Word Formation

Word Form
NOUN: PERSON, PLACE, THING

VERB: ACTION AND STATE OF BEING
ADJECTIVE: DESCRIBES NOUNS
ADVERB: DESCRIBES VERBS
How are English words formed?
 In English, words have a base that gives the basic meaning
 The base of unhappily is _____happy_________.
 If you add a prefix to the word, it usually changes the meaning of the word.
 Unhappy means the opposite of happy.
 If you add a suffix to the word, it usually changes the function of the word or the
parts of speech.
 Happy is an adjective; happily is an adverb
 He is a happy boy. VS He is singing happily.
You can tell the part of speech by looking
at the suffix of a word!
Example Suffix Part of Speech Example Word Sentence
-ize Verb finalize Have you called the travel agent to finalize our
vacation?
-tion Noun Finalization The finalization of your plans depends on your ability to
pay for the tickets on time.
-al Adjective Final By the final week of school, we were ready for vacation.
-ly Adverb Finally I’m finally ready to go.
By adding a suffix you can change the
pronunciation of a word!
Verb/Adjective Noun
Ed-ucate (verb) Edu-CA-tion
SI-milar (adjective) Simi-LA-rity
Ad-vertize (verb) Adver-TIZE-ment
Practice: Write the base word for the
following vocabulary
(Hint: the base word is hidden in the word)
1. Motivation _____________ 1. Liquefy ___________________
2. Explorer ________________ 2. Finalize _______________
3. Natural ______________ 3. Thicken __________________
4. Comfortable _______________ 4. Density ________________
5. Different __________________ 5. Randomness ___________________
Verb endings:
Verbs are actions or existence words that describe what nouns do or are. You can convert some
nouns or adjectives to make verbs by adding one of these suffixes.
Suffix Meaning Example

-ate To cause, to become, to motivate, educate,
supply
-en To make something have a darken, soften
certain quality
-ify To cause or make into identify, solidify, unify
something
-ize To become generalize, finalize
Ex. 1: Can you find the verbs?
1. At that speed, Dave will not qualify for the race.

2. His slow speed does not justify a starting time.
3. If he quickens his pace, he may qualify.
4. Dave verbalizes his feelings in poems.
5. In contrast, his coaches articulate their feelings through long speeches.
Ex. 2: Building Verbs
Word Noun or Adjective Verb form

class
diverse
final
alien
light
clear
apology
active
formal
Noun Endings: Nouns are people, places, things and ideas.
Suffixes for nouns Meaning Examples
-al the act of doing something rehearsal, denial, arrival
-ence,-ance, -cy An action or process; quality, condition reference, performance, secrecy
-ent, -ant Someone or something that does something president, participant, student
-er, -or, -r Someone or something that does something teacher, elevator, printer, driver
-ese, -an, -ish Nationality or language Chinese, Canadian, Turkish
-ity, -ty, State, character, or condition of being equality, insanity, beauty
-tion, -ion, Act or result of doing something attention, impression,
comprehension
-ism A belief or set of ideas capitalism, atheism
-ist, -ian A person who performs a specific action; a chemist, capitalist, communist
person with certain beliefs technician, musician
-ment A result of doing something, a place of action development, department
More suffixes that make nouns.
Suffixes Meaning Examples
-ness State or condition Happiness, illness, craziness
-ology, logy The science of; equipment for Biology, psychology, physiology,
technology
-ry, -y A result, activity, or place of business victory, carpentry, laundry
-ship a state or condition; an art or skill Friendship, sportsmanship
-th A quality Strength, depth
-ure An act, process, or result procedure, failure, fracture
Rules for making nouns:
RULE 1: Nouns can be made from verbs (fail+ure), adjectives (ill+ness), and
sometimes from other nouns (friend+ship) by adding suffixes.
RULE 2: Proper nouns can also have suffixes. E.g. Canadian, American
Building Nouns From Verbs:
 1. invest ___investor/investment______
 2. conform ________________
 3. impress _________________
 4. confide ________________
 5. improve _______________
 6. integrate _______________
 7. discover _______________
 8. manage ________________
Building Nouns from Adjectives:
 Personal ________________________
 Similar ________________________
 Weak ____________________________
 Happy ____________________________
 Violent ____________________________
 Responsible ________________________
 Brilliant ________________________
 Honest ________________________
Adjective Endings:
Adjectives describe nouns or pronouns
Suffixes Meaning Examples
-able, -ible capable of, tending to; fit for; or having qualities of Comfortable, reversible
-al, -ial of or relating to something musical, occasional
-ant, -ent performing or causing an action/process; being in a abundant, persistent, competent
specified condition
-ary belonging to, relating to planetary, military, missionary,
dictionary
-ate having to do with something, state or quality compassionate, fortunate,
-ful full of wonderful, beautiful, prideful
-ic, -ical relating to or characterized by periodic, organic, analytical,
critical
More suffixes for adjectives:
Suffixes of Adjective Meaning examples

-ish having qualities of bluish, childish
-ive having tendency to, character expensive, massive
of, function of
-less without something careless, useless, fearless
-y having the character of Curly, funny, crazy
-ous, ious Having qualities of Dangerous, gracious
Building Adjectives from nouns:
 1. Sense ______________
 2. danger ______________
 3. athlete ______________
 4. Accuracy ____________
 5. violence _____________
 6. monotony _____________
 7. style ________________
 8. hero ________________
Building Adjectives from verbs:
 1. help _____________
 2. prohibit ____________
 3. envy ____________
 4. depend _____________
 5. create ______________
 6. observe ______________
 7. accept______________
 8. obey ______________

Word Formation

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Word Form

NOUN: PERSON, PLACE, THING

Suffix Meaning Example

1. At that speed, Dave will not qualify for the race.

Word Noun or Adjective Verb form

Suffixes of Adjective Meaning examples

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