FORMATION OF WORDS

FORMATION OF WORD

The Formation of Words has few rules which determine the nature of the words formed thus.

Words can be classified into four types as follows:

1. Primary Words.
2. Compound Words
3. Primary Derivatives
4. Secondary Derivatives

Now, let us see how each type of word is formed.

1. Primary Words:
Words which are not derived or compounded or developed from other words are called Primary Words.
They belong to the original stocks of the words.

Examples:
Most of the words in English language are only Primary Words.

Moon, sun, day, night, month, school, boy, girl, road, write, go sit, walk, net, dash, dot, book, pin, he, she, it etc…
A Primary Word may be of the type of noun, verb, adjective, pronoun, adverb etc…
The Formation of Words has few rules which determine the nature of the words formed thus.

2. Compound Words:
The Compound Words are formed by joining two or more Primary Words.

Examples:
Moonlight, undertake, nevertheless, man-of-war, misunderstanding etc…

This way the Compound Words are formed.
A Compound Word may be of the type of noun, verb, adjective, pronoun, adverb, conjunction, preposition etc…

An addition to the beginning of a word is a Prefix.
An addition to the end of word is a Suffix.

Compound Words are the most part Nouns, Adjectives and Verbs

Now let us wee how the Compound Words of Nouns, Adjectives and Verbs are formed.

Compound Words-Nouns:
Compound Words-Nouns may be formed:

i. Noun + Noun:

Examples:
• Moonlight
• Armchair
• Postman
• Railway
• Shoemaker
• Windmill
• Teaspoon
• Haystack
• Ringleader
• Jailbird
• Horse-power
• Screwdriver
• Tax-payer
• Airman
• Manservant
• Fire-escape
• Chess-board

ii. Adjective + Noun:
Examples:

• Sweetheart
• Nobleman
• Shorthand
• Blackboard
• Quicksilver
• Stronghold
• Halfpenny

iii. Verb + Noun:
Examples:

• Spendthrift
• Makeshift
• Breakfast
• Telltale
• Pick-packet
• Cut-throat
• Daredevil
• Hangman
• Scarecrow

The Formation of Words has few rules which determine the nature of the words formed thus.

iv. Gerund + Noun:
Examples:

• Drawing-room
• Writing-desk
• Looking-glass
• Walking-stick
• Blotting-paper
• Stepping-stone
• Spelling-book

v. Adverb (or Preposition)+ Noun:

Examples:

• Outlaw
• Afternoon
• Forethought
• Foresight
• Overcoat
• Downfall
• Afternoon
• Bypass
• Inmate
• Inside

vi. Verb + Adverb:
Examples:

• Drawback
• Lock-up
• Go-between
• Die-hard
• Send-off

vii. Adverb + Verb:
Knowledge of Formation of words will help you form your own words.

Examples:

• Outset
• Upkeep
• Outcry
• Income
• Outcome

Compound Words-Adjectives:

i. Noun + Adjectives (or Participle):
Examples:

• Blood-red
• Sky-blue
• Snow-white
• Pitch-dark
• Breast-high
• Skin-deep
• Lifelong
• World-wide
• Headstrong
• Homesick
• Stone-blind
• Seasick
• Love-lorn
• Hand-made
• Bed-ridden
• Heart-broken
• Moth-eaten
• Note-worthy

Knowledge of Formation of words will help you form your own words.

ii. Adjective + Adjective:
Examples:

• Red-hot
• Blue-black
• White-hot
• Dull-grey
• Lukewarm

iii. Adverb + Participle:
Examples:

• Longsuffering
• Everlasting
• Never-ending
• Thorough-bred
• Well-deserved
• Outspoken
• Down-hearted
• Inborn
• Far-seen

iv. Noun + Verb:
• Waylay
• Backbite
• Typewrite
• Browbeat
• Earmark

v. Adjective + Verb:
Examples:

• Safeguard
• Whitewash
• Fulfill

vi. Adverb + Verb:
Examples:

• Overthrow
• Overtake
• Foretell
• Undertake
• Undergo
• Overhear
• Overdo
• Outbid
• Outdo
• Upset
• Ill-use

The Formation of Words has few rules which determine the nature of the words formed thus.

NOTE:

In most Compound Words, it is the first word which modifies the meaning of the second word. The accent is placed upon the modifying word when the amalgamation is complete.When the two elements are only partially blended, a hyphen is put between the two words and the accent fall equally on both of them.

3. Primary Derivatives:
These words are formed by making some changes in the body of the Primary Words.

• Bond from bind
• Breach from break
• Wrong from wring

NOTE:
The most important class of words formed by internal changes consists of the past tenses of the Primary Words. Those past tense-words are not treated as Derivatives.

i. Formation of Nouns from Verbs:
Examples:

• Choice from choose
• Bliss from bless
• Chip from chop
• Breach from break
• Dole from deal
• Dike from dig
• Fleet from float
• Doom from deem
• Bier from bear
• Watch from wake
• Seat from sit
• Gap from gape
• Girth from gird
• Grief from grieve
• Woof from weave

ii. Formation of Nouns from Adjectives:
Examples:

• Dolt from dull
• Heat from hot
• Pride from proud

iii. Formation of Adjectives from Verbs:

Examples:

• Fleet from float
• Low from lie

iv. Formation of Adjectives from Nouns:
Examples:

• Milch from milk
• Wise from wit

v. Formation of Verbs from Nouns:
Examples:

• Bathe from bath
• Bleed from blood
• Believe from belief
• Breathe from breath
• Breed from brood
• Clothe from cloth
• Drip from drop
• Feed from food

The Formation of Words has few rules which determine the nature of the words formed thus.

vi. Formation of Adjectives from Verbs:
Examples:

• Cool from chill
• Hale from heal

vii. Formation of Nouns from Verbs:
Examples:

• Gold from gild
• Grass from graze
• Half from halve
• Knot from knit
• Sale from sell
• Sooth from soothe
• Tale from tell
• Thief from thieve
• Wreath from wreathe

4. Secondary Derivatives:
Secondary derivatives of a word are formed by adding either a prefix or a suffix to the word.

An addition to the beginning of a word is a Prefix.
An addition to the end of word is a Suffix.

Examples:
• Income is a secondary derivative of the word ‘word’.
• Here the addition ‘in’ is a prefix.

• Undergo is a secondary derivative of the word ‘go’.
• Here the addition ‘under’ is a prefix.

• Friendship is a secondary derivative of the word friend.
• Here the addition ‘ship’ is a suffix.

• Darkness is a secondary derivative of the word ‘dark’.
• Here the addition ‘ness’ is a suffix.

There are many prefixes and suffixes.

The Formation of Words has few rules which determine the nature of the words formed thus.

Special-Sentences

There are few Special-Sentences which are too commonly used but which are grammatically and idiomatically correct.

1. “The more….the more” & “the more…the less”

We have seen earlier that the two part sentences should be connected through an appropriate conjunction, or should be divided by semicolon or colon.

But there is one type of sentence to which this rule does not apply.

Examples:
The more I talk to him, the more I am impressed with his knowledge.

This sentence is a two-part sentences, but this one does not have a conjunction such as ‘and’ or ‘or’. But his sentence is grammatically correct.

• The less we talk about your friend, the better it is for all of us.
• The greater your score in GMAT, the greater is your chance of securing admission in MBA in USA.
• The farther your house from downtown, the less the rent you have to pay for it.
• The faster the population increases, the slower is the country’s economic growth.

You can see how these are Special-Sentences.

2. Proper noun in plural number.

A proper noun usually denotes a unique person, and must be in singular in number. But there is one type of sentenceIn which a proper noun can also be used in its plural forms.

Examples:
• India now has no Gandhis or Nehrus to establish high standard in public life.
• We have no Lincolns or Luther Kings to serve the man-kind.

3. Noun in apposition to the subject:
According to conventional grammar, a noun should usually be connected to another noun through a preposition or a conjunction.

But there is one type of sentence in which no such intermediate words are necessary.

Examples:
• A true Gandhian, Bhave lived a Spartan life and traveled only on foot.
• A born mathematical genius, Ramanujam got his ERS at the age of 28.

You can see how these are Special-Sentences.

4. Special types of Adverbial phrases and clauses:
Examples:
• However much the government tries, the decennial increase in population cannot be brought down below 20%.
• Contrary to conventional wisdom, the people of this state are bothered about corruption in public life.
• Whatever justifications you may have, I do not agree with you actions.

5. Subjunctive sentences starting with ‘should’ and ‘were’.
Examples:
• Should the present rate population increase continue for another fifty years, India would have a population of 2 billions.
• Should you continue to neglect your studies, you would fail in the annual examinations.
• Were the sun to rise in the west, I would have its rays strike my bed in the morning.
• Should the ozone layer be depleted at the same rate as at present, the sea level would rise by a foot?

All these sentences are peculiar in nature, but they are grammatically correct one.

You too should formulate such sentences in your written communications so that your language skills will be sharpened.

You can see how these are Special-Sentences.

Redundancy

Redundancy means superfluity or using words unnecessarily or using words for a second time.

Example-1:
• If all of us cooperate together, we will succeed.

In this sentence, the words cooperate and together have been used. But both these words convey the same meaning.

One of the two words should be dropped in order to make the sentence a correct one.
• If all of us cooperate, we will succeed.
• If all of us work together, we will succeed.

Both these sentences are correct ones.

Example-2:

• The accused was guilty of false misstatement.

This sentence uses false and misstatement whereas both these words convey the same meaning.
The correct sentence is:

• The accused was guilty of misstatement.

Example-3:
• It was the general consensus of opinion that we must go to the movie.

The two words which convey the same meaning are consensus and opinion.
One word should be removed to make this sentence correct one.
The correct sentence is:

• It was the general opinion that we must go to the movie.

Example-4:
• The three brothers had nothing in common with each other.
Here also two phrases in common and with each other have been used to convey the same meaning.
The correct sentence is:

• The three brothers had nothing in common.
These examples might have made it clear for you how to avoid Redundancy in your sentences.

Example-5:
• I am enclosing herewith my bio-data.
Enclosing and herewith are the two words which convey the same meaning.

The correct sentence is:
• I am enclosing my bio-data.

Example-6:
• There was an ovation when the minister rose up to speak.
The two words (rose and up) convey the same meaning.
The correct sentence is:

• There was an ovation when the minister rose to speak.

Example-7:
• Do not return back home without completing the work.

In this sentence also, two words, conveying the same meaning have been used.

The correct sentence is:

• Do not return without completing the work.

These examples might have made it clear for you how to avoid Redundancy in your sentences.

Examples:

• You must first do this before you go. (Incorrect)
• You must do this before you go. (Correct)

• The flight will arrive at 7 p.m. in the afternoon. (Incorrect)
• The flight will arrive at 7 p.m. (Correct)

• He carefully examined each and every letter. (Incorrect)
• He carefully examined each letter. (Correct)

• In my opinion, I think it is going to rain. (Incorrect)
• I think it is going to rain. (Correct)

• Frank was elected as Chairman unanimously by all members. (Incorrect)
• Frank was elected as Chairman unanimously. (Correct)

• I have a client of mine who insists on paying his fee in advance. (Incorrect)
• I have a client who insists on paying his fee in advance. (Correct)

• Have you read the latest biography of Indira Gandhi’s life? (Incorrect)
• Have you read the latest biography of Indira Gandhi? (Correct)

• The police restored the stolen purse back to the rightful owner. (Incorrect)
• The police restored the stolen purse to the rightful owner. (Correct)

• All other boys except Peter came for picnic. (Incorrect)
• All boys except Peter came for picnic. (Correct)

• I am looking for a job with a salary of at least US $2000 or more. (Incorrect)
• I am looking for a job with a salary of at least US $2000. (Correct)

• You must come promptly at 10 a.m. or else we will leave without you. (Incorrect)
• You must come promptly at 10 a.m. or we will leave without you. (Correct)

• The prices of Car companies have fallen down by 30% in the last one week. (Incorrect)
• The prices of Car companies have fallen by 30% in the last one week. (Correct)

These examples might have made it clear for you how to avoid Redundancy in your sentences.

The common error in redundancy is the use of the phrase the reason….because.

The redundancy in such sentence arises because the word reason itself signifies because.
Such sentences should be corrected by replacing the conjunction because with that.

Examples:

• The reason why India is economically week is because it was under foreign rule for over two hundred years. (Incorrect)
• The reason why India is economically week is that it was under foreign rule for over two hundred years. (Correct)

• The reason why I did not attend the party last night was because I had a headache. (Incorrect)
• The reason why I did not attend the party last night was that I had a headache. (Correct)

These examples might have made it clear for you how to avoid Redundancy in your sentences.