Word formation

Mari Tagel
Tiina Lind
12a

Word-classes

Abstract noun
Personal noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb

Prefixes

Syllables added before certain word.

Meaning of new word depends on
prefix.
Often used to give adjective a
negative or an opposite meaning.
All prefixes are derivational.

Negative meaning prefixes

Prefix Meaning
anti- against
dedisex-

reverse action,
get rid of
not, get rid of,
opposite of
former

Examples
antisocial, antibiotic, antiwar
Defrost, depoliticize
disloyal, disagree,
disconnect, disinformation,
ex-husband, ex-boss, excolleague

in-/il-/im-/i not, opposite

rof
mal-

bad(ly)

mis-

wrong, astray

non-

not

Inexact, illogical,
impossible,
irregular
malnourish,
malfunction,maltre
at
misinformation,
misguide, mishear
nonhuman,
nonexistent

un-

not, opposite
of

unnecessary,
unequal

un-

reverse action, undo, untie

deprive of,
release from

with-

against

withstand

Number suffixes
bi-/twi-

two

biannual, bicycle/
twibill, twilight

mono-

one, solo,
only

monogamy,
monorail

multi-

many

multi-storey

homo-

same

homosexual,
homophobic

Other English suffixes

a-/an-

lacking in, lack of

asexual, anemic

a-

verb > predicative

adjective with
progressive aspect
joint, with,
accompanying

afloat, atremble

to make into, to put

into, to get into

empower,
enmesh

coen-/em-

co-worker,
cooperation

mini-

small

minimarket, miniroom

out-

better, faster,
longer, beyond

outreach, outcome

over-

too much

overreact,
overact, overrated

post-

after

post-election,
post-graduation

pre-

before

pro-

for, on the side of

pre-election,
pre-enter
pro-life

re-

again, back

rerun, rewrite

self-

self

self-sufficient

step-

family relation by
remarriage

stepbrother

fore-

before

hyper-

extra specially, over, hypermarket,

high
hyperthermia

sub-

under, lower than,

less than
over, above, more
than, better

super-

forerunner,

sub-zero
superpower,
supernatural

trans-

across, from one

place to another

transatlantic

ultra-

beyond, extremely

ultraviolet,
ultramagnetic

under-

below, beneath,
lower in
grade/dignity
deputy

underground,
underpass

vice-

vice-president,
vice-principal

Some new preffiexes

AfroautobiodemidemoecoEurogeo-

Afro-American
automatic
biodegrade
demigod
demography
ecosystem
Eurocentric
geography

hydro- hydroelectricity
ininsert
isoisochromatic
micro- microbacillus
neo- neolithic
pro- proconsul
retro- retrograde
sursurreal, surrender
tele- television

Suffixes

Syllables which are added in the end

of the word
Changes meaning of word

Noun referring to people

Verb +

-er
writer; teacher

-or
sailor;

-ee
beggar

-ant
contestant

-ent
student

-ee
trainee
Noun

-an
republican

-ian
librarian
Noun/verb/adjectiv +

-ist tourist;nationalist

Nouns formed from verbs

-age
-al
-ance
-ation
-ence
-ion
-ment
-sion
-sis
-tion

package
refusal
acceptance
realisation
difference
revision
enjoyment
comprehension
hypnosis
prescription

Nouns formed from adjectives

-ance
-cy
-ence
-ion
-ness
-ity
-ty
-y

importance
vacancy
competence
Desolation
loneliness
fomality
loyality
modesty

Adjectives formed from nouns

-ous
-al
-ic
-ive
-ful
-less
-y
-ly

famous
additional
heroic
expencive
careful
careless
healthy
friendly

Adjectives formed from verbs

-able
-ible
-ive

likeable
defensible
conclusive

Verbs formed from adjectives

-en
-ise
-ize

lighten
legalise
organize

References

En.wikipedia.org
Grammarway 4
http://www.slideshare.net/teflang/wo
rd-formation-in-english/

Have a nice day