Word building

ENGLISH SKILLS TUTORIAL

WORD BUILDING

Finally, they decided to go into PARTNER and start their own business.

1BUILDING NEW WORDS STARTING FROM A PROMPT WORD

Finally, they decided to go into PARTNER > PARTNERSHIP and start their own business.

With a suffix...

Job interviewers should ideally be PARTIAL > IMPARTIAL to all candidates.

With a prefix...

Job interviewers should ideally demonstrate PARTIAL > IMPARTIALITY towards all candidates.

With both a prefix and a suffix...

The closure of the factory caused a public CRY > OUTCRY.

With an adverbial particle as a prefix...

Keep the device on STAND > STANDBY if you want to be able to use it immediately.

With an adverbial particle as a suffix.

2FOUR ESSENTIAL STEPS IN WORD BUILDING

Without any other option, they decided to file for BANKRUPT > BANKRUPTCY.

STEP 1: Based on the context, find out what part of speech you need. Is it a noun, a verb, an adjective or an adverb?

In the example above, you need a noun.

We will have to MODERN > MODERNISE our approaches to clients.

In the example above, you need a verb.

All SATISFY > DISSATISFIED customers can call our helpline free of charge.

In the example above, you need an adjective.

We will deal with these matters as PROFESSION > PROFESSIONALLY as we can.

In the example above, you need an adverb.

STEP 2: The second step is to decide in which of its grammatical forms you must use the part of speech (noun, verb, adjective, adverb).

The context will help you again.

Many business PARTNER > PARTNERSHIPS end in disaster.

If it’s a noun, is it singular or plural?

Could you give me more INFORM > INFORMATION about the project?

If it’s a noun, also remember that uncountable nouns are always singular in form.

If she UNDERSTAND > MISUNDERSTANDS the information sent, she’ll have problems.

If it’s a verb, do you need the –s at the end, for the simple present (3rd person singular)?

They have MODERN > MODERNISED their facilities.

We are in the process of MODERN > MODERNISING our facilities. 2FOUR ESSENTIAL STEPS IN WORD BUILDING

If it’s a verb, do you need the –ing or the –ed form?

Unfortunately, you have UNDERSTAND > MISUNDERSTOOD

the whole procedure.

If it’s a verb, is it an irregular verb and consequently, you must remember its past or past participle form?

She’s much HAPPY > HAPPIER now that she knows she’ll be promoted soon.

Having been recently promoted,

she’s now the HAPPY > HAPPIEST employee in our department.

If it’s an adjective, do you need the comparative or superlative form?

As a market leader, we offer the GOOD > BEST products available.

If it’s an adjective, are its comparative and superlative forms irregular?

She performed the GOOD > BEST of all candidates.

If it’s an adverb, just like in the case of adjectives, are its comparative and superlative forms irregular?

STEP 3: Find out if the meaning is positive or negative (this only concerns prefixes). Again, you will find clues in the context.

Our profits show an increase, so we’ll be quite SUCCESS > SUCCESSFUL entering a new market.

If the overall context is positive, you will need a positive word!

Due to the recession we have been SUCCESS > UNSUCCESSFUL in launching new products lately.

If the overall context is negative, you will need a negative word!

STEP 4: Now you are almost ready...

However, before making your final decision, you must remember some more rules and exceptions!

3HOW ADJECTIVES ARE USED

This is quite an INFORM > INFORMATIVE report.

I found the report quite INFORM > INFORMATIVE.

The report is well researched and it is quite INFORM > INFORMATIVE as well.

3HOW ADJECTIVES ARE USED

Most adjectives can be used in front of a noun or after a noun or a pronoun.

4IRREGULAR ADJECTIVES

GOOD > BETTER > (the) BEST

BAD > WORSE > (the) WORST

etc. 4IRREGULAR ADJECTIVES

Some adjectives have irregular comparative and superlative forms.

A good dictionary will tell you this. There are very few such cases.

5HOW ADVERBS ARE USED

Please do this job as PROFESSION > PROFESSIONALLY as you can.

That was a PROFESSION > PROFESSIONALLY done piece of work.

Doing such things PROFESSION > PROFESSIONALLY would require lots of skills.

An adverb must be used with all verb forms referring to actions.

She became more PROFESSION > PROFESSIONAL based on her extensive experience in the field.

An adverb must be used with all verb forms referring to actions.

If the verb form describes a state or a quality, you must use an adjective instead!

Our boss is HIGH > HIGHLY suspicious of immodest employees.

An adverb must be used when you want to intensify the quality of an adjective.

Using another adjective in this case would be incorrect!

She accomplished her task PERFECT > PERFECTLY well.

An adverb must be used when you want to intensify the quality of another adverb.

Using an adjective in this case would be incorrect!

FRANK > FRANKLY, you have disappointed me.

An adverb must be used when you make a personal comment on the facts stated in a whole sentence. The adverb is separated from the rest of the

sentence by a comma (`,`).

ECONOMY > ECONOMICALLY, Romania is improving.

An adverb must be used when you announce or summarise the topic of a whole sentence. The adverb is separated from the rest of the sentence by a

comma (`,`).

6IRREGULAR ADVERBS

WELL > BETTER > (the) BEST,

BADLY > WORSE > (the) WORST

etc. 6IRREGULAR ADVERBS

Some adverbs (not many), like in the case of adjectives, have irregular comparative and superlative forms.

A good dictionary will tell you this. There are very few such cases.

7CONFUSING –LY WORDS

He has dealt with the matter quite PROFESSIONAL > PROFESSIONALLY.

7 CONFUSING –LY WORDS

Usually, -ly words are adverbs.

Such adverbs are formed by adding –ly to an adjective.

As a boss, he’s quite FRIEND > FRIENDLY.

Their products are good quality but a bit COST > COSTLY.

What a LOVE > LOVELY day! 7 CONFUSING –LY WORDS

Sometimes, -ly words are adjectives.

Such adjectives are formed by adding –ly to a noun.

This procedure is performed on a DAY > DAILY (= adjective) basis.

This procedure is performed DAY > DAILY (= adverb).

Sometimes, -ly words can be either adjectives or adverbs.

Such words are formed by adding –ly to a noun and they usually refer to periods of time.

HOUR > HOURLY, DAY > DAILY,

WEEK > WEEKLY, MONTH > MONTHLY, YEAR > YEARLY

Sometimes, -ly words can be either adjectives or adverbs.

Such words are formed by adding –ly to a noun and they usually refer to periods of time.

Here are some more such examples.

This newspaper is a DAY > DAILY.

What DAY > DAILIES do you read?

In very few cases, -ly words can be nouns .

Such words are formed by adding –ly to a noun and

they are used as short forms of adjective + noun expressions.

This is the only such exception you need to remember!

8CONFUSING ADJECTIVE SUFFIXES:

-IC AND –ICAL

Some adjectives can end either in –ic or in –ical.

In such cases, there is usually a difference in meaning.

Romania’s ECONOMY > ECONOMIC situation is not very good now.

She’s a very ECONOMY > ECONOMICAL person.

She likes her car because it’s very ECONOMIC > ECONOMICAL.

-IC AND –ICAL

Economic refers to the economy.

Economical means `not wasting something` (money, fuel, resources etc.).

Confusing these two adjectives is a serious usage mistake!

The Moon landing was a HISTORY > HISTORIC achievement for

humanity.

Today we are witnessing a HISTORY > HISTORIC moment for our company: the merger with CDRTVV2 Recordings Ltd.

While on holiday she saw quite a lot of

places of HISTORY > HISTORICAL interest.

-IC AND –ICAL

Historic refers to something `very important` (so that some day it will be recorded as part of history).

Historical means `related to the past` or `connected to the study of history`.

Confusing these two adjectives is a serious usage mistake!

GEOGRAPHY > GEOGRAPHIC / GEOGRAPHICAL

SCIENCE > SCIENTIFIC / SCIENTIFICAL

METHOD > METHODIC / METHODICAL

-IC AND –ICAL

Some adjectives can end only in –ic, only in –ical or in both (– ic or –ical, without any difference in meaning).

Whenever you’re not sure, check a good dictionary!

Romania still has some ECONOMY > ECONOMIC problems. ECONOMY > ECONOMICALLY, Romania still has problems.

She’s a very ECONOMY > ECONOMICAL spender.

She spends her money very ECONOMY > ECONOMICALLY. 9CONFUSING ADVERB SUFFIXES:

-ICALLY AND –ICLY

In most cases, the adverbs formed from –ic or –ical adjectives

will all end in –ically.

The employees wanted to protest PUBLIC > PUBLICLY.

9CONFUSING ADVERB SUFFIXES:

-ICALLY AND –ICLY

In extremely few cases, the adverbs formed from –ic or –ical adjectives

will end in –icly.

The example above is the only exception you need to remember!

10CONFUSING NOUN SUFFIXES:

-ER AND -EE

An EMPLOY > EMPLOYER employs EMPLOY > EMPLOYEES.

A TRAIN > TRAINER trains TRAIN > TRAINEES.

-ER AND -EE

As a rule, –er nouns refer to the `doer` of an action, whereas –ee nouns describe things or people suffering an action.

-ER AND -OR

She works as a software DEVELOP > DEVELOPER.

We finally found a CONTRACT > CONTRACTOR who agreed to repair our roof.

-ER AND -OR

As a rule, –er nouns are more common than –or nouns.

Whenever you’re not sure, check a good dictionary!

12CONFUSING NOUN / ADJECTIVE SUFFIXES:

-ENT / -ANT, -ENCE (-ENCY) / -ANCE (-ANCY)

affluent, ambient, benevolent, coherent, competent, complacent, confident, consequent, consistent, convenient, dependent, different, equivalent, evident,

excellent, existent, impatient, incompetent, independent, obedient, patient, permanent, persistent, recurrent, resident etc.

-ENT / -ANT, -ENCE (-ENCY) / -ANCE (-ANCY)

There are no rules as to which suffix should be used and why. The only logic you can rely on is that –ent words will have –ence (or –ency) corresponding

nouns; –ant words will have –ance (or –ancy) corresponding nouns.

Above, see some common –ent words.

abundant, arrogant, assistant, brilliant, compliant, defiant, distant, dominant, hesitant, important, instant, intolerant, irrelevant, resistant, significant, tolerant,

unimportant etc.

-ENT / -ANT, -ENCE (-ENCY)/ -ANCE (-ANCY)

Above, see some common –ant words.

-ENCE (-ENCY)/ -ANCE (-ANCY)

absence, coincidence, competence, confidence, conscience, convenience, correspondence, dependence, difference, disobedience, evidence, existence, inconvenience, independence, indifference, innocence, intelligence, lenience,

patience, permanence, persistence, presence, residence, violence etc.

Above, see some common –ence nouns.

agency, consistency, deficiency, efficiency, frequency, inefficiency, presidency, proficiency etc.

Above, see some common –ency nouns.

abundance, acceptance, acquaintance, arrogance, assistance, attendance, compliance, defiance, distance, dominance, entrance, extravagance,

importance, relevance etc.

Above, see some common –ance nouns.

accountancy, expectancy, infancy, irrelevancy, redundancy, vacancy etc.

Above, see some common –ancy nouns.

-ABLE / -IBLE, -ABILITY / -IBILITY

acceptable, accountable, achievable, adaptable, adorable, affordable,

applicable, available, avoidable, believable, breakable, changeable, comfortable, deniable, dependable, downloadable, employable, excusable, impassable,

impracticable, impressionable, improbable, indisputable, inevitable, intolerable, knowledgeable, manageable, negotiable, noticeable, portable, predictable,

preferable, probable, profitable, questionable, reasonable, respectable, suitable, unacceptable, unavoidable, uncomfortable, unmistakable,

unpredictable, unreliable, vulnerable etc.

There are no rules as to which suffix should be used and why. The only logic you can rely on is that –able adjectives will have –ability corresponding nouns;

–ible adjectives will have –ibility corresponding nouns.

Above, see some common –able adjectives.

accessible, admissible, audible, combustible, compatible, comprehensible,

corruptible, credible, deductible, divisible, illegible, imperceptible, impossible, inaccessible, inaudible, incompatible, indestructible, indivisible, ineligible,

intangible, invisible, irresistible, negligible, perceptible, permissible, possible, responsible, sensible, visible etc.

There are no rules as to which suffix should be used and why. The only logic you can rely on is that –able adjectives will have –ability corresponding nouns;

–ible adjectives will have –ibility corresponding nouns.

Above, see some common –ible adjectives.

15CONFUSING NEGATIVE PREFIXES:

UN-, IN-, IM-, IL-, IR-, DE-, DIS-, DYS-, MIS-, NON

unacceptable, unaccustomed, unafraid, unattractive, unaware, unbalanced, unbearable, uncertain, unconscious, unimportant etc.

There are no rules as to which negative prefix should be used and why.

Above, see some common un – negative words.

inaccurate, inaction, inadequate, inadvisable, inappropriate, inarticulate, inattention, inattentive, incapable, incomparable, inconclusive, inconvenient,

indescribable, indestructible, indeterminate, indifference, indifferent, inessential etc.

Above, see some common in– negative words.

immaterial, immeasurable, immoral, immortal, immovable, impatient, imperfect, imperfection, implausible, impolite, imprecise, imprecision,

improbable, impure etc.

Above, see some common im– negative words.

illegal, illegality, illegitimacy, illegitimate, illiberal, illiteracy, illiterate, illogical etc.

Above, see some common il– negative words.

irrational, irrefutable, irregular, irrelevant, irresistible, irresolute, irresponsible, irretrievable, irreverent, irreversible etc.

Above, see some common ir– negative words.

decentred, deregulation, defrost, decompress, deface etc.

Above, see some common de– negative words.

disability, disadvantage, disadvantageous, disapproving, disbelief, discharge, discomfort, discontent, discontented, discourteous, discourtesy, disfavour,

disgrace, dishonest, disloyal, disloyalty, disrespect, disrespectful, dissatisfied, disservice etc.

Above, see some common dis– negative words.

dysfunction, dysfunctional, dystopia etc.

Above, see some common dys– negative words.

misadventure, misapply, misbehave, misconceive, misdeed, misdirect,

mishandle, misinform, misinterpret, mismanage, misplace, mispronounce, misspell, mistrust, misunderstand etc.

Above, see some common mis– negative words.

nonconformist, nonentity, nonexistent , nonsense, nonsensical, nonverbal etc.

Above, see some common non– negative words.

There are no rules as to which negative prefix should be used and why. Because many dictionaries do not list opposites (= negative derivatives) together with the headword (= the base word that you look up), you may have to

check for correctness under the corresponding dictionary letter:

`D` (de-, dis-, dys-), `I` (il-, im-, in-, ir-), `M` (mis-), `N` (non-), `U` (un-).

16SPELLING IRREGULAR DERIVATIVES

STRONG (a) > STRENGTH (n) > (to) STRENGTHEN (v)

LONG (a) > LENGTH (n) > (to) LENGTHEN (v)

BROAD (a) > BREADTH (n) > (to) BROADEN (v)

WIDE (a) > WIDTH (n) > (to) WIDEN (v)

HIGH (a) > HEIGHT (n) > (to) HEIGHTEN (v)

(to) WEIGH (v) > WEIGHT (n)

16SPELLING IRREGULAR DERIVATIVES

The nouns and verb forms of a few very common adjectives have an irregular spelling.

Confusing these spellings is a very serious mistake! Remember the ones above!

17WORDS NOT USED IN ENGLISH

muscular (NOT musculous)

nervousness (NOT nervosity) professional (NOT professionist) – both noun and adjective

seriousness (NOT seriosity) spectacular (NOT spectaculous)

representative (NOT representant) – both noun and adjective

17WORDS NOT USED IN ENGLISH

You have already learnt that word building in English is not entirely logical. We use CURIOUS > CURIOSITY, but not NERVOUS > NERVOSITY! Or SERIOUS >

SERIOSITY! Above, see the most common learner mistakes.

When in doubt, check a dictionary!

NOW YOU KNOW MORE ABOUT WORD BUILDING

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