Word Formation

A Introduction

Look at the examples

Lots of people believe that God exist.

Lots of people believe in the existence of God.

Exist is a verb and existence is a noun. The word existence has two parts: exist- and -ence. We call -ence a ‘suffix’. We add it to the end of the verb exist to form a noun.

We can also use suffixes to form verbs, adjectives and adverbs.

The system is being modernized. (make modern)

I grew up in an industrial town. (a town where there is a lot of industry)

The man was behaving strangely. (in a strange way)

There are many different suffixes, such as -ence, -ize, -al, -ly, -tion and -ment. Some of them can be used to form many different words. For example, there are a lot of nouns ending in -tion: action, education, explanation, information, instruction, etc. There are no exact rules about which suffix you can add to which word. Adding a suffix can also involve other changes to the form of a word.

industry→industrial repeat→repetition science→scientist

Now look at these examples.

They’re going to play the match on Wednesday.

They’re going to replay the match on Wednesday.

We can add re- to the beginning of the verb play. We call re- a ‘prefix’. A prefix adds something to the meaning of a word. The verb replay means ‘play again’. We can also add prefixes to nouns and adjectives.

B Noun suffixes

-ment the prospects for employment reach an agreement

-ion/-tion/-sion take part in a discussion increase steel production

-ation/-ition an invitation to a party people’s opposition to the idea

-ence/-ance a preference for houses rather than flats a distance of ten miles

-ty/-ity no certainty that we shall succeed keep the door locked for security

-ness people’s willingness to help recovering from an illness

-ing enter a building reach an understanding

C Nouns for people

-er/-or the driver of the car a newspaper editor

-ist a place full of tourist a scientist doing an experiment

-ant/-ent an assistant to help with my work students at university

-an/-ian Republicans and Democrats the electrician rewiring the house

-ee an employee of the company (someone employed)

notes for examinees (people taking an exam)

We also use -er for things especially machines.

a hair-dryer a food mixer a cassette player

D Verb suffixes

Many verbs are formed by adding -ize or -ise to an adjective. Some are formed by adding -en.

-ize European safety rules are being standardized.

-en They’re widening the radd here. Meeting you has brightened my day.

E Adjective suffixes

Most of the adjectives are formed from nouns.

-al a professional musician Britain’s coastal waters

-ic a metallic sound a scientific inquiry

-ive an informative guide book an offer exclusive to our readers

-ful a successful career feeling hopeful about the future

-less feeling hopeless about the future

-ous guilty of dangerous driving luxurious holiday apartments

-y a rocky path the salty taste of sea water

-ly a friendly smile a very lively person

-able/-ible an acceptable error a comprehensible explanation

a valuable painting a comfortable chair

F Adverbs

-ly He looked around nervously. I moved here quite recently.

G Some common prefixes

anti- (against) anti-roads protestors anti-government troops

inter- (between) an international match the interstate highways in the US

mini- (small) a minicomputer the minibar in your hotel room

over- (too much) too fond of overeating overcrowded roads

post- (after) the post-war world a postgraduate student

pre- (before) pre-match entertainment in prehistoric times

re- (again) a reunion of old friends reread your favourite books

semi- (half) semi-skilled work sitting in a semicircle

super- (big) a new superstore a supertanker carrying oil

under- (too little) thin and underweight underpaid work

H Negative prefixes

We can also use a prefix to form an opposite. For example, the opposite of clear is unclear (not clear).

Un- is the most common negative prefix.

dis- a dishonest way to behave can’t help being disorganized

dislike the idea a disadvantage of the plan

il- (+l) an illegal drug an illiberal attitude

im- (+m or p) an impossible task an impolite question

in- an indirect route the invisible man a great injustice

ir- (+r) an irregular shape an irrelevant remark

non- non-alcoholic drinks a non-stop flight

un- an uncomfortable chair an unusual event

an undated letter unpack your suitcase