Word Formation

Date: 10/1/2017
COMPOUNDS (COMPOUNDING)
Nouns noun + prepositions : son-in-law

adjective + noun : blackboard

noun + noun : bookshop

Adjectives homemade, homegrown

Verbs dry-clean, clip-read

DERIVATION (DERIVATIVES)
prefix + base + suffix

In + consider + ate

Common Prefixes over: overtake

anti: antiwar under:

de: decrease underground

in: income, incomplete

non: nonstop
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Common Suffixes Nouns / Adjectives

indicate the word class Ist: tourist

(noun, verb, adjective, adverb) Al: general

People An: American

er: driver Ble: possible, recognisable

ee: employee Verbs ize / ise: realise

Ess: actress Ify: terrify

Abstract nouns En: soften

Ness: happiness Adverbs

Ity: quality Ly: beautifully, sadly, gladly

Ment: development

Ion: invitation, action

Al: arrival

Hood: childhood

Adjectives

Al: natural

Ful: beautiful

Less: homeless

Ous: famous

Ic: historic

Y: hungry
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Some additional rules

In a sentence or text you have to change the form of a word, e.g. from a noun to an
adjective, or from a verb to a noun. For example:

The _____ was very nervous. (sing)

You have to complete the sentence with the person noun (singer). You change the verb
(sing) into the person noun (singer). Look at the word you have to change. Which words
do you know that are in the same word family?

The beginning of the word is often the same and the end of the word changes. What
form is the new word? A verb? A noun? An adjective? An adverb?

Nouns often end: -ment, -ion, -ness, -ity.

People nouns often end: -er, -or, -ist, -ian.
Adjectives often end: -able, -ible, -ive, -al, -ic, -ed, -ing.
Some verbs end: -ise, -ate, -en.
Adverbs often end: -ly.

Is the new word negative? If so, you may need a prefix, e.g. un- (unhappy), im- (impolite),
in- (inexperienced), dis- (dishonest), etc. If you dont know the new word, guess. You
may be right

Exercise
Write the correct form of the word in brackets to fill the gaps.
1. He gets a lot of (ENJOY) from football.

2. Money doesnt always bring (HAPPY).

3. It is (HONEST) to take something that isnt yours.

4. My dad gets very (PATIENT) when he has to wait ages for the train.
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5. I want to be a (SCIENCE) when Im older.

6. Its snowing. You need to ride your bike (CAREFUL).

7. (PERSONAL) speaking, I didnt like the film.

8. She's (OBSESS) with fashion. She buys all the fashion magazines.
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