Classification of prefixes

Prefixes as a rule do not radically change general, lexical, grammatical meaning of a word but just modify it. That’s why the newly- formed word and its prototype belong to the same part of speech in most cases: write- rewrite, husband- ex-husband, happy-unhappy.

However we have single out:

• prefixes helping to form verbs from nouns or adjectives:- be, -en, -im, -em: to behead, to belittle, encamp, enslave, imbed, empower

• prefixes that help to form adjective from noun: -anti, - post. – pre, - non: antiwar, prewar, postwar, nonparty

According to their lexical meaning prefixes are divided into the following groups:

• repetitive: rewrite, remake

• negative or reversal: non-, dis-, un-, im-, il-, ir-: nongovernmental, uncomfortable, disappear, illegal, irregular

• adverbial of manner: mis-: misunderstood

• adverbial of time: pre-, post: prewar, postgraduate

• adverbial of place and direction: in-, out-, sub-, trans-: indoors, outdoors, submarine, transatlantic

• adverbial of degree: out-, under, over-: outnumber, overgrow, underestimate

Composition (Compounding)

This is the type of word-building in which new words are produced by combining two or more stems together.

Compounds can be classified according to different criteria:

1. Classification depending on the way the stems are joined we single out:

• compounds formed by juxtaposition without linking elements: eggshell, textbook

• compounds formed with a help of linking vowels or consonants: speedometer, handicraft, craftsman

• compounds formed with linking elements expressed by prepositions, pronouns, conjunctions: father- in –law, forget- me- not, hide- and – seek

2. Classification according to their bases compounds are divided into

• compounds proper

• derivational compounds

Compounds proper are formed by joining bases of independently functioning words: looking- glass, handwork

They can be divided into such groups depending on the structure of the stems:

• compounds with root stems: tablecloth, dishtowel

• compounds containing derivation of stems: dishwasher, chain-smoker

• compounds in which one of the stems is shortened: lab-assistant, exam-paper, math- teacher

• compounds in which one of the stems is abbreviated: A-bomb

• compounds in which one of the stems is a compound itself: wastepaper basket, ballpoint pent

Derivational compounds are formed by two building processes working together. Most of them are adjectives with suffix – ed: blue-eyed, long-legged and nouns with suffix – er: honey- mouthed

3. According to the degree of the motivation compounds are divided into:

• idiomatic

• non-idiomatic

The meaning of idiomatic compound is different from the sum of meanings of their components: blackboard- idiomatic, textbook-non-idiomatic

4. According to the relation between the stems compounds are divided into:

- endocentric

- exocentric

In endocentric compounds one of the stems is central and the other describes, characterizes, specifies it: text-book, writing-book

In exocentric compounds both semes are equal in their states: a killjoy

5. According to their conformity to the grammatical system of the English language:

• syntactic

• asyntactic

Syntactic compounds can be transformed into phrases according to general grammatical patterns: a buybooker - a man who buys books

Asyntactic compounds can’t be: bookmaker - a man who accepts bets