ENGLISH MODULE

GRADE XI

WORD FORMATION

Compiled by:

Theresia Riya Vernalita H., S.Pd.

Conceptual Map

WORD BUILDING

In linguistics, word formation or word building is the creation of a new word by adding an affix. An affix is a letter or group of letters that is added in the beginning or end of a word. There are two kinds of affixes: prefix and suffix.

PREFIX (added to the beginning of a word)

1. Prefixes are often used to give adjectives a negative meaning (uncomfortable, inconvenient, intolerant, etc). In some cases, it gives the idea of inside or into (internal, insert, income, import, etc.) However, there is no short cut to know which prefix any adjective will use.

Note: in- becomes im- before a root beginning with m or p, e.g immature, impatient.

1. Prefixes un- and dis- can also form the opposites of verbs too (disagree, disapprove, disconnect, undo, unlock, unzip, etc)

1. This is the list of prefixes that are commonly used.

SUFFIX (added to the end of a word)

1. Common noun suffixes

-er is used for person who does an activity (writer, shopper, teacher, etc)

-er/ -or is also used for things that do a particular job (sharpener, projector, etc)

-ist is also used for person who plays an instrument (pianist, guitarist, etc)

-(t)ion is used to make noun from a verb (donation, pollution, etc)

-ness is used to make noun from adjective (sadness, weakness, etc).

1. Adjective suffixes

-able/-ible/-ble which means can be done (flexible, drinkable, countable, etc)

-ful is used to make adjectives from verbs (hopeful, useful, etc)

1. Verb

-ise/-ize is used to make verbs from adjectives (modernise, industrialise, etc)

Exercises

A. Analyse the word form bellow, and arrange in your own sentences.

1. decide (verb), decision (noun)

Will you take the job? We must have a quick decision. You must decide.

2. permit ( ), permission ( )

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3. invite ( ), invitation ( )

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4. complain ( ), complaint ( )

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5. importance ( ), important ( )

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6. difficulty ( ), difficult ( )

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7. bleed ( ), blood ( )

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8. admit ( ), admission ( )

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9. measure ( ), measurement ( )

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10. happiness ( ), happy ( ), happily ( )

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11. basic ( ), basically ( )

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12. beauty ( ), beautifully ( )

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13. survive ( ), survival ( )

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14. unhappy ( ), unhappiness ( )

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15. reflect ( ), reflection ( )

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16. fiction ( ), fictional ( )

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17. impressive ( ), impress ( )

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18. trust ( ), trustworthy ( )

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19. real ( ), reality ( )

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20. construct ( ), construction ( )

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21. imagine ( ), imagination ( )

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22. horrible ( ), horribly ( )

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23. die ( ), died ( )

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24. record ( ), recording ( )

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25. fly ( ), flight ( )

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26. free ( ), freedom ( )

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27. constant ( ), constantly ( )

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B. For each question, fill the space in the sentence using the base word given in bold at the end. The required word may be a noun, adverb, adjective or verb and it may be either positive (e.g. helpful) or negative (e.g. unhelpful).

1. Tim-Berners Lee has received many awards as the ____________(invent)

of the world wide web.

2. If you weren't so ____________ (critic) of Ben, he'd be happier to spend time with you.

3. Many people often make a ____________ (compare) between London and New York.

4. There are power stations across Europe that use the __________ ( day) rise and fall of the ocean tides.

5. The book, like the movie, tracks the anxiety and _________ (grow) pains of a teenager in 1970s Germany.

References

Plag, Ingo. 2003. Word Formation in English. Cambridge: University Press. McCarty, Michael. 2001. Vocabulary in Use. Cambrdge: University Press.

Word Formation

Prefix

Suffix

Noun Suffixes

Adjective Suffixes

Verb Suffixes

Adverb Suffixes