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Cambridge International Dictionary of English (CIDE, 1995).

COMBINING FORMS

Combining forms are word beginnings or word endings which can be used to make grammatical

forms, to give a particular meaning, or to change the part of speech of a word. In English, the

most common combining forms are word endings.

Word endings used to make g rammatical forms

For example, the past simple of many verbs is formed by adding the ending ed, and the

comparative of many adjectives is formed by adding er.

Word endings used to add meanings or change the part of speech

Some word endings, often called suffixes, add or change meaning. For example the ending ismis

often used to form nouns which refer to beliefs or ways of behaving: nationalism,pacifism,

Buddhism. Very often when a word ending is added in this way the part of speech of the word is

changed. For example, the ending enchanges the adjective blackinto the verb to blacken(=

cause something to become black). The following table gives the meaning(s) of important word

endings and shows how they change the part of speech of the word.

FORMING VERBS

-EN ADJECTIVEVERB to cause to have or increase the stated quality

freshfreshen blackblacken thickthicken fat - fatten

-IFY ADJECTIVE/NOUNVERB to cause an increase in the stated quality; to

become

simple simplify purepurify solidsolidify beauty - beautify

-IZE/-ISE ADJECTIVEVERB to cause to become

(in British and Australian English these words are usually spelled ise.)

centralcentralize commercial commercialize modernmodernize standard -

standardize

FORMING ADVERBS

-LY ADJECTIVEADVERB in the stated way

loudloudly happyhappily carefulcarefully suddensuddenly

NOUNADVERB/ ADJECTIVE happening at the stated regular direction or place. (Usually th -ly

form can also be used as an adjective.)

hourhourly yearyearly daydaily night - nightly

-WARD(S) PREPOSITION/NOUNADVERB towards the stated direction or

place. (The wardform can also be used as an adjective.)

downdownwards earthearthwards homehomeward in - inward

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Cambridge International Dictionary of English (CIDE, 1995).

FORMING NOUNS

-AGE VERBNOUN the action described by the verb, or its result

breakbreakage wastewastage marrymarriage spill - spillage

-AL VERBNOUN the action described by the verb

approveapproval buryburial arrive arrival remove - removal

-AN/-IAN/-EAN NOUNNOUN a person who studies the stated subject, or who

belongs to the stated place or group

historyhistorian Europe European ParisParisian

Mohammed - Mohammedan

-ANCE/-ENCE VERBNOUN the action or series of actions described by the verb, or

the state or quality described.

performperformance disappeardisappearance defydefiance

preferpreference

ADJECTIVE ENDINGANT/ENTNOUN

brilliantbrilliance distantdistance absentabsence silent - silence

-EE VERBNOUN the person to whom the action of the verb is being

done

employemployee addressaddressee interviewinterviewee train - trainee

-ER/-OR VERBNOUN the person or device that does the activity

(person) runrunner employemployer actactor collectcollector

(device) cook cooker timetimer generategenerator indicate - indicator

-FUL NOUNNOUN the amount of something needed to fill the stated

container or place

spoonspoonful handhandful househouseful bag - bagful

-ION/-ATION / -ITION /-ISION VERBNOUN the process or condition connected with the

verb

educateeducation taxtaxation addaddition collide - collision

-ISM ADJECTIVENOUN social, political or religious beliefs or ways of

behaving

modernmodernism consumer consumerism militarymili tarism

Buddha - Buddhism

-IST ADJECTIVE/NOUNNOUN a person with a particular set of beliefs orways of behaving, or with knowledge of an area of study

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extremeextremist MarxismMarxist economyeconomist science - scientist

-ITY ADJECTIVENOUN the state of quality referred by the adjective

sinceresincerity generousgenerosity fluid fluidity acid - acidity

-MENT VERBNOUN the action or process described the verb, or its result

governgovernment investinvestment developdevelopment

disappoint - disappointment

-NESS ADJECTIVENOUN the quality or condition described by the adjective

happyhappiness ill illness darkdarkness clevercleverness

FORMING ADJECTIVES

-ABLE/ -I BLE VERBADJECTIVE used to add the meaning 'that can be' or 'worth

being'

avoidavoidable bendbendable desiredesirable admire - admirable

-AL NOUNADJECTIVE connected with the stated thing

nationnational culturecultural emotionemotional nature - natural

-AN/-EAN / -IAN NOUNADJECTIVE connected with or belonging to the stated place,

group or type

AmericaAmerican RomeRoman suburbsuburban Sagittarius - Sagittarian

-FUL VERB/NOUNADJECTIVE having the stated quality to a high degree,

or causing it

powerpowerful hopehopeful fearfearful delight - delightful

-ISH NOUNADJECTIVE connected with the stated country

BritainBritish PolandPolish

NOUNADJECTIVE (disapproving) being like the stated thing

babybabish fool foolish

ADJECTIVEADJECTIVE used to add the meaning 'to some degree'

Youngyoungish redreddish shortshortish new - newish

-LY NOUNADJECTIVE like the stated person or thing

fatherfatherly coward cowardly friendfriendly heavenheavenly