Chapter 9 · English Grammar
Word Formation — Advanced
What you will be able to do
- Use Latin/Greek prefixes and suffixes to build and decode words
- Apply derivational suffixes to change part of speech
- Form and hyphenate compound words
- Recognise conversion (zero derivation)
- Work out the meaning of unfamiliar words from their parts
1 Quick Introduction
English
English builds its huge vocabulary from a small toolkit of roots, prefixes and suffixes — many from Latin and Greek. Once you know the parts, you can both build precise words and decode unfamiliar ones. 'Transcontinental' = trans (across) + continent + al; 'biography' = bio (life) + graph (write). Word formation turns guessing into knowing.
हिन्दी
अंग्रेज़ी अपनी विशाल शब्द-सम्पदा को मूल, उपसर्ग और प्रत्यय के छोटे टूलकिट से बनाती है — जिनमें से कई लैटिन और ग्रीक से हैं। भागों को जान लेने पर आप सटीक शब्द बना भी सकते हैं और अपरिचित शब्दों को समझ भी सकते हैं। 'Transcontinental' = trans (पार) + continent + al; 'biography' = bio (जीवन) + graph (लिखना)। शब्द-निर्माण अनुमान को ज्ञान में बदल देता है।
2 A Real-Life Situation
Imagine this
You meet a new word and decode it:
Word: 'incomprehensible'
Decode: in- (not) + com- (together) + prehend (grasp) + -ible (able to) = 'not able to be grasped/understood'.
Why this form? You did not need a dictionary — the parts told you the meaning. That is the power of advanced word formation: it lets you read and write with confidence even when the exact word is new to you.
3 The Grammar Rule
Rule & Formula
| Part | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| pre- | before | preview |
| post- | after | postpone |
| trans- | across | transport |
| -logy | study of | biology |
| -ise/-ify | make into | modernise, simplify |
Prefix (meaning) + Root (core) + Suffix (part of speech)
anti + bio + tic = antibiotic (against + life + adjective/noun)
4 Latin/Greek Affixes & Derivational Suffixes
Prefixes (mostly Latin/Greek) change meaning:
| Prefix | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| anti- | against | antiseptic |
| circum- | around | circumnavigate |
| inter- | between | international |
| sub- | under | submarine |
| super-/hyper- | above/over | supersonic, hyperactive |
| mono-/multi- | one/many | monologue, multimedia |
Derivational suffixes change the part of speech:
- Noun: -ance/-ence, -tion/-sion, -ism, -ity, -ship, -hood
- Adjective: -ive, -ous, -ful, -less, -able/-ible, -al, -ic
- Verb: -ize/-ise, -ify, -en
- Adverb: -ly, -ward(s), -wise
So 'globe' → 'global' (adj) → 'globalise' (verb) → 'globalisation' (noun).
1
Worked Example
Build a word: 'around' + 'navigate' = ?
Solution
circumnavigate — circum- (around) + navigate.
2
Worked Example
Make a verb from 'modern' and then a noun.
Solution
modernise (verb) → modernisation (noun).
Key Points
- Latin/Greek prefixes change meaning (anti-, inter-, sub-, trans-)
- Derivational suffixes change the part of speech
- Chain them: globe → global → globalise → globalisation
5 Compounding & Conversion (Zero Derivation)
Compounding joins two words into one:
- Compound nouns: bookstore, sunrise, heartbeat, mother-in-law.
- Compound adjectives: well-known, hard-working, long-term, ten-year-old.
- Hyphenation: compound adjectives before a noun usually take a hyphen (a well-known author), but not after a verb (the author is well known).
Conversion (zero derivation) changes a word's part of speech without adding an affix:
| From | To | Example |
|---|---|---|
| noun → verb | water → to water | Water the plants. |
| verb → noun | run → a run | Go for a run. |
| adjective → verb | clean → to clean | Clean the room. |
Conversion is everywhere in modern English ('to google', 'to friend') — the same form, a new job.
1
Worked Example
Compound adjective: 'a man who works hard' = a ___ man.
Solution
a hard-working man — hyphenated compound adjective before the noun.
2
Worked Example
Conversion: use 'milk' as a verb.
Solution
They milk the cows at dawn. — noun 'milk' converted to a verb.
Key Points
- Compounding joins words (sunrise, well-known, mother-in-law)
- Compound adjectives before a noun take a hyphen (well-known author)
- Conversion changes part of speech with no affix (water → to water)
6 Vocabulary Builder
| Word | Meaning | हिन्दी |
|---|---|---|
| Affix | a prefix or suffix | उपसर्ग/प्रत्यय |
| Derivation | forming new words | व्युत्पत्ति |
| Compounding | joining words | समास |
| Conversion | changing class, no affix | रूपांतर (शून्य व्युत्पत्ति) |
| Root | the core of a word | मूल |
✎ Vocabulary Quick Test0 / 1
Q.Using 'water' as a verb ('water the plants') is an example of:
Explanation: Changing class without an affix is conversion (zero derivation).
7 Common Mistakes to Avoid
✗ Incorrecta well known author (before noun)
✓ Correcta well-known author
Hyphenate a compound adjective before a noun.
✗ Incorrectinlegal
✓ Correctillegal
The prefix assimilates: in- + legal → illegal.
✗ Incorrectmispronounciation
✓ Correctmispronunciation
Watch the root spelling: pronounce → pronunciation.
✗ IncorrectHe greened the wall (meaning painted green).
✓ CorrectHe painted the wall green.
Not every word converts naturally — check usage.
8 Practice Exercises
Fill in the BlanksLevel 1
Add the correct prefix to make the opposite or the meaning given.
- ____ + legal (not) =
- ____ + regular (not) =
- ____ + national (between) =
- ____ + marine (under) =
- ____ + active (over) =
Answer Key
- illegal
- irregular
- international
- submarine
- hyperactive
Fill in the BlanksLevel 2
Form the word required (suffix, compound or conversion).
- Make a noun: modern → ______ (process)
- Make an adjective: courage → ______
- Compound adjective: a child who is ten years old → a ______ child
- Convert to a verb: 'a chair' → please ______ the guest (seat)
- Make a verb: simple → ______
Answer Key
- modernisation
- courageous
- ten-year-old
- (use 'seat' / chair informally) — e.g. 'chair the meeting' (preside)
- simplify
Error Detection
- a long term plan (before noun)
- He is unresponsible for it.
- She globalised globalisationally. (over-derivation)
- It was a state of the art lab.
Answer Key
- a long-term plan (error: long term)
- He is irresponsible for it. / not responsible for it. (error: unresponsible)
- She helped the globalisation process. (error: globalisationally)
- It was a state-of-the-art lab. (error: state of the art)
Sentence Correction
- a well organised event (before noun)
- The prefix in inlegal is wrong.
- He is a hard working and a creative thinker.
Answer Key
- a well-organised event
- The correct word is 'illegal'.
- He is a hard-working and creative thinker.
Rearrange the Words
- navigate / circum / =
- tic / anti / bio / =
- old / a / ten / child / year / -
Answer Key
- circumnavigate
- antibiotic
- a ten-year-old child
Match the Following
| Column A | Column B |
|---|---|
| 1. trans- | a. conversion (noun→verb) |
| 2. -logy | b. across |
| 3. well-known | c. study of |
| 4. to google | d. compound adjective |
Answer Key
trans- → across-logy → study ofwell-known → compound adjectiveto google → conversion (noun→verb)
9 Micro Quiz
✎ Quick Check — 5 questions0 / 5
Q1.Prefix meaning 'across':
Explanation: 'trans-' = across.
Q2.'-logy' means:
Explanation: '-logy' = study of.
Q3.'a well-known author' — 'well-known' is a:
Explanation: Compound adjective.
Q4.'to water the plants' is an example of:
Explanation: Noun → verb conversion.
Q5.in- + legal becomes:
Explanation: Assimilation: 'illegal'.
10 Reading Practice
The microbiologist's discovery was revolutionary. By combining 'micro' (small), 'bio' (life) and '-logy' (study), the word itself describes her field. Her hyperactive curiosity and well-trained eye led to a state-of-the-art technique. Soon, hospitals began to 'fast-track' the test — a noun turned into a verb. International journals praised her, and the once-unpronounceable term became everyday vocabulary.
Comprehension Questions
- Break 'microbiologist' into its parts and meanings.
- Find a compound adjective and a conversion in the passage.
- What does the prefix 'inter-' in 'International' mean?
Answer Key
- micro (small) + bio (life) + log(y) (study of) + -ist (person) = one who studies small life forms.
- Compound adjective: 'well-trained' / 'state-of-the-art'; Conversion: 'fast-track' (noun → verb).
- 'between' (among nations).
11 Speaking, Writing & Daily Use
Say these aloud
- She decided to modernise the office.
- It was a well-known fact.
- Let's fast-track the proposal.
- The submarine dived deep.
- His hyperactive mind never rests.
Write five sentences using a word built with a Greek/Latin prefix, a derivational suffix, a compound noun, a compound adjective, and a conversion.
Example: The telescope revealed new stars. Her kindness was famous. The sunrise was glorious. He gave a well-prepared speech. They will host (verb) the event.
12 Challenge Zone
🔥 Higher-Level Questions — 30 / 3
Q1.Decode 'circumlocution': circum (around) + locu (speak) + tion. It means:
Explanation: Literally 'speaking around' — being indirect or wordy.
Q2.Choose the correctly hyphenated phrase.
Explanation: Compound adjective before a noun → 'five-star'.
Q3.Which is an example of conversion?
Explanation: 'host' (noun) used as a verb, with no affix.
13 Chapter Mind Map
WORD FORMATION (ADVANCED)
|
+------------+------------+
| | |
AFFIXES COMPOUNDING CONVERSION
prefixes: nouns: (zero deriv.)
anti/trans/ sunrise noun>verb
inter/sub adjectives: verb>noun
suffixes: well-known adj>verb
change PoS (hyphen) no affix added14 One-Minute Revision
Remember these
- Latin/Greek prefixes change meaning (anti-, inter-, sub-, trans-, circum-)
- Derivational suffixes change the part of speech (-ity, -ise, -ous, -ly)
- Compounding joins words; compound adjectives before a noun take a hyphen
- Conversion (zero derivation) changes class with no affix (water → to water)
- Decode unknown words from their roots, prefixes and suffixes