2: 

Can the word FARM be formed from the letters of FORMATION?

F-O-R-M-A-T-I-O-N 

F - Yes 

A - Yes 

R - Yes  

M - Yes 

Answer: Yes, FARM can be formed.

Important Rule: If a letter is used twice in the new word, it must appear twice in the original word.

Example: 

Can MOON be formed from MONITOR? 

M-O-N-I-T-O-R 

M - Yes

O - Yes (appears twice in MONITOR) 

O - Yes 

N - Yes

Answer: Yes, MOON can be formed.

But can MOON be formed from MOUNTAIN? 

M-O-U-N-T-A-I-N 

M - Yes  

O - Yes (appears only ONCE in MOUNTAIN) 

O - No (need second O but not available) 

N - Yes

Answer: No, MOON cannot be formed.

2. Find the Word That Cannot be Formed Four words are given and you have to find which one CANNOT be formed from the letters of the given word.

Example: 

Which word CANNOT be formed from ADMINISTRATIVE?

a) NATIVE 

b) DRAIN 

c) MASTER 

d) BOTTLE

Check BOTTLE: B - not in ADMINISTRATIVE 

Answer: BOTTLE cannot be formed.

3. Meaningful Word from Specific Letters Letters at specific positions of a word are given and you have to form a meaningful word.

Example: 

From the word PRESIDENTIAL, take the 2nd, 5th, 7th and 9th letters and form a word.

P-R-E-S-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L 

2nd = R, 5th = I, 7th = E, 9th = T

Letters: R, I, E, T 

Meaningful word: TIRE or RITE

4. Number of Words That Can Be Formed How many meaningful words can be formed from given letters.

Example: 

How many meaningful words can be formed from the letters E, A, R, T? 

RATE, TEAR, TARE, RATA, RETA... 

Answer: 3 meaningful words (RATE, TEAR, TARE)

How to Solve Word Formation Questions:

Step 1 - Write down all letters of the given word. 

Step 2 - Check each letter of the word to be formed one by one. 

Step 3 - Cross out each letter as you use it - so you do not use the same letter twice. 

Step 4 - If all letters are available - the word CAN be formed. 

Step 5 - If even one letter is missing - the word CANNOT be formed.

Quick Trick:

Always check for uncommon letters first - like X, Z, Q, J, K, V. If these are needed but not in the original word - answer is immediately NO.

Example: 

Can QUIZ be formed from QUESTIONS? 

Q - Yes 

U - Yes 

I - Yes 

Z - No (Z is not in QUESTIONS)

Answer: No - checked in 4 seconds!

Important Tips:

• Always write the original word letter by letter before checking
• Count letters carefully when a letter repeats
• Check uncommon letters first to save time
• This topic takes only 20 to 30 seconds per question with practice
• 1 to 2 questions come from this topic in SSC CGL every year
• Never guess - always verify each letter