Eng short
1. Gerund
A gerund is a verb form ending in “-ing” that functions as a noun. It can be a subject,
complement, or object of a sentence. Gerunds are formed by adding “-ing” to the
base form of a verb.
Examples:
- “Eating breakfast is essential.” (Here, “eating breakfast” is a gerund and the subject
of the sentence.)
- “I love reading books.” (Here, “reading books” is a gerund and the object of the
sentence.)
- “Singing is my favorite hobby.” (Here, “singing” is a gerund and the subject of the
sentence.)
2. Participle
A participle is a verb form that functions as an adjective, ending in “-ing” or “-ed”.
Participles can modify nouns or pronouns, providing more information about their
characteristics.
Examples:
- “The running water is cold.” (Here, “running” is a participle modifying the noun
“water”.)
- “The broken toy is useless.” (Here, “broken” is a participle modifying the noun “toy”.)
- “The smiling face is welcoming.” (Here, “smiling” is a participle modifying the noun
“face”.)
3. Prefix
A prefix is a letter or group of letters added to the beginning of a word to change its
meaning. Prefixes can indicate opposites, locations, times, or other relationships.
Examples:
- “Unhappy” (The prefix “un-“ changes the meaning of “happy” to its opposite.)
- “Reusable” (The prefix “re-“ indicates repetition or reusability.)
- “Antisocial” (The prefix “anti-“ indicates opposition or against something.)
4. Suffix
A suffix is a letter or group of letters added to the end of a word to change its
meaning or grammatical function. Suffixes can indicate parts of speech, such as
nouns, verbs, or adjectives.
Examples:
- “Happiness” (The suffix “-ness” changes the adjective “happy” to a noun.)
- “Run” becomes “runner” (The suffix “-er” changes the verb “run” to a noun.)
- “Beauty” becomes “beautiful” (The suffix “-ful” changes the noun “beauty” to an
adjective.)
5. Clipping
Clipping is a process of word formation where a part of a word is removed to create a
new word. Clipping often occurs in informal language, such as in slang or
abbreviations.
Examples:
- “Phone” (Clipped from “telephone”.)
- “Lab” (Clipped from “laboratory”.)
- “Doc” (Clipped from “doctor”.)
6. Conversion
Conversion is a process of word formation where a word changes its part of speech
without changing its form. Conversion can occur through changes in pronunciation,
stress, or grammatical function.
Examples:
- “Light” (Can be a noun, verb, or adjective, depending on the context.)
- “Spring” (Can be a noun or verb, depending on the context.)
- “Train” (Can be a noun or verb, depending on the context.)
7. Compounding
Compounding is a process of word formation where two or more words are combined
to form a new word. Compounds can be written as separate words, joined with
hyphens, or written as a single word.
Examples:
- “Bookshelf” (Combination of “book” and “shelf”.)
- “Toothbrush” (Combination of “tooth” and “brush”.)
- “Birthday” (Combination of “birth” and “day”.)
8. Homophones
Homophones are words that are pronounced the same but have different meanings
and often different spellings. Homophones can be confusing, especially in spoken
language.
Examples:
- “To”, “too”, and “two” (All pronounced similarly but with different meanings and
spellings.)
- “Their”, “there”, and “they’re” (All pronounced similarly but with different meanings
and spellings.)
- “Knight” and “night” (Both pronounced similarly but with different meanings and
spellings.)
9. Polysemy
Polysemy is a phenomenon where a single word has multiple related meanings.
Polysemous words often have different shades of meaning or connotations.
Examples:
- “Bank” (Can refer to a financial institution or the side of a river, with related
meanings.)
- “Head” (Can refer to the body part or a leader, with related meanings.)
- “Spring” (Can refer to a season or a coiled metal object, with related meanings.)
10. Denotation
Denotation refers to the literal or dictionary meaning of a word. It is the objective,
surface-level meaning that can be found in a dictionary.
Examples:
- “House” (Denotation: a building for living)
- “Run” (Denotation: to move quickly on foot)
- “Happy” (Denotation: feeling joyful or pleased)
11. Connotation
Connotation refers to the emotional, cultural, or personal associations that a word
evokes. Connotations can vary across cultures and individuals.
Examples:
- “Home” (Connotation: warmth, comfort, family)
- “Luxury” (Connotation: high-end quality, exclusivity)
- “Freedom” (Connotation: independence, autonomy, empowerment)
12. Synonyms
Synonyms are words that have the same or nearly the same meaning. Synonyms can
provide alternative ways to express an idea or shade of meaning.
Examples:
- “Happy”, “joyful”, “cheerful” (All convey positive emotions)
- “Big”, “large”, “enormous” (All describe size)
- “Run”, “sprint”, “dash” (All describe quick movement)
13. Antonyms
Antonyms are words that have opposite meanings. Antonyms can provide contrast or
highlight differences between ideas.
Examples:
- “Hot” and “cold” (Opposite temperatures)
- “Light” and “dark” (Opposite lighting conditions)
- “Fast” and “slow” (Opposite speeds)
