English Language

OBJECTIVES:You should be able to:

• Explain what an affixation is;
• Define a prefix;
• Explain reversitive prefixes;
• Explain preservative prefixes;
• Use prefixes to form new words.

INTRODUCTION:

An affix is a meaning-bearing element added before or after a word.

• Prefix: When an affix is added before a word.
• Suffix: When an affix is added after a word.

AFFIXATION: This is the process of forming or creating words through affixes (prefixes and suffixes).

PREFIXES

A prefix is a syllable or syllables (an affix) added before a root word.
Examples:
a. Proper – improper
b. Vocation – avocation
c. Governor – ex-governor
d. Star – super-star etc.

PREFIXES can be used to change a word from one class form to another i.e. from one part of speech to another.
The prefix ‘en’ is used to change a noun or an adjective to a verb.

Examples:
NOUN      VERB
circle        encircle
gulf          engulf
danger     endanger
fold          enfold
rich (adj)  enrich
N:B – The prefix “en” simply means to exist, or to become. E.g. many people go into politics to enrich themselves (i.e. to become rich)

REVERSITIVE PREFIXES

These prefixes are used to change the meaning of the words. Usually to form the opposite of the words. Examples: -a, -il, -un, -dis, -im, -ex, -in etc.

WORD              OPPOSITE

Lodge               dislodge

Possible           impossible

Legal                illegal

Disciplined      undisciplined

Vocation          avocation

President         ex-president

Favourable       unfavourable

PRESERVATIVE PREFIXES

This expresses the idea of continuity; that is, something happening again or being made better.

This prefix is “-re”.

Examples:

Play replay

Consider        reconsider

Count      recount

View         review

Echo        re-echo

Work        rework

Affirm             reaffirm

Assure          reassure

Elect        re-elect

SUMMARY

You have seen the importance of prefixes in word formation in English. It is one of the ways of building one’s vocabulary. So, students should study them to have enough words to express themselves effectively.

EVALUATION

• What is a prefix?
• Supply the antonyms of the following words using prefixes:

        a. probable

        b. balance

        c. legitimate

        d. mature

        e. spell

        f. healthy

        g. adequate

        h. guide.

3.     Form five new words using the preservative prefix “-re” and make a sentence with each of them.

Teacher: Rev. Sr. Lynda Okasi

Lesson One

TOPIC: PHRASAL VERB WITH MORE THAN ONE PARTICLE

Definition: A Phrasal verb is a combination of a verb and an adverb, or a preposition or both used to express a new meaning.

A main verb and an adverb or a preposition, or both can go into a structural relationship to form a group of words. This group of words has a meaning quite different from the words that formed the group or combination, and this is what is referred to as a Phrasal verb.

Phrasal verbs combine with at least one small word in English. Some of the small words are: by, of, off, on, down, in, out. These small words that combine with the main verb are called Particles.

Some verbs combine with only one particle but there are some phrasal verbs that combine with two or more particles. See the examples below;

1.     Get along with: to have a good relationship

2.      Go back on: to fail to fulfil one’s promise

3.     Look out for: to search for

4.     Put up with: to tolerate

Phrasal verb and changes in meaning

It is pertinent to note that the meaning of a Phrasal verb depends on the particle a verb has. A Phrasal verb means one thing with a certain particle. The same verb combines with another particle to give a different meaning. See examples below:

I.                   Go on with meaning: to continue

II.                Go down with meaning: to catch illness

III.             Put up with meaning: to tolerate

IV.            Put down to meaning: to consider as cause

V.               Keep away from meaning: to avoid going near

Changes in Phrasal Verbs that do not affect their meaning

In a sentence containing a Phrasal verb, the main verb may be separated from

the particle. When this is done the object of the sentence comes between the

main verb and the particle in a sentence.

1.     He turned on the light

2.     He turned the light on.

Sentence ‘1’ and Sentence ‘2’ differ in arrangement of their Phrasal verbs but they

mean the same. They give the same meaning. In the first one, the Phrasal verb

turned on are together in the centre of the sentence while in the second sentence the

object ‘light’ comes between ‘turned’ and the particle ‘in’. Other examples are;

1.     They called off the strike.

2.     They called the strike off.

Only transitive verbs can admit these two arrangements and retain the same

meaning. Intransitive verbs cannot because they have no object in them

constructions while transitive verbs have.

1.     She took in her parents {deceived them}.

2.     She took her parents in {she gave them accommodation}.

Here, unlike the examples we had earlier, separation in arrangement of the Phrasal

verbs in a sentence brings about a change in the meaning of the expression or

sentence.

Word Formation: Suffixes

Specific objectives:

By the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:

• Define a suffix;
• Form words with suffixes;
• Use words formed with suffixes in their sentences.

Step I: Introduction

        We can generate or form new words by addition of an affix after a word. An affix can be a letter or letters, or a syllable or syllables. It is (you have known) a meaning-bearing element added before a word or after a word. When it is added after a word, it is called a Suffix.

Step II: Suffixes

        A suffix, you have seen, is an affix; that is, a meaning-bearing element added after a word. We can generate new words through the addition of suffixes.

For example, we can form additional seven words from the word nation by adding suffixes to it:

Nation (N)

• National (Adj, N)
• Nationally (Adv.)
• Nationality (V)
• Nationalization (N)
• Nationalism (N)
• Nationalist (N, Adj)
• Nationalistic (Adj)

Each of the above words has its own meaning. Suffixes are -ment, -ity, -ism, -ar, -ing, -er, -ous, -ness, -ic etc.

Step III: Suffixes can change a word from one part of speech to another as in the following words:

        Good (Adj) – Goodness (N)

        Thank (V) – Thankful (Adj)

        Power (N) – Powerful (Adj)

        Govern (V) – Governor (N), Government (N), Governance (N)

        Soft – Softly (Adv)

        Particular (N) – Particularize (V)

        Dance (V) – Dancing (N), Dancer (N)

        Difficult (Adj) – Difficulty (N)

        Danger (N) – Dangerous (Adj)

        Beg (V) – Beggar (N)

Whenever a word is changed to a verb or a noun, it should be used as a verb or a noun. Example: Ada wants to be educated because she loves education.

Step IV: Suffixes, like prefixes, can equally change the meaning of a word.

Example: Nation, nationalism and nationalist, do not mean the same thing.

        Furthermore, some suffixes are used to form the antonyms of the words they are attached to.

Example:

        Hope – Hopeless

        Power – Powerless

        Heart- Heartless

        Money – Moneyless etc.

Summary

        We can fully grasp the importance of addition of suffixes to words as a major way of building one’s vocabulary in English when we consider or look at the encounter between Amaka and Ajoka.

        Amaka, knowingly or unknowingly, stepped on a toe of a student in the class. The student complained bitterly and Amaka maintained that it was not intentional. Ajoka, from nowhere, uninvited, said that it was intentional.

        Then the war between Amaka and Ajoka erupted.

Amaka: “Don’t intrude on this matter, Ajoka. What is the cause of this intrusion? Ajoka, you are always intrusive. Why do you always behave intrusively?

Ajoka, you are, in fact, an intruder”.

        The last sentence was a bombshell that exploded which made Amaka the honorable speaker of the class. She used the word intrude to generate five powerful sentences to summarize all that we have said about suffixes.

Evaluation (Homework)

• What is a suffix?

2(i) Use suffixes to create words from the following words: a) educate b) govern c) profession                 d) short e) Kill

2(ii) Make a sentence with each of them.