What is word formation?

There are many word endings(prefixes) and word endings(suffixes) that can be added to a word to change its meaning or its word class.

1. Verb Formation- The endings -ize and -ify can be added to nouns and adjectives to form verbs. eg: legal + ize = legalize, beauty + ify = beautify


2. Adverb Formation- The endings -ly can be added to most adjectives to form adverbs. eg: easy +ly = easily


3. Noun formation- The endings -er, -ment, and -ation can be added to many verbs to form nouns. eg: drive + er = driver, amaze +ment = amazement, admire + ation = admiration


4. Adjective formation- The endings -y, -ic, -ical, -ful, and -less can be added to many nouns to form adjectives. eg: dirt = y = dirty, atom + ic = atomic, pain + ful = painful, wash + able = washable.

For practice, visit the below websites.....

http://www.oup.com/elt/global/products/wordpower/exam_practice_questions/word_formation/
http://www.bedavaingilizce.com/advanced/wf/wft.htm