Word Building
What is Word Building?
The basic part of a word that contains its fundamental meaning.
Key points
- To understand the process of word formation using affixes and root words.
- To identify and use common prefixes and suffixes correctly.
- To infer the meaning of new words based on their constituent parts.
- To enhance vocabulary through systematic word building.
Common exam trap
Confusing the meaning of prefixes and suffixes.
Definitions
- Term
Root Word
- Meaning
The basic part of a word that contains its fundamental meaning.
- Term
Prefix
- Meaning
A word part added to the beginning of a root word to change its meaning.
- Term
Suffix
- Meaning
A word part added to the end of a root word to change its grammatical function or meaning.
- Term
Affix
- Meaning
A prefix or suffix.
- Term
Etymology
- Meaning
The study of the origin of words and the way in which their meanings have changed throughout history.
Learning objectives
To understand the process of word formation using affixes and root words.
To identify and use common prefixes and suffixes correctly.
To infer the meaning of new words based on their constituent parts.
To enhance vocabulary through systematic word building.
To improve performance in vocabulary-based questions in exams.
Prerequisites
Basic understanding of English grammar.
Familiarity with common English vocabulary.
Knowledge of root words and affixes (helpful but can be learned).
Common mistakes
Confusing the meaning of prefixes and suffixes.
Incorrectly applying affixes to root words.
Assuming a word's meaning solely based on its parts without considering context.
Overlooking irregular word formations.
Misinterpreting the function of a suffix (e.g., noun vs. adjective).
Keywords
Word Building
Etymology
Prefixes
Suffixes
Root Words
Vocabulary
English Grammar
Affixes
Word Formation
SSC CGL English
Practice preview
The word 'unbelievable' is formed by adding a prefix to the root word 'believable'. What is the prefix?…
easy
The process of combining two or more words to form a new word is called:…
medium
Which suffix is added to the adjective 'kind' to form a noun indicating a state or quality?…
easy