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Do you want to know how new words are made? Today we will explore one way of forming new words - derivation.
We will explain the meaning of derivation in English grammar and how derivatives are formed. We will also look at some examples and the difference between derivation, zero derivation, and inflection.
In English grammar, derivation refers to the creation of a new word from an existing one by adding affixes to the root. Affixes can be broken down into prefixes and suffixes.
Prefixes = placed at the beginning of a word, e.g. the 'un' in 'unhappy' is a prefix.
Suffixes = placed at the end of a word, e.g. the 'ly' in 'finally' is a suffix.
Derivation is a type of neologism which refers to creating and using new words.
In case you forgot: The root of a word is the base part (without any affixes added), e.g. the root of the word 'untrue' is 'true'.
Think of the root of a word as the trunk of a tree. The added affixes are the leaves that grow from the branches.
Think of the root of a word as the trunk of a tree (Pixabay)
Derivatives can be formed in two different ways:
Derivations follow different patterns depending on what is added. When a word is formed by adding a suffix, the word form changes and the word class (e.g. nouns, verbs, adjectives, etc.) is usually changed - though not always. Below are some examples of different suffixes and how they can change the word class:
Suffixes can be added to an adjective to form different word classes:
Weak (adjective) ⇨ Weakness (noun)
Short (adjective) ⇨ Shorten (verb)
Polite (adjective) ⇨ Politely (adverb)
Sometimes, suffixes can be added to an adjective without changing the word class. For example:
Pink (adjective) ⇨ Pinkish (adjective).
Suffixes can be added to a noun to form different word classes:
Tradition (noun) ⇨ Traditional (adjective)
Motive (noun) ⇨ Motivate (verb)
Sometimes, suffixes can be added to a noun without changing the word class - for example:
Friend (noun) ⇨ Friendship (noun)
They can also be added to a verb to form different word classes:
When a prefix is added to a word, the word form changes. However, the word class usually remains the same. For example:
It is important to know how to use 'derivation' in a sentence. For example:
The process of creating a word by adding affixes is known as derivation.
The word that has been changed due to derivation is referred to as a derivative of the root word. For example:
Carefully is a derivative of the word careful.
The affixes added to words when derivation occurs are known as derivational affixes. For example:
Now let's look at some more examples of derivation:
| Root word | Derivative | Affix type |
| Write | Rewrite | Prefix |
| Intense | Intensify | Suffix |
| Conscious | Subconscious | Prefix |
| Predict | Predictable | Suffix |
| Agree | Disagree | Prefix |
| Kind | Kindness | Suffix |
| Sure | Unsure | Prefix |
| Establish | Establishment | Suffix |
| Perfect | Imperfect | Prefix |
| Relation | Relationship | Suffix |
Let's look at the meaning of zero derivation:
Zero derivation refers to when a new word is created, and there is no change in the word form, but the word class changes.
Call (verb) - e.g. 'Call me tomorrow.'
VS
Call (noun) - e.g. 'That call was long.'
In this case, the verb 'call' changes word class to a noun, but the word form stays the same.
In comparison, derivation does change the form of the word. It can also change the word class, but not always.
It is easy to get derivation and inflection mixed up, as they both use affixes.
Let's look at the meaning of inflection:
Inflection refers to the change in the form of an existing word by adding affixes to show grammatical meaning (i.e. tense, voice, mood, person). The word class does not change.
Eat → Eating → Eaten
These are different forms of the verb 'eat' that show changes in tense - the suffixes 'ing' and 'en' are added.
Derivation refers to the creation of a new word from an existing one by adding affixes (suffixes or prefixes) to the root of a word.
Here are a few examples of derivation:
Happy - happiness (suffix)
Like - likely (suffix)
Treat - mistreat (prefix)
True - untrue (prefix)
A derivative refers to a word formed from an existing root word. A derivative is formed through the process of derivation.
Derivation is the creation of a new word by adding affixes. If suffixes are added, the word form changes and the word class usually changes. If prefixes are added, the word form changes, but the word class rarely changes. Zero derivation is the creation of a new word, and there is no change in the word form, but the word class changes.
Derivation is the creation of a new word by adding affixes. If suffixes are added, the word form changes and the word class usually changes. If prefixes are added, the word form changes, but the word class rarely changes.
Inflection refers to the change in the form of a word by adding affixes to show grammatical meaning. The word class does not change.
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