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Word Formation and Structure in English
Understanding how words are formed in English can significantly
enhance vocabulary and comprehension skills. This lesson covers
prefixes, suffixes, root words, and compound words to help Turkish
learners master English word formation.
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1. Types of Word Formation
a. Prefixes
Prefixes are added to the beginning of a root word to change its
meaning.
Prefix Meaning Example Turkish Meaning
un- Not or opposite Un-happy Mutlu değil
re- Again Re-write Yeniden yazmak
dis- Opposite of Dis-agree Katılmamak
pre- Before Pre-historic Tarih öncesi
mis- Wrongly Mis-understand Yanlış anlamak
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b. Suffixes
Suffixes are added to the end of a root word to form a new word,
often changing its grammatical category.
Suffix Use Example Turkish Meaning
-er Person doing Teach-er Öğretmen
-ness State/Quality Happiness Mutluluk
-able Can be done Readable Okunabilir
-ly Forms an adverb Quickly Hızlıca
-ful Full of Hopeful Umut dolu
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c. Root Words
Root words are the base words from which other words are formed
by adding prefixes or suffixes.
Root Word Meaning Example Turkish Meaning
form Shape Reform, Deform Şekil değiştirme
dict Speak/Say Predict, Dictate Söylemek, Tahmin etmek
Transport,
port Carry Im-port, Taşımak
ex-port
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d. Compound Words
Compound words are formed by joining two words together to
create a new meaning.
Compound Word Words Combined Meaning Turkish Meaning
Toothbrush Tooth + Brush Diş fırçası Diş fırçası
Bookshelf Book + Shelf Kitaplık Kitaplık
Airport Air + Port Havalimanı Havalimanı
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2. Common Challenges for Turkish Learners
1. Pronunciation of Suffixes:
o The pronunciation of suffixes like -ed in verbs and -s in
plurals can be challenging. For instance, the -ed ending
can sound like /t/, /d/, or /ɪd/ depending on the base
word. Practice different examples like "jumped" (/t/),
"played" (/d/), and "wanted" (/ɪd/).
2. Overgeneralization of Prefixes:
o Students often incorrectly apply prefixes, like using
"unpossible" instead of "impossible." Emphasize
practicing common prefixes and their correct
applications.
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3. Word Stress in Compounds:
o Compound words can have different stress patterns. For
example, "GREENhouse" (a building for plants) vs. "green
HOUSE" (a house painted green). Practice identifying and
pronouncing stress correctly.
4. False Cognates:
o Some prefixes or roots may look similar in Turkish but
have different meanings. E.g., "gel", “sandal”.
o Highlight these false friends to avoid confusion.
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3. Tips for Mastering Word Formation
• Break Down the Word: When encountering a new word, break
it into its prefix, root, and suffix to understand its meaning.
o Example: "Unbelievable" = un- (not) + believe (root) + -
able (can be) → something that cannot be believed.
• Practice with Analogies: Practice creating new words by using
familiar roots and adding different prefixes or suffixes. This
will help understand word formation more flexibly.
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4. Summary and Self-Practice
• Prefixes add meaning to the beginning of words (e.g., un-, re-).
• Suffixes change the form of words (e.g., -ness, -able).
• Root Words are the core of word formation.
• Compound Words combine two words into a new one (e.g.,
airport).
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5. Practice Questions
A. Fill in the Blanks with the Correct Prefix or Suffix
1. She is very hope___ about the future.
2. They decided to ___decorate the house for the party.
3. The story was very believe___.
B. Match the Root with the Correct Prefix or Suffix
1. port (___) - a.
2. dict (___) - b.
3. form (___) - c.
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C. Create Compound Words
Match the two words to create a compound word.
1. Rain + ___ - a.
2. Foot + ___ - b.
3. Hair + ___ - c.
D. Translate to English and Break Down
Translate the following Turkish words into English and break them
down into their root, prefix, and suffix.
1. "Yeniden yazmak" →
2. "Öğretmen" →
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Answers
Answers: 1-a, 2-b, 3-c
Answers: 1-a, 2-b, 3-c
Prefix: re-, Root: write
Root: teach, Suffix: -er
(Prefix: un-, Suffix: -ful)
(Prefix: re-, Root: decorate)
(Suffix: -able)
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transport
prediction
information
coat
ball
brush
Rewrite
Teacher
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