9 topics

Word Formation (Morphology)

How English words are built and changed: common suffixes and prefixes, word families, derivation (turning verbs into nouns, adjectives into adverbs), conversion, nominalization, and collocations.

A2 B1 B2 C1 C2

Topics in this Category

  1. 1
    A2

    Basic Suffixes and Word Forms

    Common suffixes that change word class: -er, -tion, -ly, -ful, -less — and the words they create.
  2. 2
    B1

    Common Prefixes and Suffixes

    Expanding vocabulary through prefixes (un-, re-, pre-, mis-) and suffixes (-ment, -ness, -ity, -ous).
  3. 3
    B1

    Word Families

    Groups of related words from the same root: act, action, active, actively, activate, actor, activity.
  4. 4
    B2

    Derivation (Prefixes, Suffixes, Root Words)

    How derivational morphology builds new words: Greek/Latin roots, and layered affixation.
  5. 5
    B2

    Conversion (Zero Derivation)

    Words that change class without any suffix: to email → an email, to google, to water (plants).
  6. 6
    C1

    Complex Word Formation

    Compounding (notebook, sunflower), blending (brunch, smog), clipping (photo, ad), and acronyms.
  7. 7
    C1

    Nominalizations (Deverbal and Deadjectival Nouns)

    Creating abstract nouns from verbs (decide → decision) and adjectives (happy → happiness) for formal writing.
  8. 8
    C2

    Lexicogrammar (Collocation and Fixed Expressions)

    How words combine in predictable patterns: make a decision, take responsibility, strong coffee, heavy rain.
  9. 9
    C2

    Advanced Morphological Patterns

    Subtle patterns in English morphology: productive vs. non-productive affixes, morphological ambiguity.