Lesson 6: Word Formation and Contextual Usage

🟦 Introduction

Have you ever seen how one word can grow into many different forms? From happy to happiness, from decide to decision, from read to reader — this is called word formation. It helps you expand your vocabulary, understand unfamiliar words, and use words appropriately in context.

WAEC often tests your ability to:

• Recognize prefixes, suffixes, and root words

• Choose the correct word form for a sentence

• Understand how a word’s meaning changes with its form

This lesson focuses on how words are built and how to use them in context.

🟩 Key Concepts and Explanations

1. What Is Word Formation?

Word formation is the process of creating new words or changing the form of a word to match grammar or meaning.

Three main parts:

• Root/Base word – The core word (e.g. write)

• Prefix – Added at the beginning (e.g. re-write)

• Suffix – Added at the end (e.g. writer, writing)

2. Common Prefixes and Meanings

3. Common Suffixes and Functions

4. Changing Word Classes

Words can shift from one part of speech to another:

• decide (verb) → decision (noun)

• happy (adjective) → happiness (noun)

• beauty (noun) → beautiful (adjective)

5. Using the Right Form in Context

Sentence: She made a wise ______.
A. decide
B. decision
C. decisive
D. decides
✔ Correct answer: B. decision

Context shows we need a noun (thing made), not a verb or adjective.

🟨 Practice Exercises

✏️ Exercise 1: Word Formation from Root

Write the correct form of the word in brackets to complete the sentence.

1. The teacher was very _______ to the students. (kind)

2. I need to make a quick _______ about my future. (decide)

3. The player gave a _______ performance. (power)

4. We visited a famous _______ site. (history)

5. The manager spoke with great _______. (confident)

✏️ Exercise 2: Choose the Correct Word Form

Select the word that best fits the sentence.

6. His _______ in the debate impressed everyone.
   A. argue
   B. argument
   C. arguing
   D. arguable

7. We had to _______ the essay before submitting it.
   A. rewrite
   B. rewriting
   C. rewrote
   D. rewriteable

8. She is a very _______ person.
   A. help
   B. helping
   C. helpful
   D. helpness

9. This book is very _______ for your exam.
   A. use
   B. usable
   C. usefulness
   D. useful

10. The child showed great _______ in her actions.
    A. careless
    B. caring
    C. carefulness
    D. carefully

✏️ Exercise 3: Prefix Match

Match each prefix with its correct meaning or example.

11. Mis- → ______

12. Un- → ______

13. Pre- → ______

14. Re- → ______

15. Dis- → ______

Options:
A. not
B. wrongly
C. again
D. before
E. opposite

✅ Answers and Explanations

Exercise 1: Word Formation from Root

1. kind → kind → kind (adjective)

2. decide → decision (noun needed)

3. power → powerful (adjective)

4. history → historical or historic (adjective)

5. confident → confidence (noun)

Exercise 2: Choose the Correct Word Form
6. B. argument – noun needed
7. A. rewrite – verb form needed
8. C. helpful – correct adjective
9. D. useful – correct adjective
10. C. carefulness – correct noun

Exercise 3: Prefix Match
11. Mis- → B. wrongly
12. Un- → A. not
13. Pre- → D. before
14. Re- → C. again
15. Dis- → E. opposite

🔁 Recap

You’ve learned:

• How words change through prefixes and suffixes

• The difference between root, derived, and compound forms

• How to choose the right form for grammar and meaning

🪞Reflection Prompt

Choose any 3 root words you know (e.g. act, create, help).
Form 2 or 3 different words from each using prefixes or suffixes.
Write one sentence using each new word correctly in context.