WORD FORMATION: VERB AFFIXES
• Many verbs are also nouns in English (coach, display, hurry, phone, etc), so the function of the word can only be understood in context. In some cases the only difference lies in the sưessed syllable (record = noun / record = verb with the main stress on the last syllable). Compare these two examples:
- I bought this watch yesterday. (=noun) ( Do you often watch TV? (=verb)
• The -EN suffix typically refers to shape, size, colour, light, composition, and gives or increases a certain quality as in strengthen (= give strength) or whiten (= make sth white) length ( lengthen | wide ( widen | broad ( broaden | like ( liken
-EN height ( heighten | sweet ( sweeten | weak ( weaken | strength ( strengthen
• The following suffixes are often found in words from Latin / Greek origins as in sympathise - signify - operate - finish.
Many of these verbs are mostly used in more formal English.
-ISE real ( realise | advice ( advise | analysis ( analyse | memory ( memorise
-IFY simple ( simplify | class ( classify | clear ( clarify | pure ( purify
-ATE active ( activate | creation ( create | value ( evaluate | date ( update
-ISH ban ( banish | final ( finish | distinct ( distinguish | complete ( accomplish
• Other typical verb affixes from Greek / Latin origin are:
IN- (which indicates acquiring something or an intake): increase - inhabit - inherit - inhale - inflame
CO- (which indicates collaboration or working with): cooperate - cohabit - coexist - collaborate
-INE (with different pronunciations): determine - examine - combine - define
• There may be more than one verb related to the same root but with different meanings, which can lead to some confusion. Here are a couple of examples:
assure (=make sb sure about sth) - ensure (=make sure) - insure (=provide insurance for sth) clear (=remove clutter) -clarify (=make sth clearer)
- Do you need a permit tofish here? (permit = noun) ( They won’t permit you to leave, (permit = verb)
• Another little group of verbs shows similarity to the stem of the nouns they are related to, with a typical vowel change in the middle (song/sing - food/feed - drop/drip) or some other other minor changes (life / live - gift/give - breath /breathe). Compare the verbs and nouns in these examples:
- Junk food is bad for your health. ( Did you feed the cat? (feed = give food)
- What he said is proof of his intelligence. ( What he said proves his intelligence.
- He was out of breath after running. ( You must breathe more slowly.

MAIN VERB PREFIXES

EN-
EM-
giving a certaing quality as in encourage (= give courage) or enable (= make sb able)


light ( enlighten able ( enable large ( enlarge ure ( ensure


rich ( enrich force ( enforce bed ( embed power ( empower

RE-
doing the same action again or sending it back as in return and refund


view ( review use ( reuse cycle ( recycle sell ( resell


MAIN VERB SUFFIXES

• The -EN suffix typically refers to shape, size, colour, light, composition, and gives or increases a certain quality as in strengthen (= give strength) or whiten (= make sth white)

-EN





• The following suffixes are often found in words from Latin / Greek origins as in sympathise - signify - operate - finish. Many of these verbs are mostly used in more formal English.

-ISE
real ( realise advice ( advise analysis ( analyse memory ( memorise

-FY
imple ( simplify class ( classify clear ( clarify pure ( purify

-ATE
active ( activate creation ( create value ( evaluate date ( update

-ISH
ban ( banish final ( finish distinct ( distinguish complete ( accomplish

• Other typical verb affixes from Greek / Latin origin are:
IN- (which indicates acquiring something or an intake): increase - inhabit - inherit - inhale - inflame
CO- (which indicates collaboration or working with): cooperate - cohabit - coexist - collaborate
-INE (with different pronunciations): determine - examine - combine - define
• There may be more than one verb related to the same root but with different meanings, which can lead to some confusion. Here are a couple of examples:
assure (= make sb sure about sth) - ensure (= make sure) - insure (= provide insurance for sth) clear (= remove clutter) - clarify (= make sth clearer)


PRACTICE
I. Build verbs with the same stem as the word provided.
1. belief ................ 5.