英语主要有三种构词法:转化、派生和合成。
1.转化:由一个词类转化为另一词类:
(1)动词转化为名词:
Let me have a try. 我来试一试。
We stopped there for a swim. 我们在那儿停下来游了一会儿泳。
Women have an equal say in everything.妇女在各方面都有同等的发言权。
Don’t judge a man by his looks.不要凭外表判断人。
(2)名词转化为动词:
Who chaired the meeting? 谁主持会议?
It can seat a thousand people.它能坐一千人。
Have you booked your ticket?你的票买好了吗?
Handin your exercise-books, please.请把练习本交上来。
2.派生:通过加前缀或后缀构成另一个词:
(1)前缀一般不造成词类的转变,而只是引起意思上的变化。前缀中有相当一部分可构成反义词:
前缀
|
意思
|
例词
|
un- |
不 做相**作 |
unhappy uncomfortable undressundo |
dis- |
不 做相**作 |
dislike disagree disinfect disconnect |
in- |
不 |
informal inconvenient |
im- |
不 |
impolite impossible |
non- |
不 |
non-existent nonconductor |
还有一些表示其他意思的前缀:
前缀
|
意思
|
例词
|
re- |
重新 |
retell rewrite |
co- |
共同 |
co-exist co-operate |
super- |
超级,上层 |
supermarket superman |
sub- |
下面的 |
subway subdivide |
inter- |
之间的,相互 |
international interact |
(2)构成名词的后缀常用的有:
后缀
|
例词
|
-er |
thinker teacher |
-or |
actorsailor |
-ee |
employee trustee |
-ess |
actress waitress |
-ness |
illness happiness |
-(a)tion |
preparationdictation |
-ment |
movement government |
-ing |
building painting |
-ship |
leadership friendship |
-hood |
childhood motherhood |