Word formation

We add prefixesbefore the base or stem of a word.

We add suffixesafter the base or stem of a word. The main purpose of a suffix is to show what class of word it is (e.g. noun or adjective).

Conversioninvolves the change of a word from one word class to another. For example, the verbsto emailandto microwaveare formed from the nounsemailandmicrowave:

Can youtexther?(verb from nountext, meaningto send a text-message)

They are alwaysjettingsomewhere.(verb from nounjet)

If you’re not careful, somedownloadscan damage your computer.(noun from verbdownload)

OK, so the meeting’s on Tuesday. That’s adefinite.(noun from adjective)

It’s a very bigifand I’m not at all sure we can afford it.(noun from conjunction, meaning ‘it’s not at all certain’)

All companies have theirupsanddowns.(nouns from prepositions)

We also use conversion when we change a proper noun into a common noun:

Has anybody seen myDickens?(copy of a book by Dickens)

When we use compounding, we link together two or more bases to create a new word. Normally, the first item identifies a key feature of the second word. For example, the two basesbackandachecan combine to form the compound nounbackache, and the two basespostandcardcombine to form the compound nounpostcard.

Compounds are found in all word classes. The most common types of compounds are: Nouns:car park, rock band

Adjectives:heartbreaking, sugar-free, airsick

Verbs:oven-bake, baby-sit, chain-smoke

Adverbs:good-naturedly, nevertheless

It is sometimes difficult to know where to put hyphens in words that are compound ed. It is also difficult to know whether to separate words (e.g.post box) or to join the words (e.g.postbox). In such cases, it is best to check in a good learner’s dictionary.

Abbreviationinvolves shortening a word. We do this in three main ways: clipping, acronyms and blends.

We use clipping when we shorten or ‘clip’ one or more syllables from a word. We also commonly clip proper names for people:

ad: advertisement, advert

lab: laboratory

Matt: Matthew

Acronymsare a type of abbreviation formed when the initial letters of two or more words are combined in a way that produces consonant and vowel sequences found in words. Acronyms are normally pronounced as words:

RAM:randomaccessmemory (RAMis a term used to describe a computer’s memory.)

Initials are similar to acronyms but are pronounced as sets of letters, not as words:

WHO:WorldHealthOrganisation, pronouncedW–H–O

CD:compactdisc, pronouncedC–D

We form blends when we combine parts of existing words to form a new word:

blog: blend ofwebandlog

motel: blend ofmotorandhotel

smog: blend ofsmokeandfog

We form words with back-formationwhen we remove part of a word, usually something which we think is a suffix (or occasionally a prefix). We do this commonly when we form verbs from nouns.

For example:to liaise(back-formed from the nounliaison);to intuit(back-formed from the nounintuition),to enthuse(back-formed from the nounenthusiasm):

Can youliaisewith Tim and agree a time for the meeting, please?

She’s alwaysenthusingabout her new teacher.