Zero-derivation (Conversion)

Conversion is the derivational process whereby an item is adapted or converted to a new

word class without the addition of an affix. It is similar to processes of suffixation, but
here the base is not altered in any way.

Direction of conversion
Because there is no addition of a suffix it is difficult to decide which item should be
treated as the base and which as the derived form.
Often the semantic dependence of one item upon another is enough to argue its
derivational dependence. For example, the verb net can be paraphrased in terms of the
noun as 'put into a net', but no paraphrase could be constructed for the noun ('an
instrument for netting'?)

1. Conversion to noun
a. Deverbal
a) State. (from verbs used statively to count or noncount nouns): desire, dismay, doubt,
love. smell, taste. want
b) Event/activity. (from verbs used dynamically): fall, hit, laugh, release, search, swim,
shut-down, blow-out (of a tyre)
c) 'Object of V': answer, bet, catch, find, hand-out.
d) 'Subject of V': bore, cheat, coach, show-off, stand-in
e) 'Instrument of V': cover, paper, wrap.
f) 'Manner of V-ing'. walk, throw.
g) 'Place of V': divide, retreat, rise, turn, lay-by, drive-in

b. De-adjectival
As a football player, he's a natural. [=a naturally skilled player]
They're running in the final. [= the final race]
Also daily [= 'daily newspaper'], weekly, monthly, annual perennial, comic [= 'comic
actor'], regulars [= 'regular customers'], roast [= 'roast beef'].

2. Conversion to verb
a. Denominal
(a) 'To put in/on N': bottle [= 'to put into a bottle'], carpet, corner, catalogue, floor,
garage, position, shelve (books)
(b) 'To give N, to provide with N': butter (bread), coat [= 'to give a coat (of paint, etc)
to'], commission, grease, mask
(c) 'To deprive of N': core [= 'remove the core from'], gut, peel, skin.
(d) 'To . . . with N': brake [= 'to stop by means of a brake'], elbow, hand, finger, glue.
(e) 'To be/act as N with': father, nurse, pilot, referee.
(f) 'To make/change into N': cash [= 'to change into cash'], cripple, group
(g) 'To send/go by N': mail [= 'to send by mail'], ship, telegraph, bicycle [= 'to go by
bicycle'], boat, canoe, motor.

b. De-adjectival
(a) (transitive verbs) 'to make adj.' or 'to make more adj.': calm [= 'to make calm'],
dirty, dry, humble, lower, soundproof.
(b) (intransitive verbs) 'to become adj.': dry [= 'to become dry'], empty, narrow, yellow.

3. Minor categories of conversion

1. Conversion to nouns
a) From closed-class words
His argument contains too many ifs and buts.
This book is a must for the student of aerodynamics.
It tells you about the how and the why of flight.
b) From affixes; very occasionally, an affix may be converted into a noun:
Patriotism, nationalism, and any other isms you'd like to name.
c) From phrases:
Whenever I gamble, my horse is one of the also-rans [= 'one of the horses which did
not win but merely, also ran']
Also 'the high-ups' 'he is a has-been', 'a free-for-al', 'some down-and-outs'

2. Conversion to verbs: from closed-class and non-lexical items, chiefly informal:

They downed tools in protest.
She will off and do her own thing.
If you uh-uh again, I won't go on with my story.

3. Conversion to adjectives: from phrases (such as that in 'The plane is up in the

air'):
an up-in-the-air feeling ~ I feel very up in the air. [with reference to cheerful spirits]
an upper-class manner ~ His manner is very upper-class.

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