There are several ways to form new words through suffixes and prefixes, compounding or conversion.

What is a suffix? Suffix- this is a significant part of the word, which is located after the root and usually serves to form new words. The peculiarity of suffixes is that with their help we can form new words and even change parts of speech. Suffixes can be added to both simple words and derivatives. They can join nouns, adjectives and verbs. For example:

verb: to differ ["dıfə] to differ ->

adj.: natural natural ->

creatures,: dock dock ->

What is a prefix? Prefix- a word-forming particle that is used at the beginning of the original word. Prefixes usually form words that are the same as the grammatical category of the original word. They perform mainly a semantic function. There are a huge number of prefixes in the English language. For example:

verb: to cover ->

adj.: usual usual ->

First of all, learn the prefixes ( dis-, un-, re-) and suffixes ( -ly, -ment, -ful, -less).

Compounding

Compounding is the formation of a new word from two or more words. In Russian, when combining two words into one, the connecting vowel o or e is used (plumbing, vacuum cleaner, thick-walled). In English, two words are joined directly together, with the stress usually falling on the first word. For example

handbook ["hændbʋk] - hand (hand) + book (book) = directory

something ["sʌmθıŋ] - some (some) + thing (thing) = something

to whitewash ["waıtwɒʃ] - white (white) + wash (wash) = whiten.

Complex words are usually written together, but sometimes with a hyphen, for example: water (water) + way (way) water-way (waterway).

Conversion

Conversion is a method of forming new words in which one part of speech is formed into another without any changes in the external form of the word. The most common conversion model is: noun → verb, for example: a test → to test, a check → to check.

When converting two- and polysyllabic nouns with stress on the first or second syllable, the stress in verbs is transferred to the last syllable. For example:

export ["ekspɔ:t] export -> to export export

progress ["prəʋ(g)rəs] progress -> to progress progress.

A common case of conversion is when an adjective becomes a noun. For example:

international international -> the International [,ıntə(:)"næʃənl] International

intellectual intellectual -> an intellectual [,ıntı"lektjʋəl] intellectual

Word formation using suffixes and prefixes

Word formation by adding suffixes and prefixes is the most productive way. Almost every line of text contains derivative words. Let's remember what a suffix and a prefix are:

suffix- a word-forming particle at the end of the original word. Suffixes can be added to both simple words and derivatives. They can be attached to nouns, adjectives and verbs, while forming new words of the same or a different grammatical category. For example:

verb: to differ ["dıfə] differ -> adj.: different ["dıfr(ə)nt] different

adj.: natural natural -> adverb: naturally ["nætʃrəlı] naturally

creatures: dock dock -> creatures: docker ["dɒkə] docker;

prefix- a word-forming particle that is used at the beginning of the original word. Prefixes usually form words that are the same as the grammatical category of the original word. They serve mainly a semantic function. For example

verb: to cover -> verb: to discover

adj.: usual usual -> adj.: unusual [ʌn"jʋ:ʒʋəl] unusual.

Adverb suffix -ly

Most adverbs are formed by adding suffixes to adjectives and nouns. The most productive among them is the suffix -lu, with the help of which many adverbs are formed from adjectives, and the meaning of the original adjective is almost always preserved. For example

brief brief - briefly ["brı:flı] briefly

equal ["(ı:)kw(ə)l] equal - equally ["(ı:)kwəlı] equal, equally

absolute ["æbs(ə)lʋ:t] complete, absolute - absolutely absolutely

violent ["vaıələnt] frantic, furious - violently frantically, furiously.

Adverb suffixes -wise, -ward and prefix a-

Suffix -wise when combined with nouns and adjectives, it forms adverbs indicating that an action is performed in the manner indicated by the stem. When translating such adverbs, you can use words in an image, a way.

For example: a step (step) - stepwise - step by step, gradually and clock (clock) - clockwise ["klɒkwaız] - clockwise, anti-clockwise - counterclockwise.

Suffix -ward(s) in combination with nouns, adverbs, adjectives and prepositions, it forms adverbs indicating the direction in which the action is performed.

For example: sea (sea) - seaward(s) ["sı:wəd] towards the sea side (side) - sideward(s) ["saıdwəd] towards back (back) - backward ["bækwəd] back in (in ) - inward ["ınwəd] inward out (from) - outward(s) ["aʋtwəd] from, outward.

Note that adverbs formed with the suffix -ward may or may not have the ending -s, while an adjective with such a suffix never ends -s, compare: The lift went downward(s).- The elevator went down. But: The downward movement of the lift... -The movement of the elevator (what?) down...

Prefix a- in combination with adjectives and nouns it forms adverbs.

For example: new (new) - anew [ə"njʋ:] again, in a new way round (round) - around [ə"raʋnd] around bed (bed) - abed [ə"bed] in bed field (field) - afield [ə"fı:ld] in the field.

Noun suffixes -ity, -ing, -hood, -ment, -ness

Suffix -ity(spelling options -ety, -iety) forms abstract nouns with the meaning of state, quality, condition. Suffix - ity corresponds to the suffix -ost. For example:

able (capable) - ability [ə"bılıtı] ability

active (active) - activity [æk"tıvıtı] activity, activity

valid (valid, justified, effective) - validity, effectiveness, fairness, legality, validity.

Suffix -hood forms nouns with the meaning “state, position, quality.” For example:

child (child) - childhood ["tʃaıldhʋd] childhood

man (man) - manhood ["mænhʋd] masculinity.

Suffix -ment forms nouns denoting action. Some words with this suffix become meaning of a set of objects. For example: equipment [ı"kwıpmənt] equipment.

to move (to move) - movement ["mʋ:vmənt] - movement.

to environ [ɪn"vaɪər(ə)n] surround - environment [ɪn"vaɪər(ə)nmənt ] surroundings, environment

to commit to take on obligations - commitment

to argue ["ɑːgjuː] argue, argue, prove - argument ["ɑːgjəmənt] argument, argument

Suffix -ness forms nouns with the meaning “state, quality”. For example:

dark dark - darkness ["dɑ:knıs] darkness

good good - goodness ["gʋdnıs] kindness

great great - greatness ["greıtnıs] greatness.

happy happy - happiness ["hæpɪnəs] happiness

polite polite, courteous, courteous - politeness politeness, courtesy, courtesy

fair fair, decent, honest, legal - fairness ["feənəs] justice, honesty, legality

Adjective suffixes -ful, -less, -ive, -ic, -al, -ous

Suffix -ful forms adjectives based on nouns with the meaning “possessing (fully) the quality expressed by the stem.” For example:

peace peace - peaceful ["piːsf(ə)l ], [-ful] quiet, calm, peaceful

hope hope - hopeful;

care care - careful caring, thorough;

beauty beauty - beautiful ["bjʋ:tıfʋl] beautiful, beautiful;

help help - helpful ["helpfʋl] useful.

Suffix -less forms adjectives with the opposite meaning: “devoid of the quality expressed by the stem,” and corresponds to the Russian prefix bez-, ne-,. For example:

doubt doubt - doubtless ["daʋtlıs] undoubted;

homeless ["həumləs] - homeless

hopeless - hopeless;

helpless - helpless;

careless - carefree;

use benefit, meaning, use, use, enjoy - useless ["juːsləs] useless; worthless

Suffix -ive forms adjectives based on verbs and nouns and corresponds to the Russian suffix -iv-. For example:

to create - creative creative, creative;

to act -active ["æktıv] active;

to impress to impress, to amaze - impressive [ım"presıv] impressive, expressive;

an impulse impulse - impulsive [ım"pʌlsıv] impulsive;

a mass - massive ["mæsıv] massive.

Suffix -ic forms adjectives with meanings:

having the composition or structure of a base: atom atom -atomic [ə"tɒmık] atomic;

resembling someone: Homeric - Homeric, Homeric; Byronic - Byronic.

Suffix -al forms a large number of adjectives with the meaning: having a nature, relating to what is expressed by the stem, For example:

Suffix -ous indicates a characteristic or quality, as well as chemical composition. For example:

sulfurous - sulfur-containing

an anonymous anonymous - anonymous (anonymous)

dangerous - dangerous

various - various

a poisonous tree - poisonous tree

Adjective suffixes -able (-ible), -ent, -ant, -ate, -y, -ed

Adjective suffixes -able (-ible), -ent, -ant, -ate, -y, -ed

Suffix -able (-ible) most often forms adjectives from verbs, the Russian equivalent of which are adjectives with the suffix -imiy (possible as opposed to performed). Such adjectives can also be translated into subordinate clauses, starting with the words which can + the infinitive of the original verb. It should be remembered that the suffix is ​​never stressed. For example:

to detect - detectable which can be detected, detectable (not: detectable);

to observe (observe) - observable [əb"zɜ:vəbl] which can be observed (not: observable)

memorable ["mem(ə)rəbl] memorable, unforgettable

They took measures justifiable under these conditions. - They took measures that could be justified under these conditions. We consider events observable in all the situations. - We consider (only) events that can be observed in all these situations.

If such an adjective comes after the linking verb be, then during translation the word that is omitted and only the possible + infinitive of the original verb remains in the sentence, for example: It is regrettable that... You can regret that... The value is negligible. This value can be neglected.

If verb ends in e, then when adding the suffixes -able, -ible, this letter (e) disappears, for example: to receive - receivable which can be received. If verb ends in -y, then when forming an adjective y changes to i, for example: to rely (on) - reliable on which you can rely

Suffix -ent occurs in adjectives with different meanings. For example:

current ["kʌr(ə)nt] - current, modern;

evident ["evıd(ə)nt] - obvious.

confident ["kɔnfɪd(ə)nt] - confident

Suffix -ant forms adjectives that characterize persons or things as having or exhibiting certain qualities. For example:

observant [əb"zɜ:v(ə)nt] - observant

relevant ["relıvənt] - relevant, relevant (the suffix -ant can also form nouns).

Suffix -ate found in adjectives with various meanings, for example: moderate ["mɒdəreıt] - moderate, seasoned; adequate ["ædıkwıt] - appropriate, adequate. (The suffix -ate can also form verbs.)

Suffix -у forms adjectives with the meaning “having the quality of what is indicated by the stem.” For example:

dirt (dirt) - dirty ["dɜ:tı] dirty

fun (joke, fun) - funny ["fʌnı] cheerful, amusing

pretty ["prıtı] - pretty; (the suffix -у can also form nouns).

Suffix -ed forms adjectives: with the meaning of any attribute or possession of something, for example: property (property) - propertied ["prɒpətıd] possessor, possessing property; denoting any form, for example: arch (arch) - arched ["ɑ: tʃt] curved; denoting character or state, for example: educated ["edjʋ:keıtıd] educated. Endings ed/ing. The suffix -ed is often found in complex adjectives, for example: thick-walled [,θık"wɔ:ld] - thick-walled, many-sided [ "menı"saıdıd] - multilateral, ill-informed ["ılın"fɔ:md] - incorrectly informed.

Prefixes de-, dis-, mis-, pre-, fore-, under-, over-

Prefixes de-, dis-, mis-, pre-, fore-, under-, over-

The prefix de- usually means to deprive what is indicated by the base, to remove, to remove what is indicated by the base (in Russian this prefix also exists: degassation), for example:

to code to encode - to decode to decode, decipher;

declassed ["dı:"klɑ:st] - declassed. A number of verbs with the prefixes de-, formed from nouns denoting the type of transport, convey the meaning of “get off, disembark from”, for example: to detrain (train - train) - get off the train.

Prefix dis- usually expresses the opposite, opposite action or negation. Sometimes it conveys the meaning of remove, deprive, get rid of what is indicated by the stem (Russian: disqualification). For example:

to allow [ə"laʋ] to allow - to disallow ["dısə"laʋ] to prohibit

to appear [ə"pıə] to appear - to disappear [,dısə"pıə] to disappear.

to continue - to discontinue

The prefix mis- expresses the error of the action. For example:

to take - to mistake

To apply [ə"plaı] apply - to misapply, misuse, abuse.

The prefixes pre- and fore- usually express precedence. In Russian translation, you can use words in advance, in advance. For example:

to see - to foresee

To show to show - to foreshow to foretell to heat to heat - to preheat to preheat.

The prefix pre- can be used with many verbs that you want to give precedence to.

The prefix under- ["ʌndə] forms verbs with the following meanings:

being or acting under something, for example: to lie - to underlie [,ʌndə"laı] to lie under something; incomplete, insufficient action, for example: to load - to underload ["ʌndə"ləʋd] to underload, load incompletely.

This prefix corresponds to the Russian prefix under-, for example: to do - underdone ["ʌndə"dʋ:] unfinished. The prefix over- forms verbs with the following meanings:

Movements over something, for example: to leap - to overleap [,əʋvə"lı:p] to jump over; excessiveness (of action, state), beyond the norm, for example: to load - to overload ["əʋvə"ləʋd] to load beyond norms, overload.

It should be noted that the Russian prefix conveys not only the meaning above the norm (to overload), but also another meaning: to overload into another car. Therefore, when translating verbs with the prefix over- you need to be careful

Negative prefixes in- (im-, il-, ir-), un-, non- prefixes post-, super-

limitable (which can be limited) - illimitable [ı"lımıtəbl] unlimited.

cage (cage) - to encage [ın"keıdʒ] to put in a cage;

crypt (crypt, cache) - to encrypt

bring to the state indicated by the base. For example:

large (big) - to enlarge [ın"lɑ:dʒ] to increase (xia)

to enliven [ın"laıvən] - to enliven, to make more interesting

Prefix re- usually expresses the repetition of an action, and sometimes it corresponds to the Russian prefix pere-. English verbs with the prefix re- usually have two stresses: on the prefix and on the stem. For example:

to make (to do) - to remake ["rı:"meık] to redo

to create - to recreate

However, we must remember that the Russian prefix pere- does not always correspond to the English prefix re-, since it often conveys the meaning of exceeding the norm, for example, to oversalt. Therefore, when translating words with the prefix re-, use the words again, again, again, etc. For example: to estimate - to re(-)estimate ["rı:"estımıt] estimate again, again (and not: overestimate ).

Prefix be- means: to make it as indicated by the base, or to give a sign or quality expressed by the base, for example: little (small) - to belittle, to belittle.

The suffix method is the most productive in word formation. Let's consider this thesis using examples of adjective suffixes in English.

Theory

What is a suffix? This term refers to the significant part of the word that comes immediately after the root. Depending on the function, the following types of suffixes are distinguished:

• Form-building (used to form new grammatical forms):

  to play - played (play - played), big - bigger (big - more);

• Derivational (used to form single-root lexemes):

  child - childhood (child - childhood), to write - writer (write - writer), fame - famous (fame - famous).

There are five formative suffixes in the English language. And the most common are word-forming ones. They are involved in the formation of adjectives from nouns, verbs and simple adjectives.

Adjective suffixes

Adjective suffixes - these are significant parts of a word that are attached to a noun or verb, and thereby form new words. The most productive and popular are presented in the following table:

Suffix	Meaning	Examples
		Faith - faithful (faith - faithful)
		Humor - humorous (humor - humorous
	Lack of a certain quality	Aim - aimless (aim - aimless)
	A property characteristic of objects, persons and phenomena	Beast - beastly (animal - rough, animal); King - kingly (king - majestic, royal)
	Periodicity, repeatability in a certain period of time	Hour - hourly (hour - hourly); Day - daily (day - daily)
	The material from which the item is made	lead - leaden (lead - lead); silk - silken (silk - silk)
	Signs, properties characteristic of certain phenomena	Silk - silky (silk - silky); snow - snowy (snow - snowy)
		history - historic (history - historical); hero - heroic (hero - heroic)
		function - functional (function - functional); nature - natural (nature - natural, natural)
	Small, insignificant degree of property of an object	fool - foolish (fool - stupid); cat - cattish (cat - feline); red - reddish (red - reddish)
	Nationality	Scotland - Scottish (Scotland - Scottish)
	Possessing some kind of opportunity or ability	To avoid - avoidable (avoid - preventable, something that can be avoided); to recognize - recognizable (to recognize - recognizable); to extend - extensible (to extend - extensible, one that can extend)
	Quality obtained as a result of an action indicated by a verb	To observe - observant (observe - observant); to differ - different (to differentiate - different)
	The presence of a certain property, sign of an object	revolution - revolutionary (revolution - revolutionary); diet - dietary (diet - dietary); to obligate - obligatory (oblige - obligatory)
	Nationality or language	China - Chinese

When adding the suffixes -able, -ible to the stem of the verb, the final vowel -e is omitted, and the final vowel -y changes to -i: to reduce - reducible, to rely - reliable.

Confusion may arise (both are often called word endings, “word endings”), and the English terminology in this matter is slightly different from Russian. So let's start with the basic concepts.

The ending is an inflectional morpheme. It changes the form of the word, but not its meaning, and at the same time carries a grammatical load:

• pencil - pencil s(the ending indicates the plural)
• work - work ed(the ending indicates the past tense)

The suffix, in turn, is a word-forming morpheme. Suffixes in English create new words, either changing the meaning of the original, or transforming one part of speech into another:

• red-redd ish(red - reddish)
• teach - teach er(teach - teacher)

There are very few endings in English - these are -s (-es), -ed and -ing. There are a huge number of suffixes in English. In this article we will consider only the most common ones.

Noun suffixes

Suffixes of professions and activities (-er, -ent, -ess)

The suffix -er is perhaps the most common and productive for denoting “doers.” With it you can form a noun from almost any verb.

• write > writer - write > writer
• bake > baker - oven > baker
• paint > painter - draw > artist

Most modern words denoting the performer of an action are formed with its help. This also applies to inanimate objects.

• printer - printer
• scanner - scanner

Many have the suffix -or:

• doctor - doctor
• tailor - tailor
• actor - actor

The suffix in English -ist often denotes activities related to science and medicine:

• scientist - scientist
• dentist - dentist
• biologist - biologist

It also denotes an adherent of any views and beliefs:

• pacifist - pacifist
• communist - communist
• realist - realist

Other suffixes in English for words of Latin and Greek origin:

Suffix -ian:

• musician - musician
• librarian - librarian
• mathematician - mathematician

Suffix -ent:

• student - student
• resident - resident, resident
• agent - agent

Suffix -ant:

• informant - informant
• assistant - assistant
• confidant - trusted person

The suffix -ess is one of the few "feminine" suffixes in English:

• waitress - waitress
• actress - actress
• princess - princess

Suffixes of process, action, phenomenon (-ment, -ion, -ism)

The suffix in English -ment is needed when forming verbal nouns and means an action or its result:

• movement - movement
• entertainment - entertainment
• concealment - concealment

The suffix -ion also means an action, a process, or the result of that process:

• revolution - revolution
• isolation - isolation
• restriction - restriction

The suffix -ism denotes a system of views and beliefs:

• racism - racism
• communism - communism
• pacifism - pacifism

Suffixes of state, quality, property (-ance / -ence, -dom, -hood, -ity, -ness, -ship, -th)

The suffix -ance/-ence on a noun generally corresponds to the suffix -ant/-ent on an adjective:

• different - difference (different - difference)
• important - importance (important - importance)
• independent - independence (independent - independence)

The suffixes in English -hood and -ship mean a person’s condition associated with his age, social relationships, and sometimes activities; or a group of people united by this condition.

• childhood - childhood
• motherhood - motherhood
• priesthood - clergy
• friendship - friendship
• internship - internship, internship

The suffix -dom means states and properties of a broader meaning:

• freedom - freedom
• wisdom - wisdom
• martyrdom - martyrdom

The suffix in English -ness means the possession of some quality and is used to form nouns from adjectives:

• kindness - kindness
• usefulness - usefulness
• vastness - vastness

The suffix -th more often means physical properties:

• strength - strength
• length - length
• warmth - warmth

The suffix -ity means property, quality, and is common for words of Latin origin:

• brevity - brevity
• velocity - speed
• purity - purity

Adjective suffixes

The suffix in English -ful means having a quality (and is related to the adjective full - “full”):

• beautiful - beautiful
• useful - useful

The suffix -less is the opposite in meaning to the previous one and means lack of quality:

• careless - carefree
• harmless - harmless

The suffix -able, -ible characterizes the property or availability for any action:

• edible - edible
• portable - portable, portable
• admirable - admirable

The suffixes -ic and -al mean “relating to, associated with something”:

• heroic - heroic
• mythic - mythical
• cultural - cultural
• musical - musical

The suffix -ous also carries the characteristic:

• dangerous - dangerous
• nutritious - nutritious

The suffix in English -ish has several meanings:

expresses similarity (in terms of appearance, behavior)

• girlish - girlish
• childich - childish, childish
• foolish - stupid

weakens the meaning of the adjective

• reddish - reddish
• narrowish - narrowish

means nationality, language or belonging to a country

• English - English
• Swedish - Swedish

The suffix -ive means having a property, ability:

• attractive - attractive
• sedative - sedative

The English suffix -y is used to form many simple adjectives:

• rainy - rainy
• dirty - dirty
• sunny - sunny

Verb suffixes

Verb suffixes are not so diverse and almost all have the meaning “to do something” or “to become something.”

A suffix is ​​a word-forming morpheme with the help of which new words are created, the meaning of the original one is changed, or one part of speech is transformed into another. Suffixes in English are more common and flexible than prefixes. Since practicing and forming vocabulary is an important matter in learning and improving a language, we suggest paying attention to the basic rules of word formation. Knowing them will help you in the future to guess the meaning of a huge number of words without a dictionary.

Two types of suffixes

In English, as in Russian, there are suffixes: word-forming and form-forming. The former form a new word with a new lexical meaning: write - writer, to write - writer, etc. The latter create a different form of the word without changing its lexical meaning: talk - spoke / to study - studied, etc.

There are 5 formative suffixes (in some sources they are often called endings) in the English language. We will talk about word-formative suffixes of such parts of speech as nouns and adjectives.

Noun suffixes

The table will help you better remember the suffixes of nouns in English and their use.

In English there is no clear system for forming new words using suffixes. Therefore, even after learning all the suffixes presented above, it is impossible to master the ability to form and use new words in speech. It is necessary to know the cognates of different parts of speech in order to know which suffix is ​​used to form certain words. And yet, the ability to understand the meanings of English suffixes will allow you to effectively use your vocabulary, expanding your active vocabulary at the expense of your passive one.

A little more about suffixes...

With the help of suffixes, you can form not only adjectives from nouns. The formation of a number of adverbs, verbs and numerals also occurs through the use of suffixes. Previously, we looked at suffixes of nouns and adjectives. Now let's look at how verbs, adverbs and numerals are formed.

Verb suffixes

Suffixes	Meaning	Examples
-ate	to subject to any influence, to transform	to originate (to arise) to vaccinate (vaccinate) to decorate (decorate)
-en	do something, use something	to shorten (shorten) to sweeten (sweeten) to heighten (raise)
-ify, -fy	do, implement, transform	to falsify (falsify) to modify (modify)
-ise, -ize	acquire quality or condition	to modernize (modernize) to oxidize (oxidize)
-ish	to carry out, to produce, to do something	to publish to punish (punish) to embellish (decorate)

Adverb suffixes

Suffixes	Meaning	Examples
-ly	in this way, in a way	rapid - rapidly (fast - quickly) clear - clearly (clear - clear) late - lately (late - late)
-wise	in the direction, in the style	step - stepwise (step - gradually) other - otherwise (other - otherwise) clock - clockwise (clock - clockwise)
-ward/wards	in the direction, in the style	after - afterward (after - subsequently) side - sidewards (side - at random, sideways) left - leftwards (left - left, left, left)

Numeral suffixes

Suffixes	Meaning	Examples
-teen	cardinal numbers from 13 to 19	five - fifteen (five - fifteen) eight - eighteen (eight - eighteen) nine - nineteen (nine - nineteen)
-ty	tens