SMB31202 ENGLISH FOR
TECHNICAL
COMMUNICATION
WEEK 4: WORD FORMATION
LECTURER: WAN SAFURAA WAN OSMAN
Department for Language & General Studies (JBPU)
Semester 1, 2022/2023
Refers to the way new words are formed on the basis
of other words
New words can be formed by adding affixes in the
form of prefixes and/ or suffixes.
By using these, new words are formed by modifying
WORD the root word.
FORMATION
Examples:
Root word: regulate
New word: deregulation -by adding TWO affixes:
de-(prefix) and –tion (suffix)
A group of letters attach before and after the root
word to create a new word with a new meaning
Un+accept+able
What are Prefix Root Word Suffix
affixes?
There are TWO(2) types of affixes:
a) Prefixes
b) Suffixes
PREFIXES
A prefix is placed BEFORE a root word to make a new
word
Examples:
a) I am sorry I was unable (un+able) to attend the
What are
meeting.
b) The meat was overcooked (over+cooked) and quite
prefixes? tasteless.
c) Non-payment (Non+payment) of fees could result in
a student being asked to leave the course.
There are several types of prefixes that can be attached
to the beginning of words to change the meaning.
Can you give me other
examples of words with
attached prefixes?
List as many as you can!
In the word cloud!
Common Types of Prefixes
Prefix Meaning Examples
anti- against/opposed to anti-government, anti-vaccine, anti-war, anti-racist,
antibiotic
auto- self autobiography, automobile
de- reverse or change decontaminate, demotivate, deactivate, decompose
dis- reverse or remove disagree, disqualify, displeasure
down- reduce or lower downgrade, downhearted, downsize
extra- beyond extraordinary, extraterrestrial, extravagant
hyper- extreme hyperactive, hypertension
il-, im-, in-, ir- not illegal, impossible, insecure, irregular
inter- between interactive, international
mega- very big, important megabyte, megaton, mega-deal
mid- middle midday, midnight, mid-December
Common Types of Prefixes
Prefix Meaning Examples
mis- incorrectly, badly mislead, misaligned, misspelt, misplaced
non- not non-smoking, non-fat, non-payment
over- too much overcook, overcharge, overrate, overlook
out- go beyond outdo, outrun, out-perform
post- after post-election, post-war, postgraduate
pre- before prehistoric, pre-war
pro- in favour of pro-democracy, pro-government, pro-communist
re- again reconsider, redo, rewrite, reconstruct
semi- half semicircle, semi-retired, semiconductor
sub- under, below submarine, sub-Saharan, subconscious
super- above, beyond superhero, supermodel
tele- at a distance television, telepathic
Common Types of Prefixes
Prefix Meaning Examples
trans- across transatlantic, transfer, transform
ultra- extremely ultrasound, ultra-compact
un- remove, reverse, not undo, unpack, unhappy
under- less than, beneath undercook, underestimate, underage
up- make or move higher upgrade, uphill, upload
(1) NOUN BASE WITH PREFIXES
When a prefix is added to a noun, it does not change its
word class, but only its meaning.
Examples: disadvantage, unemployment, inequality,
ADDING immorality
PREFIXES TO
WORDS (2) VERB BASE WITH PREFIXES
When a prefix is added to a verb, it does not change its
word class, but only its meaning.
Examples: discontinue, unlock, miscount
(3) ADJECTIVE BASE WITH PREFIXES
When a prefix is added to an adjective, it does not
change its word class, but only its meaning.
Examples: dishonourable, unchangeable, impractical
ADDING
PREFIXES TO
WORDS (4) ADVERB BASE WITH PREFIXES
When a prefix is added to an adverb, it does not change
its word class, but only its meaning.
Examples: unhappily, incorrectly, imperfectly
Negative
Prefixes
We form negative statements by adding prefixes to nouns, verbs and adjectives.
Prefix Examples
un- (most common) unable, uninteresting, unusual, uncomfortable, unprepared,
unhealthy, unfriendly, unfair, unreal
in- (the words can begin with a vowel, except i or inaccurate, ineligible, inorganic, indecent, insane,
u, or a consonant. incompetent, incapable, incorrect, inexpensive
im- (the words always begin with the letter of b, m immobile, immoral, imperfect, impossible, impolite,
or p) imperfect, impatient, impure
ir- (the words always begin with the letter r) irregular, irreconcilable, irrational, irresistible
il- (the words always begin with the letter l) illegal, illegible, illiterate, illogical
a- (the words always begin with a consonant) apolitical, atheist, asexual
dis- (the words always begin with a vowel or a disagree, discomfort, dismount, disorient, disappear
consonant)
SUFFIXES
A letter or a group of letters added to the end of a word
Commonly used to show the part of speech of a word
Example: root word – act (verb)
What are Adding ‘-ion’, the verb act becomes ‘action’ (noun form of
the verb)
suffixes?
Suffixes also tell us whether the words are plural or
singular.
Some common suffixes are: -er, -s, -es, -ed, -ing and –ly
Noun Suffixes
Suffixes Meaning Examples
-acy state or quality privacy, fallacy, delicacy
-al act or process of refusal, recital, revival
-ance, -ence state or quality of maintenance, assurance, eminence
-dom place or state of being kingdom, boredom, freedom
-er, -or one who trainer, protector, narrator
-ism doctrine, belief communism, narcissism, skepticism
-ist one who chemist, plagiarist, narcissist
-ity, -ty quality of inactivity, serenity, veracity
-ment condition of argument, endorsement, punishment
-ness state of being heaviness, sadness, rudeness, happiness
-ship position held fellowship, ownership, kinship, internship
-sion, -tion state of being abbreviation, transition, concession
Verb Suffixes
Suffixes Meaning Examples
-ate become regulate, eradicate, enunciate, repudiate
-en become enlighten, awaken, strengthen
-ify, -fy make or become terrify, satisfy, rectify, exemplify
-ize, -ise become civilize, humanize, socialize
Adjective Suffixes
Suffixes Meaning Examples
-able, -ible capable of being edible, presentable, credible
-al pertaining to regional, grammatical, emotional, coastal
-esque reminiscent of picturesque, statuesque, burlesque
-ful notable for fanciful, resentful, doubtful
-ic, -ical pertaining to musical, mythic, domestic, chiastic
-ious, -ous characterized by nutritious, studious, portentous
-ish having the quality of childish, snobbish
-less without endless, ageless, lawless, effortless
(1) NOUN BASE WITH SUFFIXES
When suffixes are added to nouns, they do not change
the word-class; only the meaning.
Examples: hostess, scientist, ownership
ADDING
SUFFIXES TO
WORDS (2) NOUNS TO VERBS
Suffixes (-en, -ize, -ze) which are added to nouns,
become verbs.
Examples: frighten, standardize, sympathize
(3) NOUNS TO ADJECTIVES
Suffixes (-y, -ly, -ful) which are added to nouns, become
adjectives.
Examples: angry, friendly, beautiful
ADDING
SUFFIXES TO
WORDS (4) NOUNS TO ADVERS
Suffixes (-ly, -ward) which are added to nouns, become
adverbs.
Examples: formerly, backward
(5) VERBS TO NOUNS
Suffixes (-ment, -er, -ar, -or) which are added to verbs,
become nouns.
Examples: argument, employer, beggar, collector
ADDING
SUFFIXES TO
WORDS (6) VERBS TO ADJECTIVES
Suffixes (-ent, -ant, -able) which are added to verbs,
become adjectives.
Examples: confident, observant, explainable
(7) ADJECTIVES TO NOUNS
Suffixes (-ness, -y, -ty, -ity) which are added to
adjectives, become nouns.
Examples: happiness, honesty, safety, ability
ADDING
SUFFIXES TO
WORDS (8) ADJECTIVES TO VERBS
Suffixes (-en, -ize) which are added to adjectives,
become verbs.
Examples: weaken, equalize
(9) ADJECTIVES TO ADVERBS
Suffixes (-y, -ly) which are added to adjectives, become
ADDING adverbs.
SUFFIXES TO Examples: favourably, internationally
WORDS
EXERCISE 1
INSTRUCTION: Add prefixes and
suffixes to the root words.
certainly certainty theorize theoretical complexity noncomplex
certain certain
theory theory
complex complex
uncertain theorist Hypercomplex complexion
sympathize disagree agreement frighten frightful
sympathy sympathy
agree
agree
fright
fright
unsympathetic sympathetic
EXERCISE 2
INSTRUCTION: Complete the word
forms chart in the next slide.
NOUN VERB ADJECTIVE ADVERB
1 ______________ analyze analytical analytically
2 identity ______________ ______________ identifiably
3 economy ______________ economical ______________
4 ______________ ______________ individual individually
5 evolution ______________ evolutionary -
6 implication imply ______________ -
7 ______________ investigate ______________ -
8 ______________ sustain ______________ sustainably
9 ______________ - ______________ resourcefully
10 ______________ pursue - -
EXERCISE 3
INSTRUCTION: Fill in the blank with the
correct word.
Not many people are __________ in well-off nations these days, but in the past
only the solvent could write and read.
A. literate
B. illiterate
C. critical
D. brighten
We pay everyone the same compensation for this job _________ of age, gender
and qualifications.
A. regarding
B. hopeless
C. aimless
D. regardless
The research project was never finished due to the __________ of funds.
A. equality
B. scarcity
C. enormity
D. validity
There is __________ from the personnel to welcome the changes.
A.nuisance
B.ambience
C.reluctance
D.tolerance
There is no _________ among the top ten students in this university.
A. similarity
B. fitness
C. likewise
D. collaborate
He had a __________ for women with black hair and brown eyes.
A. meanness
B. weakness
C. fearless
D. fitness
They have gained no ___________ for their efforts and achievements.
A. acknowledgment
B. inward
C. musical
D. grotesque
In her ______________ from the common ceremony at the event, Her Majesty then
detached her crown and posed for the photographers.
A. departure
B. departing
C. departed
D. departness
The suffix ‘-dom’ is used after which word?
A. answer
B. hope
C. beauty
D. star
Which of the following word cannot use the suffix ‘–ive’?
A.impress
B.commerce
C.conclude
D.decide
Any questions?
