This document summarizes English word formation for verbs and nouns. For verbs, it discusses common suffixes like -ate, -en, and -ify that can help identify a verb. It also lists prefixes like ad-, de-, and im- that are often added to verbs. It provides examples of verbs related to nouns, adjectives, and compound verbs formed from two words. For nouns, it explains how nouns can have the same form as verbs or be formed with prefixes and suffixes. It gives examples of noun formation and discusses changes in stress, pronunciation, or spelling between related nouns and verbs. The document is sourced from Cambridge Dictionary, About.com, and a PDF on word formation in English

1. English Word-Formation

2. Verbs

3. •Sometimes it is difficult to identify a verb by its form.
•Some word-endings (suffixes) can help you identify a word as a verb.
suffix examples
-ate
appreciate, celebrate,
congratulate
-en frighten, soften, widen
-ify identify, specify, qualify
-ise/-ize* realise, recognise, modernize

4. •Verbs often preceded by the following prefixes.
prefix examples
ad- adapt, admit, advance
de- deceive, deform, describe
im-/in- impose, increase, inform
per- perform, persuade, perceive
re- recall, receive, reproduce

5. Verbs related to nouns
Could you hand me the dictionary?
We should position the noticeboard where everyone can see it.
I’ll email Sally to see if she is free on Thursday.
Verbs related to adjectives
I needed to calm my nerves before the interview.
The government hopes to slow the growth in road traffic over
the next five years.
As they get older, most people’s hair starts to thin.

6. Compound verbs are two words which combine to make one meaning.
 The first word is usually a noun, an adjective or a preposition, and the second
word is a verb.
 The words are sometimes written as one word and sometimes joined by hyphens.
These verbs are much less common than compound nouns or compound
adjectives.
Verb In a sentence
hand-wash (noun + verb)
highlight (adjective + verb)
overcome (preposition + verb)
Sorry, I was daydreaming.
What did you say?
Do you have to hand-wash this
sweater or can it go in the
washing machine?
The airline upgraded me to
business class.

7. Noun Formation

8. I. Nouns having the same form as verbs
II. Nouns formed with prefixes
III. Nouns formed with suffixes
IV. Abbreviations and acronyms

9. Charge
Comment
Contract
Copy
Debate
Design
Hope
Look
Plan
Reply
Study
In some cases, the nouns differ from the verbs in
a) Stress: With nouns, the stress is on the first syllable,
with verbs, on the second.
Contrast,decrease, export, import,increase, present, progress,
record,research, transfer .
b) Pronunciation:
noun use [ju:s] verb use [ju:z]
c) spelling:
noun practice verb practise (BE)
but: practice practice (AE)
d) both spelling and pronunciation
noun advice [s] verb advise [z]
device [s] devise [z]

10. Most of the prefixes used for forming adjectives and verbs are also used
for forming nouns.

11. 1. Nouns describing people doing some activity (often an
occupation) and people experiencing some activity
(suffix –ee)

12. 2. Nouns describing devices finish in –er or –or.
3. Nouns describing (small) size are added –let at the end
4. Nouns formed with other suffixes

13. 5. Nouns describing abstracts are given the following
suffixes

14. Adjective Noun Verb
Broad Breadth Broaden
Long Length Lengthen
Strong Strength Strengthen
Wide Width Widen
Noun Verb
Choice Choose
Proof Prove
Speech Speak
Thought Think

15. https://dictionary.cambridge.org/grammar/british-grammar/verbs-formation
http://grammar.about.com/od/tz/g/Word-Formation.htm
http://faculty.ksu.edu.sa/alwadani/The%20Library/English%20books/Word-
Formation%20in%20English.pdf