LECTURE 3

WORD FORMATION IN ENGLISH

 All English words have a root. This form which carries the basic meaning of
the word. It can be changed by adding a form at the beginning (a prefix) or a form at
the end (a suffix). The root form may be any one of the four parts of speech (a verb,
noun, adjective or adverb).

Example: the word to imagine which means “to form a picture or idea in the mind”

To imagine; an image; imaginative; imagination, unimaginative, imaginary

A. Here are the words we can form with the verb imagine and its prefix and suffixes.

1. ROOT VERB + SUFFIX = NOUN

Imagine + ation = imagination imagination
2. ROOT VERB + SUFFIX = ADJECTIVE
Imagine + ary = imaginary imaginary
3. ROOT VERB + SUFFIX = ADJECTIVE
Imagine + ative = imaginative imaginative
4. ADJECTIVE + SUFFIX = ADVERB
Imaginative + ly = imaginatively imaginatively
5. PREFIX + ADJECTIVE = NEGATIVE ADJ
Un + imaginative = unimaginative unimaginative
6. PREFIX + ADVERB = NEGATIVE ADJ
Un + imaginatively = unimaginatively unimaginatively

B. Here are some of the common prefixes you will find in the check-list:

(i) un-/in-/im-/ir-/il-/non-/dis-/ = negative

1. un- unimportant, uncommon

2. in- insane, inconvenient
3. im- impossible, improper
4. ir- irreligious, irresponsible
5. il- illegal, illogical
6. non- non-stop, non-verbal
7. dis- disagree, dishonorable

(ii) re- = again

1.re- rewrite, reproduce, rearrange

C. Here are some of the more common suffixes you will find. They are listed here by the way
they change the part of speech. Although there is no sure way to know which suffix is root with
which root, listen carefully and notice as you read. Also note that spelling changes in the root
words are sometimes necessary when you add a suffix. Here are some of them:
Dropping final e: imagine-imaginative; argue-argument

Changing y to i: happy- happily, beauty-beautiful

Changing a final consonant: attend-attentive; explode-explosive

(i) To make NOUNS

1. Verb + ment argument, disappointment, payment

2. Verb + tion/sion invention, confusion, discussion

3. Verb + ation/ition limitation, composition, declaration
4. Verb + ance/ence dependence, insurance, reference
5. Verb + or/er owner, manager, player, visitor
6. Noun + ship friendship, leadership, membership
7. Noun + hood neighborhood, adulthood
8. Adjective + ness kindness, thickness, foolishness
9. Adjective + ty/ity cruelty, equality, loyalty

(ii) To make VERBS

1. NOUN/ADJECTIVE + en hasten, soften, threaten, weaken

(iii) To make ADVERBS

1. ADJECTIVE + ly safely, quickly, dangerously

Note these two small points:

a. A very few adjectives also end in –ly. For example:
Our teacher is a friendly person.
My father reads the daily newspaper

b. Several adverbs do not end in –ly. For example:

Hippolito has to work hard.
Note that Hippolito works hard means that he puts in a lot of effort. Hippolito hardly
works means that he works very little.

Exercise A. Choose the correct word

Study the following map

Exercise B.
TASK 2. Word Formation (Send the answer to our google classroom)
 PHRASAL VERBS

1. Phrasal verbs Key words

back up support
be away absent
be back return
be in at home
be out not there
be over finished
be up out of bed
be up to responsibility
blow up explode
break down fail

Exercise 1. Choose one of the phrasal verbs and complete the sentences

Example 1. My car breaks down miles from anywhere

2. It …… …….. …….. …….. to make the decision

3. Will you ……..me……at the meeting?

4. George …….. ……… of the office

5. Joe’s still asleep but Pat …….. …………

6. When will the lesson …….. ……….

7. How long has he …….. …….. from home?

8. If you go now, when will you ……. …………..?

9. Paul ………not ……….but he’ll be back soon

10. He lit the fuse and the bridge …….. ……..

Believe It or Not

The sentence, "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog" uses every
letter in the English language.
2. Phrasal verbs Key words

Bring up educate
Call for collect
Call on visit
Carry on continue
Catch up reach, contact
Clear up improved
Come off succeed
Cut off disconnect
Cut out stop
Do up fasten, decorate

Exercise 2. Choose one of the phrasal verbs and complete the sentences
Example 1. Please cut out that awful noise?

2. How should children be …….. ……..

3. They have ……. …….the electricity

4. He …… ……the rent on Thursdays

5. I hope our little plan ………. ………..

6. The weather is beginning to …….. ……..

7. I shall never …….. ……… with Richard

8. Shall we ……… ……… Betty tonight?

9. ……….. ……….. ! Don’t stop because of me

10. Please ……… ……… your buttons and zip.

Believe It or Not

If you yelled for 8 years, 7 months and 6 days, you would have
produced enough sound energy to heat one cup of coffee.
3. Phrasal verbs Key words

Do up decorate
Drop in visit
Fall off decrease
Fill in complete
find out discover
fix up arrange
get away escape
get back (be back) return
get back recover
get in arrive

Exercise 3. Choose one of the phrasal verbs and complete the sentences

Example 1. Will the police get back my stolen car

2. I am going now. I’ll …….. …….. late

3. Please …….. ……… for a drink anytime

4. Sales have begun to ……… ……… now

5. Would you ……… ……… this form please

6. That man would ……… ……… ……. Murder

7. We must ……….. ……….an appointment soon

8. I could never ……… ……..what he’d done

9. The plane ……. …….. at 10.00 p.m. and took off at 11.00 p.m.

10. To …… …….. this flat will cost a lot.

4. Phrasal verbs Key words

Go on continue
Go out leave
Go round suffice
Go up increase
Hold on wait
Hold up delay
Keep out exclude
Keep up maintain
Keep up remain level
Let down disappoint
Exercise 4. Choose one of the phrasal verbs and complete the sentences

Example 1. Slow down! I can’t keep up with you

2. You should …….. ……. Your English at home

3. ……… ……….. ! I won’t interrupt you again

4. How can we ……… ……… all these draughts?

5. Train fares are ……. …….this month

6. There is not enough food to …….. ……….

7. Mary …….. …….. of the house an hour ago

8. …….. …….. while I call Sue to the plane

9. Sally ………Jim ………..by marrying John

REMINDER

Do not forget to build your glossary

The end of Lecture 3