Word Formation

Prefixes are syllables which we add before certain words to

form new words. The meaning of the new word depends
on the prefix that has been used.
anti-against (anti-crime)
bi- two (bilingual)
=

co-- with (co-exist)

counter- = in the opposite direction (counterattack)
www.

ex- previous, former (ex-wife)

inter- between (international)
=

mis- = done wrongly or badly (miscomprehend)

mono- = one (monosyllable)
=

multi- many (multicoloured) non- =

not (non-profit)
out- = more, better (outrun)
over- = (done) to a great extent (overdressed)
post- = after (post doctoral)
pre- before (pre-junior)
=

pro- in favour of (pro-life) re- again

(redecorate) semi-half
(semi-circular)
sub- under, less (subtitle)
www

super- big, more (superstar)

trans- = (travel) from one side, group, etc, to
another (transcontinental)
tri- three (triathlon)
=

under- not enough (understaffed)

uni- one (unisex)
=

The prefixes below are used to express

opposite meanings.
de- deflate, deforestation
dis- disobey, disrespect
in- inactive, inappropriate
BUT il- (before 1) illiterate
im- (before b, m, p) imbalance, immature,
impolite
ir- (before r) irresponsible
 BUT unrealistic, unresolved
non- non-racist, non-smoker
un- unlock, unpleasant

Some prefixes are added to words to form verbs.

en- compass - encompass

BUT em- (before b, m, p) body-embody

• Suffixes are syllables which we add to the end of

certain words to form new words.

Nouns referring to people

verb + -er/-or/-ar

(hunt - hunter, investigate - investigator, beg -

beggar)
noun/verb/adjective + -ist (violin - violinist,
escape - escapist, instrumental-instrumentalist)
verb + -ant/-ent

(contest - contestant, study – student)

•

noun + -an/-ian
► Nouns formed from verbs

-age -al

-ance
marry-marriage
survive - survival

appear - appearance
-ation alter - alteration
-ence exist - existence
-ion
subtract-subtraction

-ment arrange-arrangement
admit-admission (verbs ending in

hypnotise-hypnosis
-sion

-d/-t)
-sis

-tion
compete - competition
-ure
expose - exposure
-y
injure - injury

Nouns formed from adjectives

-ance
 -cy
-ence

-ion
extravagant - extravagance
secret - secrecy
silent - silence

complete - completion
-iness happy-happiness
-ness

-ity
-ty
-y
light-lightness
complex - complexity loyal - loyalty
honest - honesty

▷ Adjectives formed from nouns

mountain - mountainous accident - accidental drama-dramatic

alphabet - alphabetical girl-girlish

effect-effective
-OUS

-al
-ic

-ical

-ish

-ive

-ful (with)
care - careful
-less (without)
-ant
-able

-y

-ly
hope-hopeless
importance - important
comfort - comfortable

spice - spicy
month - monthly

➤ Adjectives formed from verbs

reason – reasonable
defend - defensible (verbs ending in -d/-t)
-able

-ible
 -ive
-

create creative
-ate

-ent
consider - considerate

depend-dependent

Verbs formed from adjectives

-en -ise
loose - loosen general-generalise

Verbs formed from nouns

-en

strength-strengthen

290
(republic - republican, music –
musician)
verb + -ee (passive meaning) (train - trainee)

Nouns (people)
Concrete/Abstract nouns
Verbs

(in/dis)ability
disable, enable
|(un)able, disabled
acceptance, acceptability
accept
accident

Word Formation

Adjectives

(un)acceptable, accepted
accidental

(under)achiever
(under/over)achievement
(under/over)
achievable
achieve
 actor, actress
(inter/re/in)action, act, (in)activity,
activate, (re/over/
acting, activation
inter)act
(re/in/over)active
ladmirer
admiration
admire
admiring, admirable, admired
admittance, admission, admissibility admit
adventurer
adventure
(in)admissible
adventurous
adviser, advisor
advice, advisability
advise
(in)advisable, advisory
alarm
alarm
alarming, alarmed
analyst
analysis
analyse
analytic(al)
anxiety
anxious

applicant
artist
applicator, application, applicability apply
(in)applicable, applied
art, artistry
artistic, arty
assumption
assume

lattendant
attendance, (in)attention,
(in)attentiveness
attend
attendant, (in)attentive
beginner
beginning
begin
beginning
behaviourist
(mis)behaviour, behaviourism
 (mis)behave
behavioural

benefactor, beneficiary |
benefit
benefit
beneficial

breath, breathing
breathe

calculator, calculation
calculate
celebrity
celebration
celebrate
breathless, breathy, breathtaking, (un)breathable
calculated, calculating, (in)calculable
celebrated, celebratory
centre, centralisation
centralise, centre
central, centralised
characteristic, character,
characterise
characterisation
(un)characteristic, characterless
child, childminder
childhood, childbirth, childcare
childless, childish, childlike
choice
choose
choosy
classification
classify
classified, classifiable
collector
!collection
collect
collected, collective, collectable
comforter
(dis)comfort
comfort

commitment, (non)committal
commit
(un)comfortable, comfortless,
comforting
(un)committed
communicator
communication
communicate
competitor
competition, competitiveness
compete
communicable, (un)communicative
(un)competitive, competing
complaint
complain
(in)completeness, completion
complete
confidant(e)
confidence, confidentiality
confide
consciousness
(conserve), conservation
conserve

(re)consideration
consider

constructor
(re)construction
(re)construct
(re)constructive
(in)correctness, correction
correct
(in)complete
confident, confidential, confiding
(sub/un)conscious
conservative
considerable, (in)considerate, considered

(in)correct, corrective
correspondent
creator, creature
correspondence
correspond
corresponding
(re)creation, creativeness, creativity (re)create
creative, recreational
cure
cure
curable, curative
curiosity
danger
endanger
|(mid)day, daylight, daily
daily
decision, (in)decisiveness
 decide
demonstrator
demonstration
demonstrate
depression, depressant
depress
curious

dangerous, endangered

decided, (in)decisive
demonstrative
depressed, depressing,
depressive
291
 1:|:::|::

Word Formation

Nouns (people)||
Concrete/Abstract nouns
Verbs
Adjectives

depth
deepen
deep
description
describe

despair, desperation
despair
destroyer

discoverer
dramatist

economist
destruction, destructiveness
destroy
(in)describable, descriptive
despairing, desperate
destructible, destructive
determination
determine
determined
discovery
discover
discoverable
drama, dramatisation
dramatise
dramatic
ease, easiness
ease
easy
economy, economics
economise
educator, educationalist
elector, electorate
education
educate
election
elect

electricity, electrocution,
electrify,
electrician
electrification
electrocute

employer, employee
(un)employment
employ

encouragement, discouragement

end, ending
encourage,
economic, economical
[(un)educated, educational, educative
elective, electoral
electric, electrical, electrifying,
electrified

(un)employed, (un)employable
encouraging, discouraging,
discourage
encouraged, discouraged
end
endless
energy
energise
energetic, energising
enjoyment
enjoy
enjoyable
enthusiast

escapee, escapist,
escapologist
enthusiasm
enthuse
enthusiastic
envy
envy
envious, enviable

escape, escapism
escape

exactness, exactitude
exact
exact, exacting
examiner, examinee
exam(ination)
examine
excitement
excite

exhaustion, exhaust
 exhaust
existence
exist
|(un)exciting, (un)excited,
excitable
exhausted, exhausting, exhaustive
existent, existing
expectation, expectancy
expect
(un)expected, expectant
expense(s), expenditure
expend
(in)expensive, expendable
explanation
explain
explanatory
fame
famed, famous, infarnous

financier
fascination
fashion
I fault

finance fluency
fascinate
fashion
fault
fascinating, fascinated
fashionable

faulty, faultless
finance
financial
fluent
(mis)fortune
(un)fortunate
(in)frequency
frequent
(in)frequent
general, generalist
generalisation, generality
generalise
general, generalised
globalisation, globe
globalise
global
 government, governor,
government, governance,
governing, governmental,
(governess)
governorship
govern

guide
guidance
guide
ungovernable
(mis)guided, guiding
happiness
(un)happy
health, healthiness
(un)healthy
(dis)honesty
(dis)honest
host, hostess
hospitality
host
(in)hospitable
human, humanist
humanism, (in)humanity
idiom
human, humanly, humane, humanitarian idiomatic
illness, ill

imagination, image, imagery

imagine
(un)imaginative
importance
impression, impressiveness
impress
inspiration
inspire
imaginary,
(un)imaginable,

(un)important
(un)impressive, impressionable
inspirational, (un)inspired,
(un)inspiring

Nouns (people)
Concrete/Abstract nouns
Verbs
insurer
insurance
insure
(un)insured
intelligence
(dis)interest
interest
interpreter
(mis)interpretation
(mis)interpret
Word Formation

Adjectives

(un)intelligent
(un/dis)interested, interesting
interpretive, interpretative
introduction
lintroduce
introductory
Intruder
intrusion
intrude
intrusive

investigator
investigation
investigate
invitation, invite
invite
investigative, investigatory
(un)inviting, (un)invited
isolation
isolate
isolated, isolating
jeweller
learner
jewel, jewellery
jewelled
learning
likelihood
likeness loudness luxury
(un)learn
learned

(un)likely
liken
like, alike, unlike
2
 loud

madness
luxuriate
madden
luxurious, luxuriant
mad
majority
major
medic
medicine, medication
mortal
(im)mortality
immortalise

(re)mover
movement, (re)move, motion, removal
(re)move

musician
music, musical

natural
nature, naturalisation
naturalise

necessity, necessaries
necessitate
nerve, nervousness
(un)nerve

norm, (ab)normality,
normalisation
normalise

operator, operative
operation
operate

opportunist
opportunity, opportunism
option
opt
|(de)mystification, mystery, mysteriousness |
(de)mystify
medical, medicated, medicinal (im)mortal
moving, (re)movable, motionless, unmoved
musical
mysterious, mystery
|(un/super)natural
(un)necessary
 nervous, nerveless, nervy, unnerving
(ab)normal

(in)operable,
(non-)operational,

(in)opportune, opportunistic
optional
operative

organiser
(dis/re)organisation
(dis/re)organise
patient
(im)patience
(dis/re)organised, organisational
(im)patient
peace, peacefulness
peaceful, peaceable
percent, percentage
(im)perfection, perfectionism,
perfectionist
perfect
perfectibility
(im)perfect, perfectible
performer
performance
perform
person, personnel (personality, personification
pessimist
pessimism

pleasure, pleasantness

politician
policy, politics
polluter
pollution, pollutant
personalise, personify|(im)personal,
personable

please

politicise
pollute
pessimistic
 (un)pleasant,
(un)pleasurable,
(dis)pleased,
pleasing
political
polluted, polluting

possibility
(super)power, powerlessness,
empowerment
practitioner
(im)practicality, practice, (im)practicability practise
prevention
prevent
[population, (un)popularity, popularisation (populate, popularise
|(un)popular
(im)possible
powerful, powered, powerless,
overpowering
(im)practical, (im)practicable
preventable, preventive,
preventative
(over/em)power

privacy, privatisation
privatise
private
probability
(im)probable

producer
product, produce, (re)production,
productivity
(re)produce
(un/re)productive, reproducible

professional
profession, professionalism
(un)professional
promoter
promotion
promote
promotional

293
Word Formation

Concrete/Abstract nouns

respondent
response, responsiveness, (ir)responsibility
respond
restriction
saver, saviour
safety, safe, savings

(dis)satisfaction

scene, scenery
scientist
science

(in)security
(non)sense, sensation,
(in)sensitivity,
(in)sensibility, sensor
skill

spectator
spectacle(s), spectacular
starvation
Nouns (people)
Verbs

proposer
proposal, proposition
propose
protector
protection, protectiveness
protect
psychologist
 psychology, psyche, psychosis
psych(e)
public, publicist
publicity, publication
publicise
public
pursuer
pursuit
pursue
qualifier
(dis)qualification
(dis)qualify
realist
|(un)reality, realism,
realisation
realise
Adjectives

proposed,
propositional
(over)protective, (un)protected
psychological, psychic, psychotic

|(dis/un)qualified
(un)real, (un)realistic
recognition
recognise
referee
reference
refer
(un)recognisable
referable
reject
rejection
reject
relation, relative relation, relationship, relativity
relate

relaxation
relax

reliability, reliance
rely
repeater
repetition, repeat
repeat
replacement
replace
(ir)replaceable
 requirement
require
reject, rejecting

relaxing, relaxed
(un)reliable, (self-)reliant
(un)repeatable, repetitive, repetitious

(un)responsive, (ir)responsible
(un)restricted, restrictive
restrict

save
(un)safe

(dis)satisfy
(dis)satisfied, (un)satisfactory, (un)satisfying scenic
(un)scientific
(in)secure
(in)sensible, (in)sensitive,
sensory,
sensational, senseless
(un)skilled, skilful
spectacular
starving, starved
(un)related, relative

secure

sense

spectate
starve
stranger
strangeness, estrangement
strange, estranged
stress
stress
 success
succeed
stressful, (un)stressed
(un)successful
suit, suitability
suit
(un)suitable, (un)suited
suggestion
suggest
suggestive, suggestible
summary
Summarise
Summary
surprise
surprise
(un)surprising,
surprised
surroundings, surround
surround
surrounding
sympathiser
sympathy
sympathise
(un)sympathetic
tempter
temptation
tempt
tempting, tempted
tendency
Itend
threat
threaten
(non-)threatening
trainer, trainee
training
Itrain
(un)trained, training
trend, trendiness
Itrend
trendy
(un)truth, truthfulness
type

(mis)understanding
(mis)understand

valuer
value, (over/under/de)valuation
(over/under/de)
value
 (un)true, (un)truthful
(a/un)typical
understandable, understanding,
misunderstood
(in)valuable, valueless,
(over/under)valued

warmer
variety, variation, variability
warmth
vary
various, varied, (in)variable
warm

westerner
west
westernise

watcher
worker
watch
watch
work
(re)work
warm, warming
western, west, westernised, westerly,
westward
watchful, watchable
(un)workable, working, overworked

1 Fill in the correct form of the words in bold using the appropriate
prefix.

1 The singer is a(n)

2 After winning the
3 A group of
Word Formation

! His flat is worth twenty million pounds. Liverpool went

on to play Chelsea for the cup. protesters gathered
outside the Houses of Parliament.
4 After finishing her Bachelor of Science degree Brenda decided to take some

5 I thought Tom
 6 Julie was told to

currently unavailable.
... courses.

as I was only five minutes late.

MILLIONAIRE

FINALS

WAR

GRADUATE

REACTED

APPLY
for the course in the following term because it was

7 I won't be able to finish all this work by tomorrow. I'm not 8 Little
Annie started her first day at
at the age of three.
HUMAN

SCHOOL

9 The northern expedition was delayed due to extreme

10 He
temperatures.
ZERO

all his competitors and won the race in record

time. 11 Expect a long queue at the health centre. They are greatly 12 I wouldn't be able to
ride a(n)
RAN

STAFFED

It has just one wheel!

CYCLE

2 Fill in the correct form of the words in bold forming nouns referring to
people.

1 You should see a(n)

2 His father was a(n)
to choose a plan that's right for you. in the Canadian Theatre Company.
DIET

ACT

3 Dan and Kelly are looking for a brilliant

... 4 Look! The
to capture their wedding.
PHOTO
 .... has just pulled a white rabbit from his hat.
MAGIC

5 Last year, more than 3 million

6 Police believe the

7 Sally wants to become a concert

Election Day.
8 Currently,

9 He is a proud
took the language test worldwide. got into the house through the kitchen window.

are studying the effects of air pollutants on unborn babies.

who votes for the more traditional party on

10 A lot of rich people have their own personal

11 The professor asked the
exam was over.
EXAMINE

BURGLE

PIANO

SCIENCE

REPUBLIC
2

to put their pencils down because the

TRAIN

STUDY

12 While researching his family tree lan discovered he was the

of a king.
DESCEND

3 Fill in the correct form of the words in bold forming nouns from
verbs.

1 The jury came to the

2 "You're not a(n) ....
that the man was telling the truth. ....! You're just unlucky," he said.
3 Thousands of people waited outside the airport for the
 famous footballer.
4 The police reported that there was no new evidence in the
5 Milley's favourite band is giving a
free 6 For your
7 The clothes shop has a wide
of the
CONCLUDE

FAIL

ARRIVE

at the Glendale Centre.

cold drinks will be served throughout the show.

8 The postman has just delivered a large

....
INVESTIGATE

PERFORM

ENJOY

of jeans and jumpers at discount

prices.
for you.
SELECT

PACK

DELIVER
9 Pizza Alvero offers free

10 The team's futuristic design won first place in the science

11 The psychologist claimed he could recover childhood memories using
12 Is there proof of the
of aliens?
COMPETE

HYPNOTISE

EXIST

295
Word Formation

4 Fill in the correct form of the words in bold forming nouns from
adjectives.

1 "Stop this
2
 3 They sat in
right now!" said the teacher.
of the scientist's mathematical formula took years.
as they waited for their test results.
4 Luke closed his office door in hope of getting some 5
After hearing the shocking news Beth lost 6 For your
own
7 People often underestimate the
please fasten your seat belts while on
board.
of a good night's sleep.
8 Despite what we may think, money can't buy
9 Her detective stories have gained in 10
In the
recently.
..... of the night, everything was still and nothing could be heard.
FOOLISH

PERFECT

SILENT

PRIVATE

CONSCIOUS

SAFE

IMPORTANT

HAPPY

POPULAR

DARK

5 Fill in the correct form of the words in bold forming adjectives from
nouns.

1 Mrs Spencer keeps all her

2 There were news reports of a(n)
quake.
3 You will never find a more
jewellery and important documents in a safe.
boy who saved his neighbour in last week's
EXPENSE

HERO
 6 The oleander and the nightshade are two extremely 7
Bob is so immature. He always says such 8 Have you
tried any new
minds who did poorly in school.
and good-hearted person than Jane.
TRUTH

4 Dave's dog may look dangerous, but he is quite 5

Einstein and Edison were two
HARM

BRILLIANCE

.... plants.
POISON

things.
CHILD

Mexican dishes lately?

SPICE

.... order.
ALPHABET

MONTH

REASON

SALT
9 The doctor's secretary organises her files in
10 He receives a(n)
salary, as do the other employees of the company.
11 Although Paris is an expensive travel destination, hotels can be found at
prices.
12 The customer refused to eat his meal, complaining it was too

6 Fill in the correct form of the words in bold forming

adjectives from verbs.

1 "Can you please tell me if the word 'chocolate' is

a(n)
2 Mindy complained that she didn't have
a(n)
formal dinner.

3 All the women in the beauty pageant are lovely and very
4 Drivers are ...
 noun?" asked Jill. dress to wear for the
COUNT

SUIT

for the safety of their

passengers.
ATTRACT

RESPOND

5 Rick knows how to say 'thank you' and 'you're welcome' in six 6
Oliver is one of the kindest and most
languages.
men I've ever known.
DIFFER

CONSIDER

296
7 Fill in the correct form of the words in bold forming verbs from
adjectives/nouns.

1 Due to recent events the company will take steps to

2 Much of the house has been
3 The workers are

4 The conservative party promises to 5

Mary asked the hairdresser to.... 6
GPS navigation technology has
by an interior designer.
its security.
TIGHT

MODERN
the road in front of the city square.
WIDE

fox hunting if they are elected. her hair colour.

LEGAL

LIGHT
 the way we travel.
REVOLUTION
‫االقبال الالتينية‬
......................www.wwwwwwwwwy
‫باد میر ا ا ا ا ا ا ا ا ا ا ا ا ا ا ا ا ا ا ا ا ا اور رات کو ہوا‬
‫ی ہے‬

Word Formation

8 Fill in the correct form of the words in bold forming the opposite of
the words given.

1 Trains and buses are on strike today which is very

2 The online music station promises to play
commercials.

3 Due to the pilot's....

4 Mum said that if we were
5 Rick's handwriting is completely
6 She finally got a job after being
CONVENIENT

hits without any STOP

calculations, the small plane landed in a grass field.

she wouldn't let us go to the park and play.
ACCURATE
OBEDIENT
LEGIBLE

EMPLOYED
for eight months.
7 The doctor told her that she was slightly
take regular exercise.
and that she had to
WEIGHT

to skateboard without a helmet or other protective gear.

SAFE
10 David Filo and Jerry Yang are the
11 A(n)......
12 Their young son
8 It is .....

9 Fill in the correct form of the words in

bold.

1 We all need to

2 Failure to pay your phone bill may lead to your phone

being
3 By middle school, David had begun to
field events.

4 When it comes to cleaning your home, always buy safe,

5 His parents knew early on that he would grow up to be a man
of
6 We were unsure about what to order so we asked the waiter for his ..... 7
The director has booked a(n)
8 Our teacher warned us that too much

cancer,

9 It is possible to
... flight from London to New York.
to the sun could cause

meat using a microwave.

of YAHOO.
the way in which we use energy these days.
THINK
 CONNECTED

his classmates in track and

SHINE

products. TOXIC
GREAT

SUGGEST

ATLANTIC

EXPOSE

FROST

FOUNDER

dog fought with the bear.

16 He was.

professional help.
of the room made me feel slightly
sick.
was hired to create dance moves for the singer's music video. CHOREOGRAPH
all their hopes for the future.
13 After the tsunami, the UK offered emergency 14 When
translating from one language into another, it is possible to 15 The

17 It is
and didn't know whether or not to invest his money. to throw rubbish,
of any kind, on government-owned property.
18 John Moore and lon Tate are both running as candidates in the
19 More and more property owners are making home

20 The
to Japan.
words.
 without
BODY

ASSIST

INTERPRET

FEAR

DECISIVE

LEGAL

ELECT

IMPROVE

STUFFY

21 The Millers are planning to build a(n) 22 The

shop owner said that we must pay for all 23 Greg
and Debra are very
onto their summer cottage.
EXTEND

BREAK

when choosing toys for their 2-year-old SELECT

daughter.
24 The teacher told the students to

their essays.
25 It is financially
26 The telecommunication company
filed for 27 In most Asian cultures it is
28 Barbara looks forward to reading her
after several difficult years.
to look at someone directly in the eye.
.... horoscope in the paper.

29 After the break-in, a bodyguard was put in

charge of her 30 Jeff surprised his girlfriend with a wedding
at the football stadium.
their pencils before starting SHARP

to book your airline tickets in advance.

ADVANTAGE

BANKRUPT
POLITE
DAY

PROTECT

PROPOSE

297