Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
PREFIX
EXAMPLE
PREFIX
EXAMPLE
a-
amoral
im-
impossible, impolite
anti-
anti-semite, anti-
in-
inaccurate, indirect,
government
invisible, injustice
counter-
counter-reformation
ir-(+r)
irrelevant, irregular
de-
deactivate
mis-
mishear, miscalculate
dislike, dishonest,
dis-
disagree, disadvantage,
non-violence, nonnon-
alcoholic, non-stop
disappear
uncommon, unclear,
il- (+l)
illegal, illiberal
un-
unusual, uncomfortable,
unpack, unfortunately
BAD, WRONG
PREFIX
EXAMPLE
PREFIX
EXAMPLE
mal-
maladjusted
mis-
misunderstand
QUANTITY
PREFIX
EXAMPLE
PREFIX
EXAMPLE
binary
micro-
microwave
dec-(a)
decametre
mono-
monotheism
di-
ditransitive
multi-
multimedia
centi-
centimetre
poly-
polytheism
kilo-
kilometre
semi-
semicircle
macro-
macrocosm
EXAMPLE
PREFIX
EXAMPLE
hyper-
hyperactive
over-
overload
multi-
multicoloured,
super-
supermarket, superstore
ultra-
ultramodern
multimillionaire
out-
outcome
EXAMPLE
PREFIX
EXAMPLE
underestimate,
mini-
minicomputer, minibar
under-
underweight, underpaid,
underground
sub-
subtenancy
TEMPORAL
PREFIX
EXAMPLE
PREFIX
EXAMPLE
ex-
ex-wife
post- (=after)
postdated,
postgraduate
neo-
neoclassical
fore-
foretell
pre- (=before)
pre-school, prehistoric
TO MAKE OR TO CAUSE TO BE
PREFIX
EXAMPLE
PREFIX
EXAMPLE
a-
asleep
em-
embody
be-
bewitch
en-
enable
RELATIONS
PREFIX
co-
EXAMPLE
PREFIX
co-ordinate
semi(=half)
inter-
interactive, international
intra-
intravenous
mid-
midway
transvice-
EXAMPLE
semiprecious,
semi-
skilled, semicircle
transaction
vice-chairman
EXAMPLE
PREFIX
autodidact
re-
EXAMPLE
re-examine, reread
(=again)
pro-
pro-divorce
self-
self-employed
SUFFIXES
While prefixes generally modify the base, SUFFIXES have by contrast a small
semantic role, their primarily purpose being to change the grammatical function of
the base. Below, we will examine a selection of suffixes according to the word class
that results when they are added to a base.
NOUNS
SUFFIX
EXAMPLE
SUFFIX
EXAMPLE
-ability
capability
-ful
mouthful
-age
shortage
-hood
boyhood, likelihood
-ian/-an*
electrician, republican
-ics
economics
-ance/-
performance,
-ion/tion/sion
discussion, production,
ence
importance, distance,
permission
preference, difference,
convenience
-ant/-ent*
assistant, inhabitant,
-ing
student
understanding,
building, liking,
meaning
-ary
library, documentary
-ism
christianism
-ate
electorate
-ist*
socialist, tourist
-ite
ibsenite
explanation,
identification,
information,
-ation/-
invitation,
ition/-tion
communication,
opposition,
construction,
collection,
transformation
introduction
electricity,
-cracy
democracy
-ity, -ty
security,
certainty, popularity,
similarity
measurement,
(dis)agreement,
-cy
efficiency
-ment
development,
settlement,
requirement,
employment
-dom
freedom
-ness
readiness, illness,
willingness
-ee*
employee
-ology, -logy
sociology
-er/-ar/-
teacher, operator,
-ship
championship
or*
driver, editor
-ery
slavery
-ster
youngster
-ese
japanese
-ure
failure, pressure
*These suffixes are used to form nouns of people. We also use -er for things,
especially machines, for example: a hair-dryer, a food mixer, a CD player.
ADJECTIVES
SUFFIX
EXAMPLE
SUFFIX
EXAMPLE
-able
comparable
-ish
british
-(ic)al
logical, professional,
-ist
communist
republican
-ite
thatcherite
-ant/-ent
important
-ive
sensitive, informative,
exclusive
-able/-ible
acceptable,
-less
comprehensible,
useless, hopeless,
powerless
valuable, comfortable
-ary/-ory
contemporary
-ly
-ate
passionate
-ous
famous, dangerous,
luxurious, religious,
marvellous
-en
golden
-some
awesome
-er
warmer
-th
nineteenth
-ese
portuguese
-ward(s)
backward
-est
richest
-wide
worldwide
-ful
useful, successful,
-y
rocky, salty
SUFFIX
EXAMPLE
hopeful, wonderful
-ic
historic, scientific
ADVERBS
SUFFIX
EXAMPLE
sharply, recently,
-er
faster
-ly
nervously, originally,
successfully, rarely,
heavily, correctly
-est
closest
-ward(s)
forward
VERBS
SUFFIX
EXAMPLE
-ate
formulate
-en
widen
SUFFIX
-ify
-ize/-ise
EXAMPLE
simplify
institutionalise
COMPOUNDS
A compound is a lexical unit consisting of more than one base and functioning as a
single word. In English, compounds usually comprise two bases only, and most
common compounds result in new nouns and, to a lesser extent, adjectives and
verbs. Compounds may be written in three different ways:
As one word: railway, keyboard
With a hyphen: washing-machine, drinking water
As two or more words: address bus, ferrite ring
NOUN COMPOUNDS
COMBINATION
EXAMPLE
COMBINATION
EXAMPLE
noun+noun
bookshelf
verb+adverb/preposition
breakdown
-ing+noun
dining-room
verb+noun
breakfast
noun+preposition
looker-on
preposition+noun
onrush
adjective+noun
darkroom
adverb/preposition+verb
off-spring
pronoun+noun
he-man
whole phrase
son-in-law
ADJECTIVE COMPOUNDS
COMBINATION
EXAMPLE
COMBINATION
EXAMPLE
noun+adjective
part-time
adverb+past
so-called
participle
adjective+adjective
dark-blue
noun+-ing
labour saving
adj./adv.+noun+-
two-faced
adjective+-ing
long-standing
noun+past particip.
tongue-tied
adverb+-ing
hard-working
adj.+past particip.
ready-made
ed
VERB COMPOUNDS
COMBINATION
EXAMPLE
COMBINATION
EXAMPLE
noun+verb
mass-produce
adjective+verb
short-change
CONVERSION
We can define CONVERSION as the process by which we assign the word to a
different word-class without changing its form.
CONVERSION
Verb noun
Adjective noun
Noun verb
EXAMPLE
daily, comic
to water, to skin
EXERCISES
1. Read this text and the words in capital letters below. Change the form of
each word so that it fits the numbered space. There is an example at the
beginning (0).
CAMERON PARK
At first light, there is nothing (0) UNUSUAL about the town of Cameron Park in
California but, as the day begins and the town comes to (1) ___________, you
cant help (2) ___________ that, among the cars, there are light aeroplanes
moving along the roads towards the airport.
When the town was (3) ___________ built, a small airport was included for the
(4) ___________ of people flying in to look at the properties which were for
(5) ___________, but it soon became clear to the developers that this was an
attraction in itself. The streets were (6) ___________ so that planes could use
them, the mailboxes near the road were made (7) ___________ to avoid passing
wings, and all the electricity cables were buried (8) ___________.
Now, there is every (9) ___________ that the residents will have a private plane in
their garage and use it with the same (10) ___________ other people enjoy with
their cars.
0. USUAL
6. WIDE
1. LIVE
7. SHORT
2. NOTICE
8. GROUND
3. ORIGIN
9. LIKELY
4. CONVENIENT
10. FREE
5. SELL
2. Read this text and the words in capital letters below. Change the form of
each word so that it fits the numbered space. There is an example at the
beginning (0).
AN IMPORTANT ENGLISH TOWN
The side of the town of Winchester was a (0) NATURAL place for a (1) ___________,
at the point where a river cut through the chalk of the (2) ___________ hillsides. A
simple camp at St Catherines Hill was the (3) ___________known use of the site.
This was followed by an Iron Age hill-fort, but this was left (4) ___________ by 100
BC. It was the Romans who finally established the town and (5) ___________ it with
a defensive wall for the protection of their people and trade.
With the (6) ___________ of its first cathedral in the seventh century, the town
became an important (7) ___________ centre. Later, King Alfred, who had
(8) ___________ pushed back the invading Danes, moved his palace to Winchester.
The town then experienced rapid (9) ___________, and its (10) ___________ role in
English history was underlines in 1066 when the conquering Normans, like Alfred,
made Winchester their capital.
0. NATURE
6. BUILD
1. SETTLE
7. RELIGION
2. SOUTH
8. SUCCESS
3. EARLY
9. DEVELOP
4. INHABIT
10. CENTRE
5. ROUND
3. Read this text and the words in capital letters below. Change the form of
each word so that it fits the numbered space. There is an example at the
beginning (0).
THE FUTURE OF TALL BUILDINGS
Architects responsible for the (0) CONSTRUCTION of many skyscrapers believe that
a tall building must always have a certain minimum (1) ___________ but that there is
no limit to its absolute (2) ___________. This means that the skyscrapers of the
future are likely to be even taller.
Engineers agree with this, but there is (3) ___________ over the best shape for very
tall, slim buildings. The effects of wind (4) ___________ mean that cylindrical designs
have enjoyed some (5) ___________ in recent years, and there are quite pleasing to
the eye. (6) ___________, however, the ideal shape is an ugly square with heavily
rounded corners.
Would these tall buildings of the future offer more than a (7) ___________ view?
Some believe tall towers could contain all the (8) ___________ for modern living. The
(9) ___________ of these vertical villages would travel up and down between their
home and work zones and would (10) ___________ need to journey to ground level.
0. CONSTRUCT
6. FORTUNATE
1. WIDE
7. WONDER
2. HIGH
8. REQUIRE
3. AGREE
9. INHABIT
4. PRESS
10. RARE
5. POPULAR
4. Read this text and the words in capital letters below. Change the form of
each word so that it fits the numbered space. There is an example at the
beginning (0).
THE ABC OF COOKING
Its a (0) MARVELLOUS idea for children to do some cooking at an early age.
Generally (1) ___________, most children cant wait to help in the kitchen and love
getting
involved
in
the
(2)
___________
of
their
meals.
They
should
be
(3) ___________ to do so, and care should be taken to (4) ___________ they enjoy
the experience. It is important to show them how to do things (5) ___________ but
they shouldnt be criticized too much. Although the finished result may not be quite to
your
(6)
___________,
the
young
cook
will
undoubtedly
find
it
quite
the
can,
of
course,
be
(8)
___________
places
and
so
the
absolute
(9) ___________ of keeping an eye on children at all times cannot be emphasized too
(10) ___________. Sharp knives, for example, should be avoided until children are
old enough to handle them safely.
0. MARVEL
6. LIKE
1. SPEAK
7. TASTY
2. PREPARE
8. DANGER
3. COURAGE
9. IMPORTANT
4. SURE
10. HEAVY
5. CORRECT
10