构词法知识

英语单词的来源大致上分为五种:

1) 基本词(base)---是那些在今天看来已经不可再分的词,出现频率较高,非专门记忆不可

2)合成词(combining words)

3)缩略词(shortening words) 可以分为两种:一种是对原来完整的词进行加工,缩略其中一部分字母,构成新词,这种词叫缩短词(clipped word)。例如phone = telephone, chute = parachute , copter = helicopter , auto = automobile , ad = advertisement , demo = demonstration ,flu = influenza , fridge = refrigerator;另外一种缩略词是首字母缩略词(acronyms),也就是将词组中的起首字母联成一个词,例如:NATO = North Atlantic Treaty Organization , radar= radio detecting and ranging;

4)拼缀词(blending words) 拼缀词就是对原来的两个词进行剪裁,取其中的一部分,连成一个新词,例如:smog = smoke and fog , medicare = medical care , psywar = psychological warfare;

5)转类词(shifting words): 转类词就是词汇不改变词形而转换了词类而构成的新词

在这几种构词法中最活跃也是最能够引发人的主动性的要数合成词了。

1·词根(root)

下面我们选择了在现代英语中出现频率较高的一些词根,供大家学习记忆。在学习的过程中需要提醒注重的是,这些词根在构成新词的时候,受前后语音的自然影响,往往不止有一种形式,这个一般在括号内标出来了。

aer(o) = air空气 aerial空气的 aeroplane飞机

alt = high高 altitude高度

anim = life生命 animal动物 animate使…生气勃勃

audi(audit) = hear听 audience听众 audit旁听、审计

aut-(auto-) = self自我 autocrat专制者 autograph亲笔 automobile汽车

bio(bi) = life生命 biology生物

cert = certain确定的 certify证实 certificate证实书

circ = ring环形 circus马戏场 circle圆圈 circulate流通、流传

cred = believe相信 credible可信的 credit信任

dent = tooth牙齿 dentist牙医

ego = I我 egoist自我主义 egocentric自我中心的

geo = earth地 geography地理 geometry几何 geology地质学

habit = dwell居住 habitant居住者 inhabit 居住于

liter = letter文字 literate识字的 literature文学 literal字面的

mini = small小 minify使缩小 minimum最小量 miniature微型物

nutri = nourish营养 nutrition营养 malnutrition营养不良

port = carry运 portable可携带的import进口 porter搬运工

scend(s) = climb攀爬 ascend上升 descend下降 transcend超越

tele = far远 telescope望远镜 telegram电报 television电视

vis, vid = see看 visible可见的 visit参观 evident明显的

2·前缀

词缀分为前缀和后缀两种。在大多数情况下,前缀往往改变词根的词义,而后缀更多改变的是原词根的词性

具有否定意义(表示对词根反向的概念,另外包括外向概念、下概念、过度或不足概念等)的前缀有:

ab - abuse滥用 abnormal 不正常的

anti- antiwar反战的 antitank反坦克的 antibody

contra- contra-missile反导弹的 contradict矛盾的

counter- counterrevolution反革命 counterattack反击

de- demobilize复员 deforest砍伐森林 devalue 贬值

dis- dislike厌恶 dishonest不老实的 disability无能

in- incorrect inactive inconvenient indirect

il- illegal

im- impossible improper impolite

mal- maltreat虐待 malnutrition营养不良 malfunction功能失调

mis- mistake错误 mistrust不信任 mistrust

non- nonsmoker不抽烟的人 nonsense nonstop

out- outnumber在数量上超过

over- overuse使用过度 overlook俯视;忽视 overthrow推翻

re- replace reuse retell

sub- subway地铁 subhead副标题

super- superpower超级大国 supersensitive过度敏感

un- unreal虚假的 unconditional无条件的 unjust不公正的

vice- vice-president副总统 vice- chairman副主席

具有时间意义的前缀有:

pre - preread preview prehistory史前

post- postwar postreading

具有地点、方向意义(包括上下、前后、往返、内外)的前缀有:

ab- (away from) abnormal abuse

ex- export出口 exclude排除 ex-soldier退伍军人\

extra- extracurricular课外的 extraordinary格外的

fore- forehead前额 foreground前景

im- import进口 immigrate

inter- interfere干涉 internet互联网 interactive互动

over- overtake oversleep

sub- subway地铁 submarine海面以下的

super- superstructure上层建筑

trans- transatlantic横越大西洋的transport运输

under- underground地下的 underwear内衣

ultra- ultraviolet紫外线

具有数量意义的有:

mono- monoxide一氧化物 monotone单调

pan- Pan- American泛美的

bi- bilingual双语的 bicycle bimonthly

di- dialogue dioxide

hemi- hemisphere

semi- semicircle半圆

tri- triangle三角形

penta- pentagon五角形

kilo- kilogram kilowatt

milli- milligram millimetre

micro- Microsoft microscope microwave

mini- minibus miniskirt

multi- multiparty多党的

co- cooperation coworker coauthor coexist

3·后缀

最常见的形容词后缀有:

-(a)ble : readable drinkable applicable valuable

- al personal national practical global

-(i)cal : typical biological

-an American European

-ian : Egyptian Canadian (名词和形容词同形)

- ar similar solar

-en: wooden golden

-ern : eastern western

-ese : Chinese Japanese(名词和形容词同形)

-ful : useful skillful eventful successful

-ic : atomic historic

-istic : artistic realistic

-tic : dramatic romantic

-ish : childish reddish English

–i(ti)ve : sensitive primitive protective productive

- less : homeless useless

- like : childlike manlike

-ly: friendlycostly daily

-ent : insistent different

-(i)ous : righteous正直的 anxious焦虑的 curious好奇的 dangerous

-proof: fireproof bombproof

-some: troublesome lonesome

-ward : downward seaward awkard

- y : rainy rosy sleepy angry

最常见的名词后缀有:

表示具体的人的后缀:

-er: prisoner gardener lawyer stranger

-or: visitor actor operator inventor

-ar: scholar liar beggar

-eer: engineer mountaineer

-ent: resident

-ess: princess hostess goddess waitress actress

-ian: musician physician

-ist: scientist novelist specialist activist

-ant: assistant servant accountant

-ee: employee trainee examinee

-zen: citizen netizen

表示抽象的动作情况的后缀:

-acity : capacity

-al: survival refusal arrival trial approval

-ence ( - ance , -ency , -ancy ): influence acceptance difference

-ment: movement equipment arrangement treatment

-hood: boyhood neighborhood

-ics: linguistics athletics

-ness: darkness happiness illness

-tion: celebration attraction contribution addition

-ation: invitation application preparation pronunciation

-sion: permission possession discussion conclusion

decision

-y: injury discovery difficulty delivery

-(i)ty: variety reality ability safety

nationality activity equality

-ery: bakery nursery bravery

-ful: bagful basketful handful

-dom: freedom kingdom wisdom

-(t)ure: mixture failure pressure pleasure

-age: percentage marriage storage shortage

-ship: leadership scholarship hardship friendship

-ance: appearance entrance guidance performance

-th: truth length strength youth

warmth depth width death

最常见的动词后缀有:

-ate:differentiate

-en: sharpen darken strengthen fasten

broaden threaten brighten weaken

en-: enlarge enable encourage enjoy

-fy: simplify beautify classify

-ise(-ize):criticize fertilize modernize realize

其他:

believe-belief poor-poverty speak-speech sorry-sorrow

hot-heat high-height sit-seat see-sight

breathe-breath bathe-bath feed-food bleed-blood