Word Formation: Noun Derivation 1
Starter
Show learners the first slide and the list of two words. Have the learners discuss what they think the words have in common in pairs or small groups. In the next slide, check to see if they noticed all the same criteria: they are nouns, formed of base words, with an extra element added to the start and/or end. See if learners know what we call these extra elements. In the next slide, have learners take notes on the definitions of affixes, prefixes and suffixes.
Activity 1
Show the learners the list of words and ask them to discuss what they have in common. As a hint, tell them to focus on how these words are formed bearing in mind what they now know about affixes. In the next slide, reveal that all the words are nouns fromed with suffixes. Keep an eye out for words which change their spelling!
In the next task, learners choose which suffix they need to add to each noun. Have them discuss their answers in pairs or groups before sharing with the whole class. Finally, discuss how all these words can mean a person or piece of equipment that performs an action or job.
Activity 2
Next, learners look at a similar list of nouns which can be modified by adding a suffix. Ask the learners to choose the correct suffix for each, word and then check their answers as a whole class. Bear in mind that some words require extra spelling changes!
Finally, show the categorisation task. Ask learners whether each of the nouns refers to a people or an object. Have learners attempt in pairs or small groups before checking the answers as a whole class via the interactive white board.
This lesson is adapted (with permission) from Words and Meanings: A Systematic Guide for the Teaching of English Vocabulary, by Gabriele Stein.
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Word Formation: Noun Derivation 1
Starter
In the last two lessons, we looked at how compound words are formed. But there are other ways of making new words and changing word classes. Look at these two words for example:
teacher, unkindness
What do these two words have in common? How are they formed? Are they compound words?
Both these words:
- are nouns
- are formed from base words (teach, kind)
- have extra elements added to the start and/or end
What do we call these extra elements we can add to words? E.g. er-, un-, -ness, etc.
Elements like er-, un-, -ness, etc. are called affixes. Affixes are not full words, but are extra parts that can be attached to other words and change the meaning or word class. This process is called derivation.
Affixes that go at the start are called prefixes, and ones at the end are suffixes. When we write affixes on their own, we use a hyphen to show they are not full words.
- The verb teach changes into a noun with the suffix -er
- The adjective kind changes into a noun with the suffix -ness
- The prefix un- usually makes words mean their opposite
Activity 1
Look at this list of words. Write down the base word for each one.
banker, artist, gangster, Londoner, organisation, childhood, painting, kingdom
What do these words have in common? How are they formed?
All these words are nouns which are formed by adding a suffix to the base word.
banker, artist, gangster, Londoner, organisation, childhood, painting, kingdom
Watch for words like gangster or organisation which have extra changes of spelling.
In the next task, choose the correct suffix for each word to make it into a noun.
What do all these nouns have in common? How does the suffix change the meaning?
Answers
In all those examples, the suffixes -er and -ist turn the base words into nouns for people who do an action or job.
Some words with these suffixes, such as speaker, can also refer to a tool or piece of equipment.
Activity 2
The -er suffix can also be spelt as -ar or -or. Change this list of base words into nouns using the right suffix.
- write
- visit
- bake
- boil
- radiate
- heat
- investigate
- lie
- beg
- survive
Your list should look like this. Make sure you have the right suffix and have made any spelling changes!
- write - writer
- visit - visitor
- bake - baker
- boil - boiler
- radiate - radiator
- heat - heater
- investigate - investigator
- lie - liar
- beg - beggar
- survive - survivor
Nouns ending in -er and -or can refer to either people or objects that perform an action.
In the next activity, decide whether each word refers to a person or object.
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Word Formation: Noun Derivation 2
Starter
Remind learners of the words they saw last lesson which can be modified with suffixes and which denote a job or role. Show them the three new examples: what do they notice about them? Discuss with the whole class and reveal the answers in the next slide: all these examples use a suffix to create an abstract noun. If necessary, ask the learners to give more examples and definitions of concrete and abstract nouns.
Activity 1
Show the learners the five sentences. In each one, there is a bracketed base word which they must convert into an abstract noun using a suffix. Ask the learners to attempt this task independently, before sharing with a partner or small groups. Show the next slide to reveal the correct answers.
In the next task, ask the learners to conver the next five base words into abstract nouns and to write their own sentences. Have the learners share sentences in pairs or small groups before sharing their favourites with the whole class. Finally, show the next slide and discuss which sentences they prefer.
Activity 2
Show the learners the next example which is of an abstract noun that denote a particular status or period of life. Ask the learners to think of the appropriate suffix to conver the next six words. Reveal the answers in the next slide and ask learners to write their own sentnces using each one.
In the next task, show how adjectives can be converted into abstract nouns. Show the learners the list of eight words and ask them to convert them using the appropriate suffix. Finally, reveal the correct answers in the next slide and have learners write their own sentences for each one.
This lesson is adapted (with permission) from Words and Meanings: A Systematic Guide for the Teaching of English Vocabulary, by Gabriele Stein.
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Since this is your first visit today, you can see this page by clicking the button below.
Word Formation: Noun Derivation 2
Starter
Last lesson, you saw how suffixes could make nouns into people or objects that do a job. E.g.
- write - writer
- boil - boiler
Look at these three other examples. What's different about them?
- arrive - arrival
- boy - boyhood
- happy - happiness
These three examples all use different suffixes to create abstract nouns.
Abstract nouns refer to an idea rather than a real object or person.
- arrive - arrival
- boy - boyhood
- happy - happiness
Activity 1
Read the following sentences.
For each, convert the base word in brackets into an abstract noun using the appropriate suffix.
- He was very nervous, but his (perform) went well.
- The newspaper's (cover) of the World Cup was excellent.
- The scouts were responsible for the (organise) of the event.
- People were protesting against the (close) of the local library.
- Andy's (train) as a carpenter is going well.
- He was very nervous but his performance went well.
- The newspaper's coverage of the World Cup was excellent.
- The scouts were responsible for the organisation of the event.
- People were protesting against the closure of the local library.
- Andy's training as a carpenter is going well.
Convert this list of base words into abstract nouns and write a sentence using each one.
- appear
- confess
- depart
- land
- rehearse
Here are some example sentences using the correct suffix:
- At the appearance of the headmaster, the students fell silent.
- The police interrogated the suspects to get a confession.
- They asked at the kiosk for the time of departure.
- They all applauded the safe landing after the turbulence.
- I have to go to rehearsal every week for the concert.
Activity 2
We can also add suffixes to nouns which mean a particular status or period in a person's life.
- boy - boyhood
Look at this list of nouns. Along with -hood, what other suffxies can we use?
- child
- member
- king
- father
- citizen
- star
Write a sentence using each of these abstract nouns.
- childhood
- membership
- kingdom
- fatherhood
- citizenship
- stardom
We can also turn adjectives into abstract nouns by using suffxies.
- happy - happiness
Look at his list of adjectives. Along with -ness, what other suffxies can we use?
- blind
- empty
- cruel
- brutal
- intense
- polite
- regular
- tired
Write a sentence using each of these abstract nouns.
- blindness
- emptiness
- cruelty
- brutality
- intensity
- politeness
- regularity
- tiredness