Scribd
Upload
564 views1 page

Word Formation Techniques Guide

Word formations involve adding prefixes and suffixes to words to change their meaning or class. Common prefixes that form verbs from nouns and adjectives include "-ize" and "-ify", while "-ly" typically forms adverbs from adjectives. Suffixes like "-er", "-ment", and "-ation" can derive nouns from verbs. Adjectives are often formed by adding "-y", "-ic", "-ical", "-ful", and "-less" to nouns or "-able" to verbs. Prefixes can also change the meaning of words to their opposites, such as "un-" producing "unhappy". Word formations allow for the flexible derivation of new words in English.

Uploaded by

Adrian Tarau
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
564 views1 page

Word Formation Techniques Guide

Word formations involve adding prefixes and suffixes to words to change their meaning or class. Common prefixes that form verbs from nouns and adjectives include "-ize" and "-ify", while "-ly" typically forms adverbs from adjectives. Suffixes like "-er", "-ment", and "-ation" can derive nouns from verbs. Adjectives are often formed by adding "-y", "-ic", "-ical", "-ful", and "-less" to nouns or "-able" to verbs. Prefixes can also change the meaning of words to their opposites, such as "un-" producing "unhappy". Word formations allow for the flexible derivation of new words in English.

Uploaded by

Adrian Tarau
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 1

WhatareWordFormations?

Therearemanywordbeginnings(prefixes)andwordendings(suffixes)thatcanbeaddedtoawordtochangeits
meaningoritswordclass.Themostcommononesareshownhere,followedbyexamplesonhowtheyareusedinthe
processofwordformation.MorecanbefoundintheLongmanDictionaryofContemporaryEnglish.

VerbFormation:Theendingsizeandify canbeaddedtonounsandadjectivestoformverbs
American +ize=Americanize
Legal +ize=legalize
Modern +ize=modernize

Theywanttomakethefactorymoremodern.
Theywanttomodernizethefactory.
Beauty +ify=beautify
Liquid +ify=liquidify
Pure +ify=purify

Thesetabletsmakethewaterpure.Theypurifythewater.

AdverbFormation:Theendinglycanbeaddedtomostadjectivestoformadverbs
Easy +ly=easily TheEnglishtestwaseasy.Heeasilyfinishedthetest.
Stupid +ly=stupidly Hisbehaviourwasstupid.Hebehavedstupidly

NounFormation:Theendingser,ment,andation canbeaddedtomanyverbstoformnouns
Drive +er=driver
Fasten +er=faster
Open +er=opener

Johndrivesabus.
Heisabusdriver.
Amaze +ment =amazement
Develop+ment=development
Retire +ment=retirement

Childrendevelopveryquickly.
Theirdevelopmentisveryquick.
Admire+ation =admiration
Organize+ation=organization
Examine+ation=examination

Thedoctorexaminedme.
Thedoctorgavemeanexamination.
Theendingsity/tyandnesscanbeaddedtomanyadjectivestoformnouns
Cruel +ty=cruelty
Stupid +ity=stupidity
Dontbesocruel.Ihatecruelty
Dark +ness =darkness
Happy +ness=happiness
Itwasverydark.Thedarknessmadeithardtosee.

AdjectiveFormation:Theendingsy,ic,ical,ful, andless canbeaddedtomanynounstoformadjectives


Theendingablecanbeaddedtomanyverbstoformadjectives
Dirt +y=dirty
Smell +y=smelly
Thatwasanawfulsmell.
Itwasverysmelly.
Atom +ic =atomic
Poetry +ic=poetic
Thatwasabookofpoetry.
Itwasapoeticbook.
Pain+ful=painful
Hope+ful=hopeful
Hisbrokenlegcausedpain.
Itwasverypainful.
Wash +able=washable
Love +able=lovable
Youcanwashthiscoat.
Itswashable
Pain +less =painless
Care +less=careless
Theoperationdidntcausepain.
Itwaspainless.

Opposites:Prefixescanbeaddedtothefrontofmanywordstoproduceanoppositemeaning
NOTE:Somewordsproduceddonothaveexactoppositewords,buthavesimilarmeanings.
un+happy=unhappy
un+fortunate=unfortunate
un+lock=unlock
Imnotveryhappy.
InfactImveryunhappy.
in +efficient= inefficient
im +possible= impossible
il +literate= illiterate
Itsjustnotpossibletodothat,its
impossible.
de+centralize=decentralize
de+ascend= descend
de+inflate= deflate
Instead of inflating the tire, he
deflatedit.
dis +agree= disagree
dis +approve= disapprove
dis +honest= dishonest
Idontagreewitheverythingyou
said.Idisagreewiththelastpart.

non +sense= nonsense


non +payment= nonpayment
non +resident= nonresident

Thethingsyousayarenotmakinganysense
Whatyouaresayingisnonsense.

ThishandoutwascompiledbyVincentChung,ELSstudentstaff(April2009)
Source:LongmanDictionaryofContemporaryEnglish(2003.).LongmanPearsonEducation

WordFormation

You might also like