GV

Word Formation

Building words with prefixes and suffixes: happy → happiness → unhappy

intermediate

When to Use Word Formation

  • •Changing word class: happy (adj) → happiness (noun) → happily (adv)
  • •Adding negation: possible → impossible, agree → disagree
  • •Creating nouns from verbs: develop → development, arrive → arrival
  • •Creating adjectives: care → careful → careless
  • •Building vocabulary systematically

How to Form Word Formation

Affirmative (+)

Base word + suffix OR prefix + base word

Negative (-)

un-, in-, im-, dis-, mis- + base word

Question (?)

N/A

💡 Suffixes often change word class. Prefixes often change meaning but keep word class.

Examples of Word Formation

✓The development of the project took months.

✗The developement of the project took months.

Develop + -ment = development (no 'e' before -ment).

✓His behavior was completely unacceptable.

✗His behavior was completely inacceptable.

Accept → unacceptable (un- prefix, not in-).

✓She spoke very quietly.

✗She spoke very quietely.

Quiet + -ly = quietly (no 'e' added).

Common Mistakes with Word Formation

💡 Practice Tips for Word Formation

  • • Noun suffixes: -ment, -tion, -ness, -ity, -er, -ist
  • • Adjective suffixes: -ful, -less, -able, -ive, -ous
  • • Adverb suffix: -ly
  • • Negative prefixes: un-, in-, im-, il-, ir-, dis-, mis-
  • • Learn word families together: create, creation, creative, creatively
Quick Quiz
  1. 1.Climbing Everest without oxygen is almost   for most people.
  2. 2.The new   policy reduces taxes for small businesses. (from 'govern')
  3. Question 3: She did the work very blank . (= adverb of 'quiet')
    3.She did the work very . (= adverb of 'quiet')
  4. Question 4: His blank towards the team has been amazing. (noun from 'kind')
    4.His towards the team has been amazing. (noun from 'kind')
  5. Question 5: The blank of the new app took six months. (noun from 'develop')
    5.The of the new app took six months. (noun from 'develop')
  6. Question 6: I blank with everything you said in the meeting. (negative prefix + 'agree')
    6.I with everything you said in the meeting. (negative prefix + 'agree')
  7. Question 7: Was the report blank or did the editors approve it? (negative form of 'acceptable')
    7.Was the report or did the editors approve it? (negative form of 'acceptable')
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