Word Formation
What you will be able to do
- Explain how prefixes and suffixes build new words
- Use common prefixes (un-, re-, dis-, mis-, pre-)
- Use common suffixes (-ful, -less, -ness, -tion, -ly)
- Identify the root word in a longer word
- Form opposites and change a word's part of speech
1 Quick Introduction
Word formation is the art of building new words from smaller parts. A root is the base word; a prefix is added in front; a suffix is added at the end. From happy we can build unhappy (prefix) and happiness (suffix).
शब्द-निर्माण (Word Formation) छोटे भागों से नए शब्द बनाने की कला है। मूल शब्द (root) आधार होता है; उपसर्ग (prefix) आगे जुड़ता है; प्रत्यय (suffix) अंत में जुड़ता है। happy से हम बना सकते हैं unhappy (उपसर्ग) और happiness (प्रत्यय)।
2 A Real-Life Situation
Your teacher corrects your essay:
Teacher: You wrote carelessly. Please rewrite it more carefully — your work is untidy.
3 The Grammar Rule
| Part | Position | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Prefix | before the root | un+kind = unkind |
| Root | the base word | kind |
| Suffix | after the root | kind+ness = kindness |
4 Prefixes — Changing the Meaning
A prefix is added to the front of a word and usually changes its meaning, often to the opposite.
| Prefix | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| un- | not | unhappy, unkind |
| re- | again | redo, rewrite |
| dis- | not / opposite | disagree, dishonest |
| mis- | wrongly | misplace, misuse |
| pre- | before | preview, prepaid |
| over-/under- | too much / too little | overeat, underpaid |
Note: a prefix usually does not change the spelling of the root — un + necessary = unnecessary (keep both n's).
dishonest — the prefix 'dis-' makes it the opposite.
To read wrongly — the prefix 'mis-' means 'wrongly'.
Key Points
- A prefix goes before the root and changes the meaning
- un-/dis- often make opposites; re- = again; mis- = wrongly
- The root spelling usually stays the same
5 Suffixes & Root Words
A suffix is added at the end of a word. It often changes the word's part of speech.
| Suffix | Makes a… | Example |
|---|---|---|
| -ness | noun | kind → kindness |
| -ment | noun | move → movement |
| -ful | adjective (full of) | care → careful |
| -less | adjective (without) | care → careless |
| -tion | noun | act → action |
| -ly | adverb | quick → quickly |
Watch the spelling: happy + ness = happiness (y → i); hope + ful = hopeful (one l).
The root word is the part left when prefixes and suffixes are removed: in unhelpfully, the root is help.
happiness — y changes to i before -ness.
Root = agree (prefix dis- + agree + suffix -ment).
Key Points
- A suffix goes at the end and often changes the part of speech
- -ful = full of, -less = without, -ness/-tion/-ment = noun, -ly = adverb
- The root is what remains after removing affixes
6 Vocabulary Builder
| Word | Meaning | हिन्दी |
|---|---|---|
| Prefix | added in front | उपसर्ग |
| Suffix | added at the end | प्रत्यय |
| Root word | the base word | मूल शब्द |
| Affix | a prefix or suffix | उपसर्ग/प्रत्यय |
| Opposite | contrary meaning | विलोम |
7 Common Mistakes to Avoid
8 Practice Exercises
- ______ + happy
- ______ + agree
- ______ + kind
- ______ + honest
- ______ + lock
- unhappy
- disagree
- unkind
- dishonest
- unlock
- care + ___ (full of) =
- hope + ___ (without) =
- kind + ___ (noun) =
- quick + ___ (adverb) =
- act + ___ (noun) =
- careful
- hopeless
- kindness
- quickly
- action
- He is very unhonest.
- Her happyness was great.
- Be carefull on the road.
- Please re-do it agian.
- He is very dishonest. (error: unhonest)
- Her happiness was great. (error: happyness)
- Be careful on the road. (error: carefull)
- Please redo it. (error: re-do ... agian)
- She was hopless after the loss.
- I disagreed with him strongly because he was unhonest.
- The movment was slow.
- She was hopeless after the loss.
- I disagreed with him strongly because he was dishonest.
- The movement was slow.
- ful / care / =
- ness / kind / =
- dis / agree / ment / =
- careful
- kindness
- disagreement
| Column A | Column B |
|---|---|
| 1. un- | a. again |
| 2. -ful | b. not |
| 3. -less | c. full of |
| 4. re- | d. without |
9 Micro Quiz
10 Reading Practice
Sara was unhappy with her untidy room, so she decided to reorganise it. With great carefulness she sorted her books, threw away useless papers, and rearranged the shelves. Her hard work brought her real happiness, and her mother praised her thoughtfulness.
- Find two words with the prefix 'un-' or 're-'.
- Find a word ending in '-ness' and name its root.
- Which word means 'without use'?
- unhappy, untidy (prefix un-); reorganise, rearranged (prefix re-).
- carefulness (root: care), happiness (root: happy), thoughtfulness (root: thought).
- useless — 'use' + suffix '-less'.
11 Speaking, Writing & Daily Use
- Please rewrite this neatly.
- He was unkind to the new boy.
- Her kindness made everyone happy.
- Don't be careless with your money.
- I disagree with that idea.
12 Challenge Zone
13 Chapter Mind Map
WORD FORMATION
|
+------------+------------+
| | |
PREFIX ROOT SUFFIX
un- (not) base word -ful/-less
re- (again) e.g. care -ness/-tion
dis-/mis- -ly/-ment
(front) (end)14 One-Minute Revision
Remember these
- New words = prefix + root + suffix
- Prefixes change meaning: un-/dis- (not), re- (again), mis- (wrongly)
- Suffixes change the part of speech: -ful, -less, -ness, -tion, -ly
- Spelling: happy + ness = happiness (y→i); care + ful = careful (one l)
- The root is what remains after removing affixes