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Word Formation

This document discusses word formation through affixation. It explains that affixation, specifically prefixes and suffixes, is an effective way to increase vocabulary. Roots or stems provide the main meaning of words, and affixes can be added to change or modify the meaning. Common prefixes like "dis", "un", and "in" are provided as examples to negate or reverse the meaning of roots. Suffixes like "ful", "al", and "ness" can be added to change the part of speech or provide additional meaning. Affixation allows new words to be formed by combining affixes and roots in a way that combines their individual meanings.

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Ahmad Waris Usmani
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123 views5 pages

Word Formation

This document discusses word formation through affixation. It explains that affixation, specifically prefixes and suffixes, is an effective way to increase vocabulary. Roots or stems provide the main meaning of words, and affixes can be added to change or modify the meaning. Common prefixes like "dis", "un", and "in" are provided as examples to negate or reverse the meaning of roots. Suffixes like "ful", "al", and "ness" can be added to change the part of speech or provide additional meaning. Affixation allows new words to be formed by combining affixes and roots in a way that combines their individual meanings.

Uploaded by

Ahmad Waris Usmani
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Word Formation:

Affixation is the best, effective and easiest way to increase your vocabulary.
To use this, first you need to have information on "root or stem and
affix"(prefix and suffix)
Root or Stem: Is the part of the word that has the main meaning and the
other forms of the words are based on.
For example, "satisfy" is the root of satisfaction, satisfactory satisfying and
satisfied. A root is capable of being attached to other components, leading
to new word.
Prefix: A letter or group of letters or an element attached to the beginning of
the root/stem to change its meaning and make new words. For example, in
the word "dishonest" "dis" is a prefix which is added to the front of stem
"honest Another example, the prefix" il". when it is added to the word logical,
will change the meaning of the word to negative not logical (illogical).
Suffix: A letter or group of letters or an element attached to the end of the
root/stem to change its meaning and make new words.
For example, in the word "painful" "ful" is a suffix which is added to the end
of the stem "pain"
Another example. For instance, the addition of the suffix al to the word
nation will change its part of speech from noun to adjective national
Note: It is possible to have more than one affix (prefix or suffix) in a word,
and the total meaning of the word would be a combination of the meaning of
its components.
For example. in the word "distrustful", "dis" is a prefix which negates the
concept of trust or trustful. The suffix "ful" changes the part of speech of the
distrust or trust from verb to adjective. The total meaning of the word, then,
would be the quality of not having trust in someone or something.
Another example, Unfriendly un-friend-ly
The following are a number of the most common and much use prefixes and
suffixes to help you increase your knowledge of vocabulary
Study Skills

Negative-making prefixes

(dis) appear - disappear/ agree disagree

(un) kind - unkind lucky unlucky

(e.g

) guide misguide

/ understand misunderstand

(in) accurate /inaccurate / complete incomplete


(im) possible impossible Patient/ impatient
(ir) regular irregular/ relevant irrelevant

(il) legal/ illegal literate- illiterate


(non) breakable

non-breakable governmental nongovernmental

(de) stabilize

destabilize

motivate
demotivate

Why do you die?

Pronominal probes

Common Suffixes

1. The noun-making suffixes, sticking at the end of verbs and change them
to n

Suffix
Verb (root)
Noun
(ment)
Here is the Kurdish state
statement
(ation)
inform
information
Invent that invent
(ion)
invention
(ance)
exist
existence
(ence)
differ
difference
expectation
(ancy)
expect
expectancy ->
(al)
arrive
arrival→→
build
building
discover
discovery
escape
The noun-making suffixes, sticking at the end o adjectives change them to n
runaway
escapee →
Suffix
Adjective (root)
Noun
(ness)
weak
(ship)
weakness
hard
(cy)
accurate
hardship
(ity)
timid/active
accuracy
(dom)
free
timidity/activity
Sam Razi
freedom

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