prefixes and suffixes. theory and exercises

7/25/2019 Prefixes and Suffixes. Theory and Exercises

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UNIT 19. PREFIXES AND SUFFIXES. THEORY AND EXERCISES 2

QUANTITY

PREFIX EXAMPLE PREFIX EXAMPLE

bi-, tri-, etc binary micro- microwave

dec-(a) decametre mono- monotheism

di- ditransitive multi- multimedia

centi- centimetre poly- polytheism

kilo- kilometre semi- semicircle

macro- macrocosm

A LOT, TOO MUCH


hyper- hyperactive over- overload

multi- multicoloured,

multimillionaire

super- supermarket, superstore

out- outcome ultra- ultramodern

LITTLE, TOO LITTLE


mini- minicomputer, minibar under-

underestimate,

underweight, underpaid,

underground

sub- subtenancy

TEMPORAL


ex- ex-wife post- (=after) postdated,

postgraduate

neo- neoclassical pre- (=before) pre-school, prehistoric

fore- foretell


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TO MAKE OR TO CAUSE TO BE


a- asleep em- embody

be- bewitch en- enable

RELATIONS


co- co-ordinate semi-

(=half)

semiprecious, semi-

skilled, semicircle

inter- interactive, international trans- transaction

intra- intravenous vice- vice-chairmanmid- midway

OTHER IMPORTANT PREFIXES


auto- autodidact re-

(=again)

re-examine, reread

pro- pro-divorce self- self-employed

SUFFIXES

While prefixes generally modify the base, SUFFIXES have by contrast a small

semantic role, their primarily purpose being to change the grammatical function of

the base. Below, we will examine a selection of suffixes according to the word class

that results when they are added to a base.

NOUNS

SUFFIX EXAMPLE SUFFIX EXAMPLE

-ability capability -ful mouthful

-age shortage -hood boyhood, likelihood

-ian/-an* electrician, republican -ics economics

-ance/-

ence

performance,

importance, distance,preference, difference,

-ion/tion/sion discussion, production,

permission


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convenience

-ant/-ent* assistant, inhabitant,

student

-ing understanding,

building, liking,

meaning

-ary library, documentary -ism christianism

-ate electorate -ist* socialist, tourist

-ation/-

ition/-tion

explanation,

identification,

information,

invitation,

communication,

opposition,

construction,collection,

transformation

introduction

-ite ibsenite

-cracy democracy -ity, -ty

electricity,

security,

certainty, popularity,

similarity

-cy efficiency -ment

measurement,(dis)agreement,

development,

settlement,

requirement,

employment

-dom freedom -ness readiness, illness,

willingness

-ee* employee -ology, -logy sociology-er/-ar/-

or*

teacher, operator,

driver, editor

-ship championship

-ery slavery -ster youngster

-ese japanese -ure failure, pressure

*These suffixes are used to form nouns of people. We also use -er for things,

especially machines, for example: a hair-dryer, a food mixer, a CD player.


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ADJECTIVES


-able comparable -ish british

-(ic)al logical, professional,coastal, natural, central,

grammatical

-ist communist

-an republican -ite thatcherite

-ant/-ent important -ive sensitive, informative,

exclusive

-able/-ible acceptable,

comprehensible,

valuable, comfortable

-less useless, hopeless,

powerless

-ary/-ory contemporary -ly daily, friendly, lively

-ate passionate -ous famous, dangerous,

luxurious, religious,

marvellous

-en golden -some awesome

-er warmer -th nineteenth

-ese portuguese -ward(s) backward

-est richest -wide worldwide

-ful useful, successful,

hopeful, wonderful

-y rocky, salty

-ic historic, scientific

ADVERBS


-er faster -ly

sharply, recently,

nervously, originally,

successfully, rarely,

heavily, correctly

-est closest -ward(s) forward


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VERBS


-ate formulate -ify simplify

-en widen -ize/-ise institutionalise

COMPOUNDS

A compound is a lexical unit consisting of more than one base and functioning as a

single word. In English, compounds usually comprise two bases only, and most

common compounds result in new nouns and, to a lesser extent, adjectives and

verbs. Compounds may be written in three different ways:

As one word: railway, keyboard

With a hyphen:washing-machine, drinking water

As two or more words: address bus, ferrite ring

NOUN COMPOUNDS

COMBINATION EXAMPLE COMBINATION EXAMPLE

noun+noun bookshelf verb+adverb/preposition breakdown

-ing+noun dining-room verb+noun breakfastnoun+preposition looker-on preposition+noun onrush

adjective+noun darkroom adverb/preposition+verb off-spring

pronoun+noun he-man whole phrase son-in-law

ADJECTIVE COMPOUNDS


noun+adjective part-time adverb+past

participle

so-called

adjective+adjective dark-blue noun+-ing labour saving

adj./adv.+noun+-

ed

two-faced adjective+-ing long-standing

noun+past particip. tongue-tied adverb+-ing hard-working

adj.+past particip. ready-made


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VERB COMPOUNDS


noun+verb mass-produce adjective+verb short-change

CONVERSION

We can define CONVERSION as the process by which we assign the word to a

different word-class without changing its form.

CONVERSION Verb noun Adjective noun Noun verb

EXAMPLE walk, love, doubt daily, comic to water, to skin

EXERCISES

1.Read this text and the words in capital letters below. Change the form of

each word so that it fits the numbered space. There is an example at the

beginning (0).CAMERON PARK

At first light, there is nothing (0) UNUSUAL about the town of Cameron Park in

California but, as the day begins and the town comes to (1) ___________, you

cant help (2) ___________ that, among the cars, there are light aeroplanes

moving along the roads towards the airport.

When the town was (3) ___________ built, a small airport was included for the

(4) ___________ of people flying in to look at the properties which were for(5) ___________, but it soon became clear to the developers that this was an

attraction in itself. The streets were (6) ___________ so that planes could use

them, the mailboxes near the road were made (7) ___________ to avoid passing

wings, and all the electricity cables were buried (8) ___________.

Now, there is every (9) ___________ that the residents will have a private plane in

their garage and use it with the same (10) ___________ other people enjoy with

their cars.

0. USUAL

1. LIVE

6. WIDE

7. SHORT


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2. NOTICE

3. ORIGIN

4. CONVENIENT

5.

SELL

8. GROUND

9. LIKELY

10. FREE



beginning (0).

AN IMPORTANT ENGLISH TOWN

The side of the town of Winchester was a (0) NATURALplace for a (1) ___________,

at the point where a river cut through the chalk of the (2) ___________ hillsides. A

simple camp at St Catherines Hill was the (3) ___________known use of the site.

This was followed by an Iron Age hill-fort, but this was left (4) ___________ by 100

BC. It was the Romans who finally established the town and (5) ___________ it with

a defensive wall for the protection of their people and trade.

With the (6) ___________ of its first cathedral in the seventh century, the town

became an important (7) ___________ centre. Later, King Alfred, who had

(8) ___________ pushed back the invading Danes, moved his palace to Winchester.

The town then experienced rapid (9) ___________, and its (10) ___________ role in

English history was underlines in 1066 when the conquering Normans, like Alfred,made Winchester their capital.

0. NATURE

1. SETTLE

2. SOUTH

3.

EARLY

4.

INHABIT

5. ROUND

6. BUILD

7. RELIGION

8. SUCCESS

9.

DEVELOP

10.

CENTRE



beginning (0).

THE FUTURE OF TALL BUILDINGS

Architects responsible for the (0) CONSTRUCTIONof many skyscrapers believe that

a tall building must always have a certain minimum (1) ___________ but that there is


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no limit to its absolute (2) ___________. This means that the skyscrapers of the

future are likely to be even taller.

Engineers agree with this, but there is (3) ___________ over the best shape for very

tall, slim buildings. The effects of wind (4) ___________ mean that cylindrical designs

have enjoyed some (5) ___________ in recent years, and there are quite pleasing to

the eye. (6) ___________, however, the ideal shape is an ugly square with heavily

rounded corners.

Would these tall buildings of the future offer more than a (7) ___________ view?

Some believe tall towers could contain all the (8) ___________ for modern living. The

(9) ___________ of these vertical villages would travel up and down between their

home and work zones and would (10) ___________ need to journey to ground level.

0.

CONSTRUCT

1.

WIDE

2. HIGH

3. AGREE

4. PRESS

5.

POPULAR

6.

FORTUNATE

7.

WONDER

8. REQUIRE

9. INHABIT

10. RARE


each word so that it fits the numbered space. There is an example at thebeginning (0).

THE ABC OF COOKING

Its a (0) MARVELLOUS idea for children to do some cooking at an early age.

Generally (1) ___________, most children cant wait to help in the kitchen and love

getting involved in the (2) ___________ of their meals. They should be

(3) ___________ to do so, and care should be taken to (4) ___________ they enjoy

the experience. It is important to show them how to do things (5) ___________ but

they shouldnt be criticized too much. Although the finished result may not be quite to

your (6) ___________, the young cook will undoubtedly find it quite the

(7) ___________ food he or she has ever eaten.

Kitchens can, of course, be (8) ___________ places and so the absolute

(9) ___________ of keeping an eye on children at all times cannot be emphasized too

(10) ___________. Sharp knives, for example, should be avoided until children are

old enough to handle them safely.


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0. MARVEL

1. SPEAK

2. PREPARE

3.

COURAGE

4.

SURE

5. CORRECT

6. LIKE

7. TASTY

8. DANGER

9.

IMPORTANT

10.

HEAVY

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