Verb formation
I. Verbs formed with suffixes
II. Verbs formed with prefixes
I. Verbs formed with suffixes
Suffix Examples
-ate approximate, calibrate, evaporate, hyphenate, integrate
-
en
broaden, harden, lengthen, quicken, soften, strengthen
-ify identify, justify, modify, qualify, simplify, specify, verify
-ize computerize, economize, emphasize, globalize, industrialize, magnetize,
modernize, normalize, rationalize, specialize, standardize
Notes:
- The suffix –ize is also spelled –ise, especially in BE.
- The verbs advertise, advise, analyse (in AE analyze), surprise are, however, always spelled
with –s-.
II. Verbs formed with prefixes
Prefix Examples
co- co-author, cochair, coexist, cofound, cooperate, coproduce
counter- counteract, counterbalance, countercheck, countersign
de- debug, decode, decentralize, decompose, defrost, destabilize
dis- disagree, disappear, disbelieve, discolour, disconnect, discover, disintegrate,
dislike, disqualify
em- embed, embody, empower
en- enclose, encode, endanger, enlarge, enrich, entitle
fore- forecast, foresee, foretell
inter- interact, interchange, interconnect, interlink, international, interrelate
mis- miscalculate, misinform, misinterpret, mislead, mismanage, misunderstand
out- outdo, outnumber, outperform
over- overdo, overestimate, overheat, overreact, overwork
re- rearrange, reboot, recharge, reconsider, redo, re-elect, re-enter, re-establish,
re-examine, reformulate, rewind, rewrite
sub- subcontract, subdivide, sublet
un- undo, unload, unpack, unplug, unscrew
under- underestimate, underline, underpay
Notes:
- The prefixes usually have a secondary, i.e. weaker stress.
mislead [,mis´li:d]
When in doubt, check the stress and pronunciation with a dictionary.
- Verbs formed with the prefix co- are sometimes hyphenated.
cooperate or co-operate.
- When the prefix re- expresses repetition of activity, it has a secondary stress. When not,
it has no stress.
re-form [,ri:´fo:m] (= form again)
reform [ri´fo:m] (= improve, make better)
- With the prefix re-, the hyphen is used to prevent ambiguity of meaning (see above)
or to indicate pronunciation.
re-elect [,ri:´ilekt] NOT: [ri:lekt]
Common mistakes:
- Wrong use of the suffix –ate (analogically with e.g. eliminate – elimination)
Wrong Right
Verb Noun
determinate determine determination
examinate examine examination
simplificate simplify simplification
modificate modify modification
- Use of the suffix –alize instead of –ize (Czech interference)
Wrong Right
Verb Noun
maximalize maximize maximization
minimalize minimize minimization
optimalize optimize optimization
- Use of the suffix –ize instead of -ate
Wrong Right
Verb Noun
automatize automate automation
- Wrong pronunciation of the sufix –ate used to form verbs, adjectives, and nouns.
Verbs /eit/ Adjectives /ǩ
ǩǩ
ǩt/ Nouns /ǩ
ǩǩ
ǩt/
approximate approximate -
associate associate associate
elaborate elaborate -
estimate estimate -
graduate graduate graduate
separate separate -
EXERCISES
I. Complete the following table
Adjective Noun Verb
1. broad
2. high
3. long
4. strong
5. wide
II. Tick the correct pronunciation.
1. They estimate the damage at 1,000 dollars. /eit/ /ǩt/
2. The Rector´s Office and the International Office are in two
separate buildings. /eit/ /ǩt/
3. Dr Wilde works as an associate professor at MIT. /eit/ /ǩt/
4. Would you please elaborate on what you said about wind power? /eit/ /ǩt/
5. The cost of the new laboratory equipment will approximate /eit/ /ǩt/
CZK 100,000.
6. John is a graduate of Oxford University. /eit/ /ǩt/
7. People often associate products imported from the West with high /eit/ /ǩt/
quality, which is not always true.
8. They separate recyclable waste from non-recyclable. /eit/ /ǩt/
9. Our quality evaluation system is very elaborate. /eit/ /ǩt/
10. What is your estimate of the damage? /eit/ /ǩt/
11. In which year did you graduate? /eit/ /ǩt/
12. What is the approximate number of students specializing in /eit/ /ǩt/
power electronics?
III. Complete the sentences with the right forms of the verbs below.
debug cochair embed misinterpret emphasize
disagree outnumber outdo subcontract counterbalance
misunderstand underestimate evaporate recharge qualify
overdo interact reconsider
1. This conclusion is rather strange; the results must have been …………………………………… .
2. In engineering, men greatly ……………………………… women.
3. …………………………….. temperature detectors are thermocouples built into a machine in
order to ascertain the temperature of a part which is inaccessible under working
conditions.
4. Students who spend a part of their studies at a foreign university often lose a semester
because their study abroad is not recognized by their home faculty. This loss is, however,
…………………………………… by the experience they gain.
5. Dr Novák from the University of West Bohemia and Professor Kinsey from Brunel
University will …………………………….. the afternoon session.
6. Don´t ……………………………. the time it takes to write the report. There´s not much time left
– the deadline is next Wednesday.
7. They ………………………………… over the interpretation of the data.
8. They did the experiment to find out how these two chemicals …………………………….. .
9. After the rainfall, water in the streets ……………………………………. quickly in the bright
sunshine.
10. The management …………………………… the need to improve the safety measures.
11. In learning languages, women often ………………………………… men.
12. My mobile battery is flat. I´ll have to ………………………………. it.
13. A Master´s degree in Engineering, good English language and computer skills
…………………………………. you for work with this company.
14. It took a lot of time to …………………………….. the program.
15. A big company often …………………………….. some of its work to smaller companies.
16. Some economists believe that worries about our economy are …………………………….;
in comparison with some other countries it is in relatively good shape.
17. I´m afraid I …………………………………… your message; I thought we were to meet in my
office, not in yours.
18. Do you think that my application will be ……………………………………… ?
IV. Complete the sentences. Make sure that you understand them, because the context
will help you make the right choice. Use verbs formed with prefixes and suffixes listed in
the tables at the beginning of this section. Try to do the exercise without looking at the
lists.
1. What´s done can´t be ………………………………… .
2. I´m not surprised by this recession. I ………………………………… it.
3. The paper has five sections. Each section is ………………………………. into several parts.
4. This procedure is too complex. It will have to be ………………………………….. .
5. PhD students often complain that they are ……………………………… and …………………………… .
6. To prevent any accidents, it is safer not only to switch off the device but also to
………………………………….. it.
7. The generation gap has ………………………………….. in the last decade.
8. Your paper is too long; you´ll have to ………………………………. it.
9. The grant has been badly ………………………………… . They may have to pay back some of the
money they had received.
10. As he didn´t pay the bill, his phone was …………………………………. .
11. Searching for a book in the University library is very easy now, because all its services
have been ………………………………… .
12. Today, school-leavers often spend a year travelling before they go to university, because
they want to …………………………… their horizons.
13. Messages are ……………………………….. for greater security. That means that unauthorized
people cannot ……………………………. them.
14. Deforestation and expansion of farmland are ……………………………….. wildlife, especially in
Africa and South America.
15. He has simply …………………………………. his abilities; he should not have taken the course in
advanced mathematics.
16. Your definition of the problem is rather difficult to understand. Could you ………………………
it?
17. The circuits are …………………………………. with each other and the mains.
V. Translate
1. Navrhovaná reforma vysokého školství zvýšila napětí mezi akademickou obcí a ministrem.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
2. Vedoucí naší katedry chce posílit vztahy se Škoda Transportation.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
3. Než koupíme nábytek, musíme změřit délku a šířku kanceláře.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
4. V některých případech bylo bakalářské studium prodlouženo ze tří na čtyři roky.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
