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bl, br, bxt, cl, cr, ct, dt, dw, fr, fs, gl, gr, lr, nk, pi, pr, qu, sc, sch, sl, sm, sn, sp, spl, sq, st, str, sw, tch, thr, tw,
wh
Which of the following combinations may also be found in words used in English? (Use a dictionary, if you
aren't sure, to see if any words begin with them, and if so, how these words are pronounced.)
kn, psy, mn, pn, gn
6.3 Words have structure.
Individual letters > syllables > units of meaning.
A word in English always has a base, or stem (e.g. establish). It may also have a prefix and a suffix (e.g. dis
establish ment). It may also have more than one prefix: (e.g. un pro ductive (note that the base is the same as in
re ductive; de ductive); un pro voked (note that the base is the same as in re voked); un per formed (note that
the base is the same as in re formed) . And it may also have more than one suffix: e.g. profit able ness (in which
the base is «profit»).
+/- PREFIXES + BASE +/- SUFFIXES
A prefix has invariable meaning or a few constants of meaning. A suffix may also have grammatical
meaning (i.e. it can tell us if the word is used as a verb, noun, adjective, or adverb) in addition to «meaning»
meaning.
Circle the prefix, block out the base, and underline the suffix in each of the following words . Then decide
what parts of speech the word can be used as (the suffix will tell you) . Sometimes the same suffix can indicate
more than one part of speech (e.g. , «explosive,» which can be used as a noun or an adjective).
international induction presupposition detective
homogeneous reproductive unfamiliar
6.4 Invariable position of word part
Reorder each of the following sets of word-parts so that each set makes a meaningful word.
Example: -ical, bio-, auto-, graph = autobiographical
1. marry, -age, -ity, abil-
2. on, -ment, -vir-, en-, al, -ism
3. -sible, -in, -pre-, corn, -hen
6.5 Meaningful prefix or not?
The first syllable may look like a detachable English prefix, when actually it is an integral part of the base (it
cannot be separated from the base and analysed for meaning). Therefore, you must be careful, when trying to
guess the meaning of an unfamiliar word, not to assume automatically that what looks like a prefix is in fact
always that.
In each of the following sets of words, circle the word that does have a detachable prefix.
disappointment, disciple, disapproval (dis = showing an opposite or negative)
unanimous, unlawful, undisguised (un = a negation, a lack, or an opposite)
illegal, illegitimate, illusion (il = a negation, a lack, or an opposition)
pregnant, presupposition, predetermined (pre = before)
abnormal, able, abduction (ab = away from)
religion, renegotiate, reenact (re = again, or back)
biannual, bigotted, bilateral (bi = two, twice or double)
6.6 Word derivation
From a single word base, you may be able to construct many other words. The following are derivations of
the base «edit». Divide them into noun, verb, and adjectival categories. edit: edition, editorialize; editor,
editorial; editorialization
Nouns : Verbs : Adjectives :