Verbal Reasoning: Hidden and Compound Words Set 2
Verbal Reasoning: Hidden and Compound Words Set 2 is a deeper practice round on the three word-construction formats found on 11+ verbal reasoning papers: a four-letter word hidden across the join between two neighbouring words, a missing three-letter word that completes one word and starts another, and a missing compound word that joins two given words into two genuine longer words. This set uses less obvious splits and several plausible-looking wrong options, training pupils to check every candidate fully rather than stopping at the first word that looks right.
Before you start
Make sure you're comfortable with these topics first:
Method
- Work out which of the three joining-word types the question is: a hidden word spanning the join between two neighbouring words in a sentence, a missing three-letter word linking two halves shown in brackets, or a missing compound word linking two given words.
- For a hidden word, scan every join between adjacent words in the sentence in turn, since the answer can use any split of the letters across the join, not only an equal split down the middle.
- For a missing three-letter or compound word, try each option after the first word and check whether it makes a genuine word, then try the same option before the second word and check that too, since both checks must pass.
- Reject any hidden or bridging word that borrows a letter from outside the sentence, is split by punctuation, or spells something close to a real word but not an exact one.
- Say each candidate word aloud in your head to catch options that look plausible written down but are not genuine English words.
- Once one candidate passes every check, confirm it against the given options and move on, since GL Assessment-style papers set only one correct answer per question.
Worked example
A four-letter word is hidden between two words that are next to each other in this sentence. Which word is hidden? 'The taxi looked like a limo once it was polished.' A) LIMO B) MOON C) ONCE D) MOCE E) ONIT
- Scan each word join in turn: THE/TAXI, TAXI/LOOKED, LOOKED/LIKE, LIKE/A, A/LIMO, LIMO/ONCE, ONCE/IT, IT/WAS, WAS/POLISHED.
- LIMO ends in the letters MO, and ONCE begins with the letters ON.
- Joining the last two letters of LIMO to the first two letters of ONCE gives MO + ON = MOON, a real word.
- Check this does not use the very first or very last letter of the sentence, and is not split by punctuation - it passes both checks.
- Compare MOON against the options: it matches option B, and no other join in the sentence spells a real word.
- Final answer: B) MOON.
Practice questions
Try each question, then tap to reveal the answer.
Q1A four-letter word is hidden between two words that are next to each other in this sentence. Which word is hidden? 'Everyone watched as the horse attempted the jump.' A) HOSE B) SEAT C) SEAS D) ATTE E) ORSEShow answer
Answer: B) SEAT - the last two letters of HORSE (SE) join with the first two letters of ATTEMPTED (AT) to spell SEAT.
Q2CAR ( ??? ) ROL. Find the three-letter word which completes the word on the left and starts the word on the right. A) MAT B) PET C) RUG D) OIL E) GASShow answer
Answer: B) PET - CAR + PET = CARPET, and PET + ROL = PETROL; none of the other options makes a real word in both positions.
Q3MAR ( ??? ) TLE. Find the three-letter word which completes the word on the left and starts the word on the right. A) TEA B) KET C) POT D) LID E) URNShow answer
Answer: B) KET - MAR + KET = MARKET, and KET + TLE = KETTLE; none of the other options makes a real word in both positions.
Q4KEY ( ??? ) ROOM. Choose the missing word from: A) Note B) Board C) Stone D) Word E) HoleShow answer
Answer: B) Board - KEY + BOARD = KEYBOARD, and BOARD + ROOM = BOARDROOM; the other options make a real word after KEY but not before ROOM.
Q5SUN ( ??? ) POT. Choose the missing word from: A) Set B) Shine C) Flower D) Beam E) LightShow answer
Answer: C) Flower - SUN + FLOWER = SUNFLOWER, and FLOWER + POT = FLOWERPOT; the other options make a real word after SUN but not before POT.
Q6A four-letter word is hidden between two words that are next to each other in this sentence. Which word is hidden? 'Japan today announced new plans.' A) PANT B) PANDA C) TODY D) DAYT E) ANTOShow answer
Answer: A) PANT - the last three letters of JAPAN (PAN) join with the first letter of TODAY (T) to spell PANT.
Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a 11+ exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
A four-letter word is hidden between two words that are next to each other in this sentence, using an uneven split of the letters. Which word is hidden? 'She played the piano very well.' A) PIAN B) OVER C) ERYW D) ANOV E) VERY
Show mark scheme
Tick each line you got. Your score builds from the marks on the scheme.
Nothing ticked yet - 3 available
WIN ( ??? ) RACE. Choose the missing word from: A) Some B) Dow C) Ter D) Ner E) Ning
Show mark scheme
Tick each line you got. Your score builds from the marks on the scheme.
Nothing ticked yet - 3 available
BOOK ( ??? ) LOAD. Choose the missing word from: A) Mark B) Case C) Worm D) Shelf E) Store
Show mark scheme
Tick each line you got. Your score builds from the marks on the scheme.
Nothing ticked yet - 3 available
Free printable worksheet
Want more practice on paper? Download the verbal reasoning: hidden and compound words set 2 worksheet pack - 18 pages of exam-style questions with a full mark scheme. One email opens every download in this browser for 14 days - no account, no card. Print it for personal and classroom use.
This topic is chapter 21 of 11+ Verbal Reasoning Workbook 2, the whole course as one free printable PDF.
Next topics
Not quite what you needed?
Tell us what is missing on verbal reasoning: hidden and compound words set 2, or which topic to write up next. Every request is read, and we reply to every one.
Build a full practice pack.
This topic is one of hundreds in the library - pick the ones a student needs and generate a printable PDF in minutes.