Mechanism of Word Formation with Examples

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Hello Friends ! Today we are going to explain you about Mechanism of Word Formation with Examples. Sometimes questions based on word formation are asked in competitive exams. Therefore, it is very important to have proper knowledge about it. Today we will know what is word formation And how to form a new word. So let’s learn :

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What is Word Formation

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Friends! As the name itself suggests, word formation means : to create a new word. That is, when a new word is formed by adding some affixes or addition before or behind a word or changing something in the body of the word, it is called word formation.

There are many ways to create a word formation. Which today we are going to learn one by one. So let us try to understand the mechanism of word formation.

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Mechanism of Word Formation

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Friends! You can understand the Mechanism of Word Formation with Examples through the following points.

Primary Derivatives :

When a new word is created by making some changes in the body of a word, it is called Primary Derivatives. These are words which are not derive or compound from any other word i.e. they are not made by adding any other word. Let’s understand them in some examples :

Formation of Nouns from verbs :

VERBS	NOUNS
Advise	Advice
Practise	Practice
Gape	Gap

Formation of Verbs from Nouns

NOUNS	VERBS
Blood	Bleed
Food	Feed
Tale	Tell

Formation of Nouns from Adjectives :

ADJECTIVES	NOUNS
Hot	Heat
Sweet	Sweat
Proud	Pride

Formation of Adjectives from Nouns

NOUNS	ADJECTIVES
Milk	Milch
Wit	Wise

Formation of Verbs from Adjectives

ADJECTIVES	VERBS
Cool	Chill
Safe	Save

Formation of Adjectives from Verbs

VERBS	ADJECTIVES
Die	Dead
Lie	Low

• Keep in mind that the past form of primary verbs cannot be called derivatives. Such as :
  • Sing — Sang
  • Drink — Drunk

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Secondary Derivatives :

When a new word is formed by adding some addition or affixes at the beginning or end of a word, it is called Secondary Derivatives.

Let me tell you that addition or affix that is added to the beginning of a word is called Prefix. But addition added at the end of the word is called Suffix. Let us know how to form a new word with the help of prefix and suffix :

1. Formation of Nouns :

Formation of Nouns by adding a suffix : age

WORD	NOUN	WORD	NOUN
Waste	Wastage	Pilgrim	Pilgrimage
Use	Usage	Marry	Marriage
Leak	Leakage	Short	Shortage

Formation of Nouns by adding a suffix : al

WORD	NOUN	WORD	NOUN
Approve	Approval	Arrive	Arrival
Propose	Proposal	Dispose	Disposal
Try	Trial	Remove	Removal

Formation of Nouns by adding a suffix : ar / er / or

WORD	NOUN	WORD	NOUN
Cell	Cellar	Angle	Angular
Pray	Prayer	Lead	Leader
Advise	Advisor	Instruct	Instructor

Formation of Nouns by adding a suffix : ance / ence

WORD	NOUN	WORD	NOUN
Perform	Performance	Exit	Existence
Allow	Allowance	Guide	Guidance
Assure	Assurance	Refer	Reference

Formation of Nouns by adding a suffix : ant / ent

WORD	NOUN	WORD	NOUN
Assist	Assistant	Preside	President
Depend	Dependent	Consult	Consultant
Attend	Attendant	Respond	Respondent

Formation of Nouns by adding a suffix : ation

WORD	NOUN	WORD	NOUN
Imagine	Imagination	Inspire	Inspiration
Aspire	Aspiration	Expect	Expectation
Inform	Information	Oblige	Obligation

Formation of Nouns by adding a suffix : cy

WORD	NOUN	WORD	NOUN
Accurate	Accuracy	Private	Privacy
Fluent	Fluency	Agent	Agency
Constant	Constancy	Pregnant	Pregnancy

Formation of Nouns by adding a suffix : dom

WORD	NOUN	WORD	NOUN
Free	Freedom	Wise	Wisdom
King	Kingdom	Duke	Dukedom

Formation of Nouns by adding a suffix : ee / eer

WORD	NOUN	WORD	NOUN
Refer	Referee	Refuge	Refugee
Profit	Profiteer	Pay	Payee

Formation of Nouns by adding a suffix : hood

WORD	NOUN	WORD	NOUN
Baby	Babyhood	Mother	Motherhood
Girl	Girlhood	Child	Childhood
Father	Fatherhood	Sister	Sisterhood

Formation of Nouns by adding a suffix : ice

WORD	NOUN	WORD	NOUN
Practise	Practice	Serve	Service

Formation of Nouns by adding a suffix : ing

WORD	NOUN	WORD	NOUN
Wed	Wedding	Paint	Painting
Say	Saying	Write	Writing

Formation of Nouns by adding a suffix : ion

WORD	NOUN	WORD	NOUN
Act	Action	Inspect	Inspection
Connect	Connection	Narrate	Narration
Object	Objection	Attract	Attraction

Formation of Nouns by adding a suffix : ition / tion

WORD	NOUN	WORD	NOUN
Add	Addition	Receive	Reception
Solve	Solution	Introduce	Introduction

Formation of Nouns by adding a suffix : ist / ian

WORD	NOUN	WORD	NOUN
Tour	Tourist	Music	Musician
Art	Artist	Magic	Magician

Formation of Nouns by adding a suffix : ity

WORD	NOUN	WORD	NOUN
Able	Ability	Equal	Equality
Active	Activity	Human	Humanity

Formation of Nouns by adding a suffix : ment

WORD	NOUN	WORD	NOUN
Agree	Agreement	Assign	Assignment
Announce	Announcement	Attach	Attachment

Formation of Nouns by adding a suffix : ness

WORD	NOUN	WORD	NOUN
Cold	Coldness	Fair	Fairness
Good	Goodness	Eager	Eagerness

Formation of Nouns by adding a suffix : ry

WORD	NOUN	WORD	NOUN
Chemist	Chemistry	Poet	Poetry
Brave	Bravery	Infant	Infantry

Formation of Nouns by adding a suffix : sion

WORD	NOUN	WORD	NOUN
Admit	Admission	Provide	Provision
Permit	Permission	Convert	Conversion

Formation of Nouns by adding a suffix : ship

WORD	NOUN	WORD	NOUN
Lord	Lordship	Partner	Partnership
Owner	Ownership	Friend	Friendship

Formation of Nouns by adding a suffix : t / th

WORD	NOUN	WORD	NOUN
True	Truth	Dear	Dearth
Weigh	Weight	Heal	Health

Formation of Nouns by adding a suffix : ty

WORD	NOUN	WORD	NOUN
Loyal	Loyalty	Safe	Safety
Honest	Honesty	Certain	Certainty

Formation of Nouns by adding a suffix : ure

WORD	NOUN	WORD	NOUN
Please	Pleasure	Close	Closure
Moist	Moisture	Depart	Departure

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2. Formation of Adjectives :

Formation of Adjectives by adding a suffix : able / ible

WORD	ADJECTIVE	WORD	ADJECTIVE
Accept	Acceptable	Value	Valuable
Love	Lovable	Desire	Desirable

Formation of Adjectives by adding a suffix : al

WORD	ADJECTIVE	WORD	ADJECTIVE
Classic	Classical	Culture	Cultural
Center	Central	Condition	Conditional

Formation of Adjectives by adding a suffix : an

WORD	ADJECTIVE	WORD	ADJECTIVE
Republic	Republican	Asia	Asian
America	American	Russia	Russian

Formation of Adjectives by adding a suffix : ar / ary

WORD	ADJECTIVE	WORD	ADJECTIVE
Pole	Polar	Moment	Momentary
Circle	Circular	Secret	Secretary

Formation of Adjectives by adding a suffix : en / ern

WORD	ADJECTIVE	WORD	ADJECTIVE
Gold	Golden	East	Eastern
Wood	Wooden	West	Western

Formation of Adjectives by adding a suffix : ful

WORD	ADJECTIVE	WORD	ADJECTIVE
Faith	Faithful	Delight	Delightful
Care	Careful	Beauty	Beautiful

Formation of Adjectives by adding a suffix : ic / tic / ical

WORD	ADJECTIVE	WORD	ADJECTIVE
Angel	Angelic	Drama	Dramatic
Poet	Poetic	Poet	Poetical

Formation of Adjectives by adding a suffix : ish

WORD	ADJECTIVE	WORD	ADJECTIVE
Boy	Boyish	Girl	Girlish
Child	Childish	Book	Bookish

Formation of Adjectives by adding a suffix : ive

WORD	ADJECTIVE	WORD	ADJECTIVE
Act	Active	Effect	Effective
Progress	Progressive	Instruct	Instructive

Formation of Adjectives by adding a suffix : ly

WORD	ADJECTIVE	WORD	ADJECTIVE
God	Godly	Home	Homely
Heaven	Heavenly	King	Kingly

Formation of Adjectives by adding a suffix : less

WORD	ADJECTIVE	WORD	ADJECTIVE
Sleep	Sleepless	Hope	Hopeless
Home	Homeless	Sense	Senseless

Formation of Adjectives by adding a suffix : like / some / worthy

WORD	ADJECTIVE	WORD	ADJECTIVE
Child	Childlike	Hand	Handsome
Trust	Trustworthy	Praise	Praiseworthy

Formation of Adjectives by adding a suffix : ous

WORD	ADJECTIVE	WORD	ADJECTIVE
Glory	Glorious	Joy	Joyous
Courage	Courageous	Fable	Fabulous

Formation of Adjectives by adding a suffix : y

WORD	ADJECTIVE	WORD	ADJECTIVE
Ease	Easy	Air	Airy
Anger	Angery	Cloud	Cloudy

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3. Formation of Verbs :

Formation of Verbs by adding Prefixes :

WORD	VERB	WORD	VERB
Able	Enable	Circle	Encircle
Body	Embody	Company	Accompany

Formation of Verbs by adding Suffixes :

WORD	VERB	WORD	VERB
Class	Classify	Breath	Breathe
Critic	Criticize	Broad	Broaden

Formation of Verbs by adding Both Prefixes and Suffixes :

WORD	VERB	WORD	VERB
Solid	Consolidate	Proper	Appropriate
Brief	Abbreviate	Bold	Embolden

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Acronym :

The new words to be formed from the initial letters of the words used in a phrase are as follows :

AIDS	Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
Laser	Light Amplified By Stimulated Emission Of Radiation

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Blending :

If a new word is formed by combining parts of two or more words, it is called blending, like :

Breakfast + Lunch	Brunch
Motor + Hotel	Motel

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Back Formation :

When a word is created by removing the affixes in a word, it is called back formation, like

Editor	Edit
Liar	Lie

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Clipping or Shortening :

When a word is drastically reduced to one part of its word, it is called clipping or shortening. like :

Ad	Advertisement
Exam	Examination

• Fore Clipping :

Phone	Telephone
Chute	Parachute

• Middle Clipping :

Flu	Influenza
Polly	Apollinaris

• Complex Clipping :

Org-man	Organisation man
Op-art	Optical art

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Compound Words :

Compound words are formed when two or more words are added together. They can be made in the following ways :

1. Compound Nouns :

Formation of Compound Noun : Noun + Noun

NOUN + NOUN	COMPOUND NOUN
Air + Man	Airman
Shoe + Maker	Shoemaker

Formation of Compound Noun : Adjective + Noun

ADJECTIVE + NOUN	COMPOUND NOUN
Sweet + Heart	Sweetheart
White +Board	Whiteboard

Formation of Compound Noun : Verb + Noun

VERB + NOUN	COMPOUND NOUN
Break + Fast	Breakfast
Scare + Crow	Scarecrow

Formation of Compound Noun : Adverb + Verb

ADVERB + VERB	COMPOUND NOUN
In + Come	Income
Out + set	Outset

Formation of Compound Noun : Verb + Adverb

VERB + ADVERB	COMPOUND NOUN
Lock + UP	Lockup
Draw + Back	Drawback

Formation of Compound Noun : Preposition + Noun

PREPOSITION + NOUN	COMPOUND NOUN
Down + Fall	Downfall
In + Side	Inside

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2. Compound Adjectives :

Formation of Compound Adjective : Noun + Adjective

NOUN + ADJECTIVE	COMPOUND ADJECTIVE
World + Wide	Worldwide
Home + Sick	Homesick

Formation of Compound Adjective : Adjective + Adjective

ADJECTIVE + ADJECTIVE	COMPOUND ADJECTIVE
Luke + Warm	Lukewarm
Blue + Black	Blueblack

Formation of Compound Adjective : Adverb + Participle

ADVERB + PARTICIPLE	COMPOUND ADJECTIVE
Ever + Lasting	Everlasting
Well + Deserved	Welldeserved

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3. Compound Verbs :

Formation of Compound Verbs : Noun + Verb

NOUN + VERB	COMPOUND VERBS
Type + Write	Typewrite
Ear + Mark	Earmark

Formation of Compound Verbs : Adjective + Verb

ADJECTIVE + VERB	COMPOUND VERBS
White + Wash	Whitewash
Full + Fill	Fulfil

Formation of Compound Verbs : Adverb + Verb

ADVERB + VERB	COMPOUND VERBS
Over + Take	Overtake
Ill + Use	Illuse

Thus friends! Today you must have known very well that a word can be formed in many ways. Today we have told about Mechanism of Word Formation with Examples in various methods that you can do word formation keeping in mind.

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Read Also :

• Not Marble Nor Gilded Monuments By Shakespeare

• The Solitary Reaper By William Wordsworth

• On His Blindness By John Milton

• Go And Catch A Falling Star By John Donne

• Pride And Prejudice : A Novel of Jane Austen

• Percy Bysshe Shelley : Life and Works

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