You may have a good Dictionary of your own if you learn
formation of words in English. Such words are formed in two ways.
(i) Primary Derivatives.
Definition: Primary derivatives are those derivatives
that form words by making some change in the body of the simple word.
Example: Advise - Advice, Bite - Bit, Live - Life, Sit -
Seat, Prove - Proof.
(ii) Secondary Derivatives.
Definition: Secondary derivatives are
those derivatives that form words by an addition to the beginning or
to the end of a word.
Note: An addition to the beginning of a word is a Prefix and
an addition to the end of a word is a Suffix.
Now we will learn how to make a new word adding Prefix and Suffix.
Forming Noun:
ar = liar, scholar
al = arrival, approval
age = marriage, bondage
ance = assistance, brilliance
ation/ tion = creation, reflection
an/en = artisan, citizen
ary/ery = dispensary, nunnery
ry = treasury
cy = accuracy, fancy
dom = freedom, kingdom
er = reader, maker
eer = mountaineer
ess = actress, authoress
ee = examinee, addressee
ence = excellence, difference
hood = boyhood, childhood
ist = dramatist, novelist
ice = service, cowardice
ion = action, union, opinion
ism = criticism, socialism
ity/ty = ability, safety
kin/en = napkin, chicken
ling = darling, duckling
let/et = booklet, locket
logy = biology, geology
ment = agreement, judgment
mony = testimony, matrimony
ness = darkness, goodness
on = surgeon
or = sailor, supervisor
ock = hillock, bullock
red = kindred, hatred
ship = hardship, friendship
sion = illusion, conversion
th = health, wealth
tude = fortitude, magnitude
yer = lawyer
Forming Adjective:
al = legal, mortal
ate = captivate, annihilate
ly = badly, clearly
Forming Adjective:
al = legal, mortal
ar = familiar,
regular
able = valuable,
movable
ary = necessary,
documentary
ate = fortunate,
temperate
en = wooden,
golden
ed = learned,
talented
fold = two-fold,
three-fold
ful = hopeful,
beautiful
ic/ical = tragic,
technical
ish = blackish,
foolish
istic = fantastic,
optimistic
id = vivid,
lucid
ile = fragile,
servile
ine = feminine, divine
ive = active,
attentive
ian/an = Indian,
African
ible = sensible,
possible
less = helpless,
aimless
ly = godly,
friendly
y = greedy, needy
Forming Verb:
ate = captivate, annihilate
en = broaden,
loosen
er = glitter,
chatter
fy = beautify,
classify
ish = publish,
punish
ise/ize = civilize,
realize
se = cleanse, rinse
Forming Adverb:
ly = badly, clearly
wise = otherwise, clockwise
wards = backwards, upwards
Note: By adding ly with
adjective we can form Adverb.
