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Word Formation

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Guille García Pinasco
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85 views

Word Formation

Uploaded by

Guille García Pinasco
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Word

Formation
Exercise
Word Formation
Is a kind of exercise that you will often find. In this task you have to change the word
given so that it fits the sentence logically and grammatically.

In a sentence or text you have to change the form of a word, e.g. from a noun to and
adjective or from a verb to a noun, etc.

E.g.:
SINGER
The …………………….. (SING) was very nervous before the show.
A verb.
What kind of word is “sing”?
A person noun.
What kind of word do you need to complete the sentence?
In this example you have to complete the sentence with the person noun SINGER, so you
change the verb SING into the person noun singer.
Follow these tips to complete a Word Formation exercise:

- What form is the new word? Is it a


noun, a verb, an adjective, an adverb?
- Is the new word negative?
- If you don’t know the new word, guess.
You may be right!
- Check your answers carefully when
you finish.
01
PREFIXES
CHANGING MEANING
With Adjectives
Prefixes like un-, dis-, im-, in-, ir-, il- can be added to some adjectives to
give the opposite meaning.

HAPPY UNHAPPY HONEST DISHONEST

POSSIBLE IMPOSSIBLE CORRECT INCORRECT

REGULAR IRREGULAR LEGAL ILLEGAL

Of the prefixes above, un- is the most common and appears in a number
of adjectives (uncomfortable, unnecessary, unusual, unexpected,
unbelievable, unable, unlucky, unlikely, unfair, etc).
With Verbs
With verbs prefixes like un-, dis-, over-, mis-, re-, can have particular meanings..

UN- I couldn’t unlock the door this morning. [open the door using a
[the opposite of an action] key; opp lock].
I unpacked the bags. [took everything out; opp pack].

DIS- I disagree with the others. [don’t agree / have the same opinion].
[the opposite of sth] The plane disappeared in the sky. [don’t appear].

OVER- The bank overcharged me. [asked me to pay too much money].
[too much]

MIS- I misunderstood what she said. [couldn’t understand correctly].


[do sth incorrectly]

RE- The teacher has asked me to rewrite my essay. [to write again].
[again]
02
SUFFIXES
FORMING NOUNS
Verb to Noun
Suffixes are used at the end of words; they often tell you if a word is a
noun, a verb, an adjective or an adverb. Two suffixes which form nouns
are: -ion and -ment.

VERB NOUN

INVENT IVENTION
DISCUSS DISCUSSION
TRANSLATE TRANSLATION
RELAX RELAXATION
IMPROVE IMPROVEMENT
GOVERN GOVERNMENT
MANAGE MANAGEMENT
DEVELOP DEVELOPMENT
Adjective to Noun
The suffixes -ness and -ity often form nouns from adjectives.

ADJECTIVE NOUN

WEAK WEAKNESS
HAPPY HAPPINESS
ILL ILLNESS
FIT FITNESS
STUPID STUPIDITY
POPULAR POPULARITY
SIMILAR SIMILARITY
ABLE ABILITY
Person Nouns
The suffixes -er, -or and -ist can be added to nouns or verbs to describe
people and jobs.

-ER -OR -IST

DANCER DOCTOR ARTIST


SINGER TRANSLATOR ECONOMIST
FOOTBALLER ACTOR SCIENTIST
03
SUFFIXES
FORMING ADJECTIVES
Forming Adjectives
- Common suffixes that form adjectives are: -able, -al, -y, -ous and -ive.

-ABLE -AL -Y -OUS -IVE

COMFORTABLE MUSICAL CLOUDY FAMOUS ATTRACTIVE


ENJOYABLE NATIONAL FUNNY NERVOUS DESTRUCTIVE
REASONABLE PERSONAL BOSSY GLAMOROUS EXTENSIVE

- The suffix -ful often means ‘full of’ or ‘having the quality of the noun’,
e.g. a colourful room has a lot of colour in it; a helpful person gives a lot
of help; a peaceful place is calm and quiet.
The opposite meaning is sometimes formed by adding the suffix -less to
the noun, e.g. a useless machine does not work, i.e. it is the opposite of
useful.
04
SUFFIXES
FORMING ADVERBS
Forming Adverbs
Adverbs have a strong connection with adjectives. Adjectives and
adverbs are usually based on the same word. Adverbs often have the
form of an adjective + the suffix -ly.

ADJECTIVE ADVERB

CALM CALMLY
BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFULLY
HOPEFUL HOPEFULLY
HISTORICAL HISTORICALLY
ANGRY ANGRILY
LUCKY LUCKILY
Let’s practise!
1. This room is so ……………………
UNTIDY ! Put all your clothes away! TIDY

2. Be ……………………
CAREFUL
when you open the door. CARE

3. Could you repeat that ……………………,


EXPLANATION please? I don’t really understand it. EXPLAIN

4. I work hard buy they pay me little money. That’s really ……………………
UNFAIR . FAIR

5. The receptionist was very ……………………


HELPFUL and explained to us everything in detail.
HELP
UNEMPLOYED
6. He doesn’t have a job. He’s …………………… . EMPLOYED
DIRECTLY
7. The plane is scheduled to fly …………………… to the Canary Islands nonstop. DIRECT
DISAPPEARED
8. He saw her in the crowd but suddenly she …………………… . APPEAR
ABILITY
9. He has the …………………… to play in every position, so he’s a very valuable player.
ABLE COMFORTABLE

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