English Word Formation

Affixation. Compounding. Conversion. Other devices: reduplication, clipping, blending, acronyms.

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Prefixation
Characteristics of prefixes
Generally they do not alter the word class of the base. They are normally written together with the base as a single word. Main stress falls normally on the base. They can be grouped according to their meaning.

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Negative Prefixes
un- unfair, unadorned, unfortunately. non- non-conformist, non-existent. in- invisible, illogical, impossible, irresponsible. a(n)- amoral, atheist. dis- disloyal, disobey, disfavour

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Reversible Prefixes
un- undo, undress, unhorse. de- defrost, depoliticize. dis- discouraging, disheartened,desinterested.

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Pejorative Prefixes
mis- mishear, misconduct, misleading, misrepresentation. mal- maltreat, malformed, malfunction. pseudo- pseudo-scientific, pseudo- classicism.

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Prefixes of degree and size

arch- archduke, archenemy. super- supermarket, superman. out- outlive, outdo, outrun. sur- surcharge, sub- subnormal, substandard. over-/under- overdo, undertook hyper-/ultra- hypersensitive. mini-/macro-/micro- microwave.
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Prefixes of attitude
co- cooperative, cohabit, co-director, co-proprietor. counter- counter-espionage, counter-attack. anti-/pro- anti-nuclear, anti-democracy.

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Locative Prefixes
super- super-structure. sub- subway, subconscious, subdivide. inter- international, intermarry, interwave, interplay. trans- transatlantic, transplant.

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Prefixes of time and order

fore- foretell, foreman, forewarn. pre-/post- pre-historial, pre-marital. ex- ex-minister, ex-wife. re- rebuild, relocation, re-elegible.

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Number Prefixes
uni-/mono- monosyllable, unilateral. bi-/di- dichotomy, bifocal. multi-/poly-/pluri multiracial

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Conversion Prefixes
be- bewigged, bewitch, bedazzle, befriend ( a dog ). en-/em- endanger, empower. a- afloat.

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To Summarize
Negative Prefixes. Reversible Prefixes. Pejorative Prefixes. Prefixes of degree and size. Prefixes of attitude. Locative prefixes. Prefixes of time and order. Number Prefixes. Conversion Prefixes.
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Suffixation
Characteristics of suffixes
They normally alter the word type of the base. Suffixes rarely have a distinct meaning on their own. They change the word into which they are included into another part of speech. They can be classified according to the speech part they form, or according to the type of base they are added to.

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Noun Suffixes
Occupational. -eer engineer, auctioneer. -ster gangster, gamester, trickster. -er Londoner, banker

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Noun Suffixes
Diminutive and feminine. -let booklet, owlet, piglet. -ette cigarrette, kitchenette. -ess countess, hostess. -y Johnny, daddy, pussy.
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Noun Suffixes ( Abstract )

Status, domain, etc. -hood boyhood, brotherhood, falsehood, likelihood. -ship friendship, companionship -dom,-ocracy, -ery/-ry.

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Noun Suffixes
Quantity. -ful handful, spoonful

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Noun/adjective Suffixes
-ite Israelite, Rafaelite. -(i)an Shakespearian, Elizabethan. -ese Japanese. -ist novelist, violinist, typist. -ism Cummunism, Imperialistm.

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De-verbal Suffixes
-er worker, onlooker, drinker. -ant inhabitant, occupant. -ation operation, exploration. -ment arrangement, argument. -al approval, refusal -ing swimming, living, painting, building. -age package, peerage, shortage. -ee trainee, employee.
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De-adjectival Suffixes
-ness goodness, happiness, selfishness. -ity/-able/-ible/-al readable, readability, sentimental, sentimentality.

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Verb Suffixes
-ify certify, identify. -ize scandalize, organise. -en blacken, sadden.

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Adjective Suffixes
-able readable, drinkable. -al chemical, criminal, special. -ful beautiful, plentiful. -ed blue-eyed, odd-shaped. -en wooden, leaden. -ic Germanic, specific. -ish foolish, boyish, snobbish. -less helpless, hopeless. -like friendly, child-like
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Adverb Suffixes
-ly happily, freely, instantly. -wards onwards, eastwards. -wise clockwise.

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To Summarize Suffixes
Noun Suffixes. Noun/Adjective suffixes. De-verbal suffixes. De-adjectival suffixes. Verb suffixes. Adjective suffixes. Adverb suffixes.

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Oil paper Paperclip Paper aeroplane (to)wallpaper Wastepaper Wastepaper basket

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Characteristics of compounds
The can be written together (solid), separately or with a hyphen. Phonologically are identified as for having the main stress on the first element.
blackbird _____,_____ a species of bird. blackbird _____ _____ a bird which is black

They can consist of two or three words.

sister-in-law, baby-sitter, air-conditioner.

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Other compound nouns come from...

Verb + Noun. pickpoket. Verb + Verb. make-believe. Adjective + Noun. fast-food. Particle + Noun overkill. Adverb + Noun. new generation Verb + Particle press down Phrase compounds Whisky and soda

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Groups of compound nouns

Compound nouns can be countable, uncountable, singular or plural and grouped like that.

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Common countable compound nouns

Address book Air conditioner Air raid Baby-sitter Bank account Brother-in-law Bus-stop Can opener Heart attack High school Human being Letter-box Passer-by Pen-friend Polar bear Police station.

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Common uncountable compound nouns

Birth control Central heating Common sense Dry-cleaning Family planning Fancy dress Fast-food Income tax Lost property Mail order Make up Old age Remote control Social security First aid Water-skiing

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Common singular compound nouns

Cost of living Fire brigade Generation gap Human race Mother-tongue Public sector Solar system Welfare state.

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Common plural compound nouns

Armed forces Civil rights High heels Human rights Luxury goods Road works Social services Winter sports Yellow pages

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Compound adjectives
They are made up of two or more words, usually written with hyphens between them. They may be qualitative classifying or colour adjectives.

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Common patterns to make compound adjectives

Adjective or number + noun + -ed: red-haired

Adjective or adverb + past participle: low-paid

Adjective, adverb or noun +present participle good-looking

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Rule for compound adjectives

A few compound adjectives are made up of more than two words and they are often written with hyphens when they are used in front of nouns, and without hyphens when they are used as the complement of a link verb.
It was a free-and-easy relationship. That book is out of date.

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Groups of Compound adjectives

Compound qualitative adjectives Absent minded. Easy-going. Low-paid Nice looking Old fashioned Open-minded Second-class Starry-eyed Tender-hearted Well-behaved Well-dressed Well-known.

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Groups of Compound Adjectives

Compound classifying adjectives Audio-visual Brand-new Built-up Deep-sea Duty-free Long-distance Made-up North-east One-way Second-hand Tax-free Top-secret

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Groups of Compound Adjectives

Compound colour adjectives Blood-red Bottle-green Nut-brown Royal-blue Sky-blue Snow-white.

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Compound Verbs
They are usually written with an hyphen. Pattern formation: noun + verb sky-dive verb + noun shun-pike verb + verb freeze-dry adjective + verb double-book particle + verb overbook

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Groups of Compound Verbs

Intransitive compound verbs: Baby-sit Ice-skate Water-ski Transitive compound verbs: Back-comb Dry-clean hitch-hike roller-skate window-shop

ill-treat tape record

Compound verbs used in transitive or intransitive clauses: Bottle-feed sight-read Mass-produce spring-clean Short-circuit tie-dye

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