e.g. (uffix used to form verbs with the meaning )cause to be). Suffix -ise -ate -fy -en Example stabilise, characterise, symbolise, visualise, specialise differentiate, li*uidate, pollinate, duplicate, fabricate classify, exemplify, simplify, %ustify awa#en, fasten, shorten, moisten
Exercise ' Nouns The most common prefixes used to form new nouns in academic English are co- and sub-. The most common suffixes are -tion, -ity, -er, -ness, -ism, -ment, -ant, -ship, -age, -ery. !y far the most common noun affix in academic English is -tion. e.g. prefix " noun Prefix antiautobiconoun Examples anticlimax, antidote, antithesis autobiography, automobile bilingualism, biculturalism, bi$metalism co$founder, co$owner, co$descendant counter$argument, counter$example, counter$proposal discomfort, disli#e ex$chairman, ex$hunter hyperinflation, hypersurface inattention, incoherence, incompatibility
ininterkilomalmegamisminimononeooutpoly-
inside between thousand bad million wrong small one new separate many
inpatient, interaction, inter$change, interference #ilobyte malfunction, maltreatment, malnutrition megabyte misconduct, misdeed, mismanagement mini$publication, mini$theory monosyllable, monograph, monogamy neo$colonialism, neo$impressionism outbuilding, polysyllable pseudo$expert re$organisation, re$assessment, re$examination semicircle, semi$dar#ness subset, subdivision
more than, above superset, superimposition, superpowers over and above distant three beyond below, too little deputy surtax telecommunications, tripartism ultrasound underpayment, under$development, undergraduate vice$president
e.g. (uffix added to a verb (+), noun (,) or ad%ective (A) Suffix -tion -sion Meaning action&instance of +$ing
noun
person who +$s advertiser, driver something used for +$ing computer, silencer action&instance of +$ing person who +$s action&result of + action&result of + action&result of + action&instance of +$ing place of +$ing development, punishment, unemployment assistant, consultant student brea#age, wastage, pac#age denial, proposal, refusal, dismissal preference, dependence, interference attendance, acceptance, endurance bribery, robbery, misery refinery, ba#ery
Meaning
Examples
person concerned with , astronomer, geographer doctrine of , state of being , collection of , -arxism, -aoism, Thatcherism friendship, citi.enship, leadership baggage, plumage
Meaning
Examples
state or *uality of being A ability, similarity, responsibility, curiosity state or *uality of being A dar#ness, preparedness, consciousness state or *uality of being A urgency, efficiency, fre*uency
-any ad%ectives are formed from a base of a different class with a suffix (e.g. -less, -ous). Ad%ectives can also be formed from other ad%ectives, especially by the negative prefixes (un-, in- and non-). The most common suffixes are -al, -ent, -ive, -ous, -ful, -less. e.g. (uffix added to verbs or nouns Suffix -al -ent -ive -ous -ful -less -able Example central, political, national, optional, professional different, dependent, excellent attractive, effective, imaginative, repetitive continuous, dangerous, famous beautiful, peaceful, careful endless, homeless, careless, thoughtless drin#able, countable, avoidable, ad%ective
Exercise ' e.g. negative " ad%ective Prefix unad%ective Examples unfortunate, uncomfortable, un%ust
im-/in-/ir-/il- immature, impatient, improbable, inconvenient, irreplaceable, illegal nondisExercise Mixed e.g. base with both prefix and suffix Ad%ectives uncomfortable, unavoidable, unimaginative, inactive, semi$circular ,ouns disappointment, misinformation, reformulation non$fiction, non$political, non$neutral disloyal, dissimilar, dishonest
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Word formation
/ormal written English uses nouns more than verbs. /or example, %udgement rather than %udge, development rather than develop, admiration rather than admire. There appeared to be evidence of differential treatment of children. This is reflected in our admiration for people who have made something of their lives, sometimes against great odds, and in our somewhat disappointed judgment of those who merely drift through life. All airfields in the country would be nationalised, and the government would continue with the development of new aircraft as recommended by the !raba.on 0ommittee. Associated with nominalisation is the occurrence of prepositional phrases, introduced by of %udgment of those treatment of children development of new aircraft -tion is the most common suffix used in this way. /or example alteration, resignation. 1owever others are -ity ability, similarity, complexity2 -ness blindness, dar#ness, preparedness2 -ment development, encouragement2 -ship friendship2 -age mileage2 -ery robbery, bribery2 -al arrival2 -ance assistance, resemblance. '