Lesson 6: Word Formation – Prefixes, Suffixes, and Root Words
Understanding word formation is crucial for expanding your vocabulary and improving your performance in the IELTS exam. By learning common prefixes, suffixes, and root words, you can decode unfamiliar words, create new words, and enhance your lexical resource in Writing and Speaking. This lesson will break down the key components of word formation and provide practical examples and activities.
1. What is Word Formation?
Word formation is the process of creating new words by adding prefixes or suffixes to root words or by changing the word class (e.g., turning a noun into a verb). This skill is especially useful in the IELTS exam because it helps you:
- Understand unfamiliar words in Reading and Listening.
- Use a wider range of vocabulary in Writing and Speaking.
- Improve your spelling and accuracy.
2. Root Words
A root word is the base form of a word that carries its core meaning. By adding prefixes or suffixes, you can modify its meaning or change its word class.
Examples of Root Words
- Act: To do something.
Example: She acted quickly to solve the problem. - Create: To make something new.
Example: The artist created a beautiful painting. - Write: To form letters or words on a surface.
Example: He wrote a letter to his friend.
3. Prefixes
A prefix is a group of letters added to the beginning of a root word to change its meaning. Prefixes often indicate negation, time, place, or degree.
Common Prefixes and Their Meanings
| Prefix | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Un- | Not | Happy → Unhappy |
| Re- | Again | Write → Rewrite |
| Pre- | Before | History → Prehistory |
| Mis- | Wrongly | Understand → Misunderstand |
| Over- | Too much | Work → Overwork |
| Under- | Too little | Estimate → Underestimate |
| Dis- | Not or opposite | Agree → Disagree |
| Co- | Together | Operate → Cooperate |
4. Suffixes
A suffix is a group of letters added to the end of a root word to change its meaning or word class. Suffixes can turn nouns into adjectives, verbs into nouns, and more.
Common Suffixes and Their Functions
| Suffix | Function | Example |
|---|---|---|
| -able | Creates adjectives | Read → Readable |
| -ment | Creates nouns | Develop → Development |
| -tion | Creates nouns | Inform → Information |
| -ful | Means “full of” | Joy → Joyful |
| -less | Means “without” | Hope → Hopeless |
| -ify | Creates verbs | Simple → Simplify |
| -ness | Creates nouns | Happy → Happiness |
| -ly | Creates adverbs | Quick → Quickly |
5. Word Formation in IELTS
Word formation is tested in various ways in the IELTS exam:
- Reading and Listening: You may encounter unfamiliar words that can be decoded using prefixes, suffixes, or root words.
- Writing and Speaking: Using a variety of word forms (e.g., nouns, verbs, adjectives) improves your lexical resource score.
Examples of Word Formation in Context
- Root Word: Create
- Creation (noun): The act of creating something.
- Creative (adjective): Having the ability to create.
- Creatively (adverb): In a creative manner.
- Root Word: Employ
- Employment (noun): The state of having a job.
- Employer (noun): A person or organization that employs people.
- Unemployed (adjective): Without a job.