Vocabulary building

Affixes and roots

Adding affixes to existing words (the base or root) to form new words is common in academic English. Prefixes are added to the front of the base (like dislike), whereas suffixes are added to the end of the base (active activate). Prefixes usually do not change the class of the base word, but suffixes usually do change the class of the word. The most common prefixes used to form new verbs in academic English are re-, dis-, over-, un-, mis-, out-. The most common suffixes are -ise, -en, -ate, -(i)fy. !y far the most common affix in academic English is -ise. Verbs e.g. prefix " verb Prefix redisoverunmisoutbecodeforeinterpresubverb Meaning again or bac# reverses the meaning of the verb too much reverses the meaning of the verb badly or wrongly more or better than others ma#e or cause together do the opposite of earlier, before between before under&below Examples restructure, revisit, reappear, rebuild, refinance disappear, disallow, disarm, disconnect, discontinue overboo#, oversleep, overwor# unbend, uncouple, unfasten mislead, misinform, misidentify outperform, outbid befriend, belittle co$exist, co$operate, co$own devalue, deselect foreclose, foresee interact, intermix, interface pre$expose, pre%udge, pretest subcontract, subdivide transform, transcribe, transplant

trans- across, over

under- not enough Exercise '

underfund, undersell, undervalue, underdevelop

e.g. (uffix used to form verbs with the meaning )cause to be). Suffix -ise -ate -fy -en Example stabilise, characterise, symbolise, visualise, specialise differentiate, li*uidate, pollinate, duplicate, fabricate classify, exemplify, simplify, %ustify awa#en, fasten, shorten, moisten

Exercise ' Nouns The most common prefixes used to form new nouns in academic English are co- and sub-. The most common suffixes are -tion, -ity, -er, -ness, -ism, -ment, -ant, -ship, -age, -ery. !y far the most common noun affix in academic English is -tion. e.g. prefix " noun Prefix antiautobiconoun Examples anticlimax, antidote, antithesis autobiography, automobile bilingualism, biculturalism, bi$metalism co$founder, co$owner, co$descendant counter$argument, counter$example, counter$proposal discomfort, disli#e ex$chairman, ex$hunter hyperinflation, hypersurface inattention, incoherence, incompatibility

Meaning against self two %oint

counter- against disexhyperinthe converse of former extreme the converse of

ininterkilomalmegamisminimononeooutpoly-

inside between thousand bad million wrong small one new separate many

inpatient, interaction, inter$change, interference #ilobyte malfunction, maltreatment, malnutrition megabyte misconduct, misdeed, mismanagement mini$publication, mini$theory monosyllable, monograph, monogamy neo$colonialism, neo$impressionism outbuilding, polysyllable pseudo$expert re$organisation, re$assessment, re$examination semicircle, semi$dar#ness subset, subdivision

pseudo- false resemisubsupersurteletriultraunderviceExercise ' again half below

more than, above superset, superimposition, superpowers over and above distant three beyond below, too little deputy surtax telecommunications, tripartism ultrasound underpayment, under$development, undergraduate vice$president

e.g. (uffix added to a verb (+), noun (,) or ad%ective (A) Suffix -tion -sion Meaning action&instance of +$ing

noun

Examples alteration, demonstration expansion, inclusion, admission

-er -ment -ant -ent -age -al -ence -ance -ery/-ry

person who +$s advertiser, driver something used for +$ing computer, silencer action&instance of +$ing person who +$s action&result of + action&result of + action&result of + action&instance of +$ing place of +$ing development, punishment, unemployment assistant, consultant student brea#age, wastage, pac#age denial, proposal, refusal, dismissal preference, dependence, interference attendance, acceptance, endurance bribery, robbery, misery refinery, ba#ery

Suffix -er -ism -ship -age

Meaning

Examples

person concerned with , astronomer, geographer doctrine of , state of being , collection of , -arxism, -aoism, Thatcherism friendship, citi.enship, leadership baggage, plumage

Suffix -ity -ness -cy

Meaning

Examples

state or *uality of being A ability, similarity, responsibility, curiosity state or *uality of being A dar#ness, preparedness, consciousness state or *uality of being A urgency, efficiency, fre*uency

Exercise ' Adjectives

-any ad%ectives are formed from a base of a different class with a suffix (e.g. -less, -ous). Ad%ectives can also be formed from other ad%ectives, especially by the negative prefixes (un-, in- and non-). The most common suffixes are -al, -ent, -ive, -ous, -ful, -less. e.g. (uffix added to verbs or nouns Suffix -al -ent -ive -ous -ful -less -able Example central, political, national, optional, professional different, dependent, excellent attractive, effective, imaginative, repetitive continuous, dangerous, famous beautiful, peaceful, careful endless, homeless, careless, thoughtless drin#able, countable, avoidable, ad%ective

Exercise ' e.g. negative " ad%ective Prefix unad%ective Examples unfortunate, uncomfortable, un%ust

im-/in-/ir-/il- immature, impatient, improbable, inconvenient, irreplaceable, illegal nondisExercise Mixed e.g. base with both prefix and suffix Ad%ectives uncomfortable, unavoidable, unimaginative, inactive, semi$circular ,ouns disappointment, misinformation, reformulation non$fiction, non$political, non$neutral disloyal, dissimilar, dishonest

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Word formation
/ormal written English uses nouns more than verbs. /or example, %udgement rather than %udge, development rather than develop, admiration rather than admire. There appeared to be evidence of differential treatment of children. This is reflected in our admiration for people who have made something of their lives, sometimes against great odds, and in our somewhat disappointed judgment of those who merely drift through life. All airfields in the country would be nationalised, and the government would continue with the development of new aircraft as recommended by the !raba.on 0ommittee. Associated with nominalisation is the occurrence of prepositional phrases, introduced by of %udgment of those treatment of children development of new aircraft -tion is the most common suffix used in this way. /or example alteration, resignation. 1owever others are -ity ability, similarity, complexity2 -ness blindness, dar#ness, preparedness2 -ment development, encouragement2 -ship friendship2 -age mileage2 -ery robbery, bribery2 -al arrival2 -ance assistance, resemblance. '