English Grammar – Word Formation Definition, Types, Examples, Rules, Tips, Practice Exercises
Introduction
What is Word Formation?
Word Formation Types
Examples of Word Formation
Formation of Nouns, Verbs, Adjectives, and Adverbs
Word Formation Rules
Tips for Correct Word Formation
Word Formation Exercises
Introduction
Language is ever changing. It evolves continuously and changes with time, adapting to new technology, ideas, and new ways of life. Word formation- the process of creating new words is one of the exciting ways through which this happens. This article will help you in understanding the meaning, types, rules and sample questions within word formation, provide insights into how words transform into different forms such as nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs and, aid in your understanding of the formation of words
What is Word Formation?
Word Formation is how new words are created or formed. When we use existing words or combine them with other words to create something new, it is when a new word is formed. The process of word formation is how different languages are kept alive. For example, the word selfie is a word formed to describe a photo of yourself, or the word text is a word created as a verb which means to send a message. These examples show us how new words are formed to keep the languages alive and evolving by mixing creativity with practicality to meet our needs in everyday life.
Word Formation Types
The process of word formation can be classified into five main types, based on how words are created:
1. Adding Prefixes
A prefix is a set of letters added to the beginning of a word, often to modify its meaning, typically making it negative or altering its context. Adding prefixes gives existing words new life by altering their meaning in simple yet impactful ways.
Examples:
- Discipline – Indiscipline
- Just – Unjust
- Tidy – Untidy
2. Adding Suffixes
Suffixes are added to the end of a base word to change its form or function, such as turning a verb into a noun or an adjective. This method is especially common in forming new terms in academic and professional contexts.
Examples:
- Teach → Teacher (verb to noun)
- Happy → Happiness (adjective to noun)
- Use → Useful (verb to adjective)
3. Conversion
Conversion involves changing the grammatical function of a word without altering its form. This type of word formation reflects how flexible language can be, allowing the same word to serve multiple purposes.
Examples:
- There will be many ups and downs in life.
(Up and down, prepositions, are used as nouns by adding -s.)
- He texted me about the meeting
(Text, originally a noun, is used as a verb by adding -ed.)
- The financial aid was approved.
(Finance becomes an adjective by adding -ial.)
4. Compound Words
Compound words are formed by combining two or more words, often from different parts of speech, to create a single term. These can be written as one word, hyphenated, or as separate words. Compound words are very versatile and describe complex ideas in a simple way.
Examples:
- Three (adjective) + legged (past participle)- Three-legged
- Break (verb) + down (preposition)- Breakdown
- Up (preposition) + town (noun)- Uptown
5. Degrees of Comparison
Degrees of comparison are used to express variations in the intensity or quality of an adjective or adverb. They include the positive, comparative, and superlative forms. The comparative and superlative degrees are formed by adding ‘er’ and ‘est’ to the end of the adjective. The comparative and superlative degrees of polysyllabic words(words that have more than one syllable) are formed by using ‘more’ and ‘most’, respectively, along with the adjective.
Examples:
- Tall – Taller -Tallest
- Fast – Faster – Fastest
- Happy – Happier – Happiest
Examples of Word Formation
Some examples of word formation are as follows:-
- Practical – Impractical (Prefix)
- Purpose – Purposeful (Suffix)
- Silent – Silence (Conversion)
- Dining + Room – Dining room (Compound Word)
- Bright → Brighter → Brightest (Degrees of Comparison)
Formation of Nouns, Verbs, Adjectives, and Adverbs
Understanding the formation of nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs is important for mastering word formation. This involves analyzing the root word and using specific methods such as adding prefixes or suffixes, converting word forms, or compounding words.
1. Formation of Nouns
Nouns are often derived from verbs, adjectives, or other nouns by adding specific suffixes or making alterations to the root word.
- From Verbs: Adding suffixes like -ment, -tion, -ance, or -ence converts a verb into a noun.
Example: Achieve – Achievement, Create – Creation
- From Adjectives: Adding suffixes like -ness, -ity, or -ance creates nouns.
Example: Happy – Happiness, Active – Activity
- From Other Nouns: Using suffixes like -er, -ist, or -ian forms new nouns.
Example: Teach – Teacher, Art – Artist
2. Formation of Verbs
Verbs can be formed from nouns or adjectives by adding certain prefixes or suffixes, or through conversion.
- From Nouns: Adding suffixes like -ize, -ate, or -en turns a noun into a verb.
Example: Final – Finalize, Strength – Strengthen
- From Adjectives: Adding -en or -ify forms verbs from adjectives.
Example: Sharp – Sharpen, Pure – Purify
- Conversion: Some nouns can directly function as verbs without any change.
Example: Email – To email, Text – To text
3. Formation of Adjectives
Adjectives are often derived from nouns or verbs by adding suffixes, modifying the root word, or using prefixes for negation.
- From Nouns: Adding suffixes like -ful, -less, -ic, -ous, or -al forms adjectives.
Example: Beauty – Beautiful, Danger – Dangerous
- From Verbs: Adding suffixes like -able, -ible, or -ing creates adjectives.
Example: Read – Readable, Amaze – Amazing
- Negation with Prefixes: Prefixes like un-, in-, dis-, or im- create negative adjectives.
Example: Happy – Unhappy, Proper – Improper
4. Formation of Adverbs
Adverbs are usually formed by adding the suffix -ly to adjectives, although there are exceptions and irregular forms.
- From Adjectives: Adding -ly forms most adverbs.
Example: Quick – Quickly, Careful – Carefully
- Irregular Forms: Some adverbs do not follow the -ly rule and have unique forms.
Example: Fast – Fast, Hard – Hard
- Using Prefixes and Suffixes: Adverbs can also be formed using prefixes like un- or in- and suffixes like -ward or -wise.
Example: Home – Homeward, Clock – Clockwise
Word Formation Rules
The following are some rules that students should keep in mind when doing word formation to maintain accuracy:-
- Understand Meaning and Role: Before making any change to the stem of the word, try to analyse what is the kind of meaning you want the word to convey and what role the word will have to play in the sentence.
- Prefix Addition: When adding a prefix, the base word generally remains unchanged, with the prefix simply added at the start (e.g., happy – unhappy). The core of the word remains intact even when the prefix alters its meaning.
- Suffix Addition: Adding a suffix may require removing letters from the base word, but sometimes the suffix is added directly (e.g., move – movement). However, words like movement retain the base word without any change in spelling.
- Suffixes and Word Classes: To easily determine which suffix to use, note the common endings associated with different word classes:
- Nouns often end in -er, -or, -ist, -ian, -ion, -ment, -ness, -ity
- Verbs often end in -ise, -ate, -en
- Adjectives often end in -able, -ible, -ive, -ic, -ed, -ing, -al
- Adverbs usually end in -ly
- Conversion Carefulness: When converting a word (e.g., noun to verb), ensure that it is used correctly in context (e.g., email as a noun – to email as a verb). Conversion should maintain both the grammatical and contextual integrity of the word.
- Suffixes and Word Classes: Identify suffixes associated with nouns, verbs, adjectives, or adverbs. For example, nouns commonly end in -tion, -ness, or -ment; verbs often end in -ize or -ate; adjectives may end in -able, -ous, or -ive; and adverbs typically end in -ly. Recognizing these patterns will ensure proper word usage.
Tips for Correct Word Formation
While the above rules are to be followed diligently when doing word formation, some tips such as the ones give below will enhance your language and word formation skills, thus improving the your accuracy when answering the questions:-
- Know the Word Class: Be clear on the word class (noun, verb, adjective, or adverb) you want to create. This will help you choose the right prefix, suffix, or conversion method.
- Use Common Suffixes: Familiarize yourself with common suffixes for each word class to make word formation easier (e.g., -ment for nouns, -ly for adverbs).
- Check for Spelling Changes: When adding a suffix, check if the base word requires spelling adjustments (e.g., final → finalize), as some words may need this.
- Avoid Overusing Prefixes: While prefixes can change the meaning of a word, overusing them can create overly complex or redundant terms. Keep it simple and clear.
- Be Mindful with Conversion: When converting a word from one class to another, ensure the context and grammar of the sentence align with the new word form (e.g., text as a noun → to text as a verb).
WORD FORMATION EXERCISES –Practice Questions (MCQs)
1. Use a prefix to make a word negative: fair.
(A) infair
(B) unfair
(C) misfair
(D) disfair
2. Use a prefix to make a word negative: competent.
(A) incompetent
(B) acompetent
(C) discompetent
(D) incompletent
3. Use a suffix to form an adjective from a given word: guilt.
(A) guiltful
(B) guiltous
(C) guilty
(D) guiltish
4. Which noun can be formed by adding a suffix to the word “originate”?
(A) originality
(B) originating
(C) origination
(D) originism
5. Form a compound adjective from two words: slow + move.
(A) slowing-move
(B) moving-slow
(C) slow-moving
(D) move-slowly
6. Use a suffix to form an adjective from a given word: efficiency.
(A) efficient
(B) efficienal
(C) efficiencive
(D) efficiencyed
7. Find the correct word formation chain (noun-adjective-verb): analysis.
(A) analysor-analytical-analyse
(B) analyser-analytic-analyse
(C) analyst-analytical-analyse
(D) analysian-analysable-analysize
8. Find the correct word formation chain (noun-adjective-verb): assassination.
(A) assassin-assassinated-assassinate
(B) assassinor-assassinous-assassinate
(C) assassinian-assassinated-assassinize
(D) assassin-assassinative-assassinate
9. Find the correct word formation chain (noun-adjective-verb): agitation.
(A) agitater-agitateful-agitate
(B) agitator-agitated-agitate
(C) agitatian-agitated-agitize
(D) agitator-aggravated-aggravatize
10. Use a suffix to form an adjective from a given word: baby.
(A) babylous
(B) babyish
(C) babyly
(D) babyful
11. Form a compound adjective from two words: single + storey.
(A) single-storey
(B) single-storeyed
(C) storey-single
(D) single-storeying
12. Use a suffix to form a noun from a given word: refuge.
(A) refugee
(B) refugion
(C) refugist
(D) refugeous
13. Which adjective can be formed by adding a suffix to the word “create”?
(A) creative
(B) creationful
(C) creating
(D) creatable
14. Find the correct word formation chain (noun-adjective-verb): addiction.
(A) addict-addictive-to become addicting
(B) addict-addictous-to become addicted
(C) addictian-addictive-to become addicted
(D) addict-addictive-to become addicted
15. What verb can be derived by adding a prefix to the word “appear”?
(A) disappear
(B) reappear
(C) misappear
(D) Both A and B
16. Use a suffix to form an adjective from a given word: worth.
(A) worthive
(B) worthless
(C) worthable
(D) worthish
17. Find the correct word formation chain (noun-adjective-verb): achievement.
(A) achiever-achieved-achieve
(B) achievor-achieved-achieve
(C) achiever-achievent-achieve
(D) achiever-achieved-achievate
18. Form a compound adjective from two words: brand + new.
(A) brand-newly
(B) new-brand
(C) brand-new
(D) new-branded
19. Use a suffix to form a noun from a given word: advertise.
(A) advertisness
(B) advertised
(C) advertisement
(D) advertisal
20. Use a prefix to make a word negative: legibility.
(A) illegibility
(B) imlegibility
(C) unlegibility
(D) dislegibility
21. Use a suffix to form an adjective from a given word: accident.
(A) accidentous
(B) accidentent
(C) accidental
(D) accidentable
22. Find the correct word formation chain (noun-adjective-verb): authorization.
(A) authoritor-authoritarian-authorize
(B) authority-authoritarous-authorize
(C) authority-authoritarian-authorize
(D) authority-authoritarian-authoritate
23. Find the correct word formation chain (noun-adjective-verb): administration.
(A) administrater-administrative-administrate
(B) administrator-administrative-administrate
(C) administrator-administratous-adminisrate
(D) administrator-administrative-administra
24. Use a suffix to form an adjective from a given word: sympathy.
(A) sympathetic
(B) sympathish
(C) sympathent
(D) sympathous
25. What adverb can be formed by adding a suffix to the word “frequent”?
(A) frequently
(B) frequenter
(C) frequentive
(D) frequented
26. Form a compound adjective from two words: good + look.
(A) look-good
(B) good-looking
(C) good-lookly
(D) look-goodly
27. Find the correct word formation chain (noun-adjective-verb): aggravation.
(A) aggresser-aggravating-aggravate
(B) aggressor-aggravating-aggravate
(C) aggressor-aggravative-aggravate
(D) aggressor-aggravating-aggravatize
28. Use a suffix to form a noun from a given word: disturb.
(A) disturbity
(B) disturbness
(C) disturbance
(D) disturbal
29. Use a suffix to form an adjective from a given word: humour.
(A) humouric
(B) humourive
(C) humorous
(D) humourosity
30. Find the correct word formation chain (noun-adjective-verb): advice.
(A) advicer-advicory-advice
(B) adviser-advisory-advise
(C) advisor-advisoral-advise
(D) adviser-advisorous-advise
31. Use a prefix to make a word negative: possible.
(A) impossable
(B) impossible
(C) unpossible
(D) dispossible
32. What is the comparative form of “far”?
(A) farther
(B) farthest
(C) further
(D) more far
33. Use a suffix to form a noun from a given word: create.
(A) created
(B) creation
(C) creativeness
(D) creating
34. Which noun can be formed by adding a suffix to the word “act”?
(A) active
(B) action
(C) acted
(D) activeness
35. Use a prefix to make a word negative: legal.
(A) illegal
(B) dislegal
(C) unlegal
(D) nonlegal
36. What is the superlative form of “bad”?
(A) worse
(B) baddest
(C) worst
(D) more bad
37. Use a suffix to form a noun from a given word: decide.
(A) decision
(B) decidefulness
(C) decided
(D) deciding
38. Form a compound adjective from two words: high + quality.
(A) high-quality
(B) quality-high
(C) high-qualitative
(D) qualityhigh
39. What is the comparative form of “good”?
(A) best
(B) better
(C) gooder
(D) more good
40. Use a prefix to make a word negative: agreeable.
(A) disagreeable
(B) unagreeable
(C) nonagreeable
(D) disgreable
41. Use a suffix to form an adjective from a given word: beauty.
(A) beautify
(B) beautiful
(C) beautified
(D) beautyful
42. Find the correct word formation chain (noun-adjective-verb): enjoy.
(A) enjoyment-enjoyable-enjoy
(B) enjoyable-enjoyment-enjoy
(C) enjoy-enjoyment-enjoyable
(D) enjoyment-enjoy-enjoyable
43. Use a suffix to form a noun from a given word: govern.
(A) government
(B) governance
(C) governate
(D) governing
44. What is the superlative form of “small”?
(A) smallest
(B) smalllier
(C) most small
(D) more small
45. What adverb can be derived by adding a suffix to the word “rare”?
(A) rareful
(B) rarely
(C) raremost
(D) rareness
46. What is the comparative form of “fast”?
(A) faster
(B) fastlier
(C) more fast
(D) fastness
47. Use a suffix to form an adjective from a given word: help.
(A) helping
(B) helped
(C) helpful
(D) helper
48. Form a compound adjective from two words: old + fashioned.
(A) old-fashioned
(B) fashion-old
(C) old-fashional
(D) fashionold
49. Find the correct word formation chain (noun-adjective-verb): nation.
(A) national-nationalize-nation
(B) nation-national-nationalize
(C) national-nation-nationalize
(D) nation-nationalize-national
50. Use a suffix to form an adjective from a given word: real.
(A) realness
(B) realistic
(C) realistical
(D) realify
Answers:
1. | B | 26. | B |
2. | A | 27. | B |
3. | C | 28. | C |
4. | C | 29. | C |
5. | C | 30. | B |
6. | A | 31. | B |
7. | C | 32. | C |
8. | A | 33. | B |
9. | B | 34. | B |
10. | B | 35. | A |
11. | A | 36. | A |
12 | A | 37. | A |
13. | A | 38. | A |
14. | D | 39. | B |
15. | D | 40. | A |
16. | B | 41. | B |
17. | A | 42. | A |
18. | C | 43. | A |
19. | C | 44. | A |
20. | A | 45. | B |
21. | C | 46. | A |
22. | C | 47. | C |
23. | B | 48. | A |
24. | A | 49. | B |
25. | A | 50. | B |
Exercise 1
Use the words in brackets to form a new word that fits into the gap:-
- How long is the __________ from Rome to Paris? (fly)
- I have a very good __________ with both my parents. (relation)
- Pulling my front tooth didn’t hurt. – It was completely __________. (pain)
- I can tell from your __________ that you’re not really happy. (express)
- We offer free __________ for purchases over €100. (deliver)
- James hasn’t had a lot of __________ lately, so I hope he’ll do well with his new company. (succeed)
- It is __________ colder today than it was yesterday. (certain)
- What __________ is he? Spanish or Portuguese? (nation)
- You have the __________. – You can either go by bus or walk. (choose)
- My best friend has a great __________. (person)
- You need a lot of __________ to write a good story. (imagine)
- The lesson was __________. I almost fell asleep. (bore)
- Don’t be so __________. This is the second vase you have broken this month. (care)
- It’s simply __________. I have won the lottery. (believe)
- I have to hold a __________ at my brother’s wedding. (speak)
- There’s a lot of __________ about that on the internet. (inform)
- The children were very __________ when the teacher came in. (noise)
- The film was a bit __________. I didn’t really understand what happened. (confuse)
- He has to wear these gloves for __________ reasons. (safe)
- Sally was __________ for two years before she found a new job. (employ)
- In India, there are a lot of __________ in the streets. (beg)
- When I gave up smoking, I started putting on more __________. (weigh)
- I had no __________ in finding the right street. (difficult)
- He talked about __________ and peace in our world. (free)
- __________, I was invited to watch the new film. (lucky)
Answers:
- How long is the flight from Rome to Paris?
- I have a very good relationship with both my parents.
- Pulling my front tooth didn’t hurt. – It was completely painless.
- I can tell from your expression that you’re not really happy.
- We offer free delivery for purchases over €100.
- Jatin hasn’t had a lot of success lately, so I hope he’ll do well with his new company.
- It is certainly colder today than it was yesterday.
- What nationality is he? Spanish or Portuguese?
- You have the choice. – You can either go by bus or walk.
- My best friend has a great personality.
- You need a lot of imagination to write a good story.
- The lesson was boring. I almost fell asleep.
- Don’t be so careless. This is the second vase you have broken this month.
- It’s simply unbelievable. I have won the lottery.
- I have to hold a speech at my brother’s wedding.
- There’s a lot of information about that on the internet.
- The children were very noisy when the teacher came in.
- The film was a bit confusing. I didn’t really understand what happened.
- He has to wear these gloves for safety reasons.
- Sally was unemployed for two years before she found a new job.
- In India, there are a lot of beggars in the streets.
- When I gave up smoking, I started putting on more weight.
- I had no difficulty in finding the right street.
- He talked about freedom and peace in our world.
- Luckily, I was invited to watch the new film.
Exercise 2
Put the correct form of the word in brackets into the blank.
- The results were very strange! In fact, they were __________! (believe)
- He has an unfortunate __________ to understand people’s feelings. (able)
- Due to the clerk’s __________, we missed the train. (stubborn)
- What we saw was beyond all __________. (expect)
- She is a student of the __________. (human)
- The book contains some great __________. (illustrate)
- Please give us details of your present __________. (occupy)
- What is the __________ of the Danube River? (long)
- The __________ of our agriculture is important if we want to produce more food. (mechanic)
- Drug __________ is a problem causing great concern. (addict)
- The __________ of the awards is scheduled for next Friday. (present)
- I have been sworn to __________ so I can’t say a word. (secret)
- After losing her job, she was __________ for a month. (employ)
- Pushing into a queue is considered to be extremely __________. (polite)
- The audience gave the violinist a round of __________. (applaud)
- He isn’t happy with his job because he feels he is __________. (pay)
- We have just been shown another example of __________ killing. (sense)
- My sister’s __________ makes her social life difficult. (shy)
- I’m not sure at all I really can’t say with __________. (certain)
- My __________ is the history of Elizabethan England. (special)
- The police were told by their __________ where to find the criminal. (inform)
- He received many medals for his acts of __________ during the war. (hero)
- The __________ of the company is said to be dangerous to small firms. (expand)
- For all of us, Marilyn Monroe was the __________ of beauty. (person)
- I can guarantee the __________ of our new product. (rely)
Answers:
- The results were very strange! In fact, they were unbelievable!
- He has an unfortunate inability to understand people’s feelings.
- Due to the clerk’s stubbornness, we missed the train.
- What we saw was beyond all expectation.
- She is a student of the humanities.
- The book contains some great illustrations.
- Please give us details of your present occupation.
- What is the length of the Danube River?
- The mechanization of our agriculture is important if we want to produce more food.
- Drug addiction is a problem causing great concern.
- The presentation of the awards is scheduled for next Friday.
- I have been sworn to secrecy so I can’t say a word.
- After losing her job, she was unemployed for a month.
- Pushing into a queue is considered to be extremely impolite.
- The audience gave the violinist a round of applause.
- He isn’t happy with his job because he feels he is underpaid.
- We have just been shown another example of senseless killing.
- My sister’s shyness makes her social life difficult.
- I’m not sure at all, I really can’t say with certainty.
- My specialty is the history of Elizabethan England.
- The police were told by their informant where to find the criminal.
- He received many medals for his acts of heroism during the war.
- The expansion of the company is said to be dangerous to small firms.
- For all of us, Marilyn Monroe was the personification of beauty.
- I can guarantee the reliability of our new product.
Conclusion
Understanding word formation and the correct usage of word forms is important for enhancing language proficiency. The exercises provided not only help in recognizing the importance of prefixes, suffixes, formation of words from nouns, adjectives, adverbs and verbs, and root words but will also help in improving your vocabulary skills. Mastering these concepts will lead the student to have more precise communication, both written and spoken.