Lesson 5 Suffixal Homophones

The Scream is the popular
name given to a
composition created by
Norwegian Expressionist
artist Edvard Munch in
1893. The original German
title given by Munch to his
work was Der Schrei der
Natur (The Scream of
Nature), and the Norwegian
title is Skrik (Shriek).
Lesson 5: Suffixal Homophones
Suffixal Homophones
• Some affixes, both inflectional and derivational, have
homophonous forms.
• The inflectional morpheme {-ER cp} has two homophones.
• The verbal inflectional suffix {-ING vb} has two
homophones.
• The verbal inflectional suffix {-D pp} has one homophone.
• The adverbial derivational suffix {-LY av} has one
homophone.
Derivational Suffixal -ER
1- Derivational suffix {-ER n} which is attached to verbs to form nouns.
This is a highly productive suffix, used to produce hundreds of English
nouns like hunter, fisher, camper, golfer, lover.
It is often called the agent -er: “that which performs the action of the
verb stem” as in thriller & teacher.
It may also be attached to non-verbal stems, like probationers, New
Yorker, teenager, freighter, to convey a more general meaning of “that
which is related to”.
2- Derivational suffix {-ER rp} which appears at the end of words like
chatter, mutter, flicker, glitter, patter.
It conveys the meaning of repetition.
Exercise 1: Identify the underlined -er as:
{-ER cp} (as in bigger), {-ER n} (as in
singer) & {-ER rp} (as in flutter).
1. This is a heavier tennis racket than I want.
2. We watched the shimmer of the evening light on
the waves.
3. The fighter weighed in at 180 pounds.
4. He was tougher than he looked.
5. The jabber of voices came through the open door.
Exercise 1: Identify the underlined -er as:
cp (as in bigger), n (as in singer) & rp (as
in flutter).
1. {-ER cp}
2. {-ER rp}
3. {-ER n}
4. {-ER cp}
5. {-ER rp}
Derivational Suffixal -ING
1- Nominal derivational suffix {-ING nm} which is found
in words like meetings, weddings, readings.
It permits the addition of an inflectional suffix to close it
off, the noun plural {-s pl}
When such a word occurs alone without the inflectional
suffix, e.g., meeting, the -ing is ambiguous: “He was
meeting the train” or “He attended the meeting.”
2- Adjectival morpheme {-ING aj} as in a charming
woman.
• There are two tests by which the verbal {-ING vb} can be
distinguished from the adjectival {-ING aj}.
1- The verbal {-ING vb} can usually occur after as well as before
the noun it modifies, e.g., I saw a burning house / a house burning.
The adjectival {-ING aj} can be preceded by a qualifier like very,
rather, quite, or by the comparative & superlative words more &
most as in
It is a very comforting thought.
This is a more exciting movie.
But not
*I saw a rather burning house.
2- The adjectival {-ING aj} can occur after seems:
That snake seems interesting.
whereas the verbal {-ING vb} cannot:
*That snake seems crawling.
Exercise 2: Identify the -ing’s of the underlined
words by these symbols: V-al (verbal), N-al
(nominal) & Aj-al (adjectival).
1. It was a charming spot.
2. Jim lost both fillings from his tooth.
3. It was located by a sweetly babbling brook.
4. It was exciting to watch the flight.
5. Old sayings are often half-true.
1. Aj-al
2. N-al
3. V-al
4. Aj-al
5. N-al
6. From the bridge we watched the running
water.
7. That barking dog keeps everyone awake.
8. He told a convincing tale.
9. The shining sun gilded the forest floor.
10.Matisse’s drawings are magnificently simple.
Exercise 2: Identify the -ing’s of the italicised
6. V-al
7. V-al
8. Aj-al
9. V-al
10.N-al
11.A refreshing shower poured down.
12.The attorney made a moving speech.
13.A moving elephant is a picture of grace.
14.What an obliging fellow he is!
15.That was a touching scene.
Exercise 2: Identify the -ing’s of the italicised
11.Aj-al
12.Aj-al
13.V-al
14.Aj-al
15.Aj-al
Derivational Suffixal -D
• Adjectival derivational {-D aj} as in
Helen was excited about her new job.
She was a devoted mother.
• It is characterised by its capacity for modification
by qualifiers like very, rather, quite, and by more
and most.
A rather faded tapestry hung over the fireplace.
Derivational Suffixal -D
• The verbal {-D pp} on the other hand, does not
accept such modifiers.
*The very departed guests had forgotten their dog.
• The seems test for adjectival {-ING aj} is applicable
to Adjectival {-D aj}.
The tapestry seems faded.
*The guests seem departed.
Exercise 3: Identify the suffixes of the underlined words
with these symbols: V-al = {-D pp}; Aj-al = {-D aj}.
1. You should read the printed statement.
2. Merle was a neglected child.
3. This is a complicated question.
4. His chosen bride had lived in India.
5. He bought a stolen picture.
6. The invited guests all came.
7. We had a reserved seat.
8. The skipper was a reserved (=quiet) man.
9. A celebrated painter visited the campus.
10. A worried look crossed his face.
Exercise 3: Identify the suffixes of the italicised words
1. V-al
2. Aj-al
3. Aj-al
4. V-al
5. V-al
Exercise 3: Identify the suffixes of the italicised words
6. V-al
7. V-al
8. Aj-al
9. Aj-al
10.Aj-al
Exercise 4: Ambiguity occurs when the -ed
suffix can be interpreted as either {-D pp} or {-
D aj}. For each sentence below write two
meanings.
1. It was a finished job.
2. Our new surgeon is reserved.
Exercise 4:
1. It was a finished job.

a. completed
b. artistic (perfected, polished)
2. Our new surgeon is reserved.
a. quiet, reticent
b. kept in reserve, set aside to practice
his speciality
Derivational Suffixal -LY
• The adverbial derivational suffix {-LY av} is added to
most adjectives to form adverbs of manner, as in rich,
richly; kind, kindly, formal, formally; happy, happily.
• It has as a homophone the derivational suffix {-LY aj},
an adjectival morpheme that is distributed as follows:
1- It is added to monosyllabic nouns to form adjectives that
are inflected with -er, -est: love, lovely; friend, friendly;
man, manly
2- It is added to nouns to form adjectives that are not
inflected with -er, -est: king, kingly; beast, beastly; scholar,
scholarly; mother, motherly; leisure, leisurely
3- It is added to a few adjectives, giving alternate
adjectival forms that are also inflected with -er, -est:
kind, kindly; live, lively; dead, deadly; sick, sickly
Here the adjectives kindly & lively are homophonous
with the adverbs kindly & lively.
-She spoke kindly to the children.{-LY av}
-She was the kindliest woman in the village.{-LY aj}
4- It is added to a short list of “time” nouns to form
adjectives: day, daily; hour, hourly; month, monthly.
These are not inflected with -er, -est and some of them
undergo functional shift to become nouns.
He subscribes to two dailies and three quarterlies.
Exercise 5: Identify the italicised -ly as either
{-LY av} (as in glumly), or {-LY aj} (as in
fatherly).
1. The witness testified falsely.
2. Grace has a deadly wit.
3. Janet always behaved with a maidenly
demeanour.
4. He tiptoes softly into the room.
5. Jimmy receives a weekly allowance.
{-LY av} (adverbial as in glumly), or {-LY aj}
(adjectival as in fatherly).
1. {-LY av}
2. {-LY aj}
3. {-LY aj}
4. {-LY av}
5. {-LY aj}
6. The dear old lady has a heavenly disposition.
7. She spoke quietly to her grandson.
8. What a timely suggestion!
9. What a mannerly child!
10.It was a cowardly act.
6. {-LY aj}
7. {-LY av}
8. {-LY aj}
9. {-LY aj}
10. {-LY aj}
Summary of Suffixal Homophones
• The inflectional morpheme {-ER cp} has two homophones.
1- {-ER n} 2- {-ER rp}
• The verbal inflectional suffix {-ING vb} has two homophones.
1- {-ING nm} 2- {-ING aj}
• The verbal inflectional suffix {-D pp} has one homophone.
{-D aj}
• The adverbial derivational suffix {-LY av} has one homophone.
{-LY aj}
Homework assignment I
This is an exercise reviewing the inflectional &
derivational suffixes. Label the italised suffixes as DS
(derivational suffix), IS (inflectional suffix), or Amb
(ambiguous).
1) princes 6) weaver 11) quickly 16) hearing
2) princess 7) leaner 12) rectify 17) drier
3) findings 8) satirise 13) brotherly 18) grievance
4) friendlier 9) sputter 14) respectable 19) sunny
5) shows 10) brighten 15) younger 20) droppings
Homework assignment I (p.100-101)
1)IS
2)DS
3)DS
4)IS
5)IS
6)DS
7)Amb
8) DS
9)DS
10)DS
11)DS
12)DS
13)DS
14)DS
15)IS
16)Amb
17)Amb
18)DS
19)DS
20)DS
Homework assignment II
Each of the following sentences contains an error made
by a non-native speaker of English. In each, identify
and correct the incorrect word.
1. I am very relax here.
2. I am very boring with this game.
3. I am very satisfactory with my life.
4. Some flowers are very attracting to some insects.
5. Many people have very strong believes.
Each of the following sentences contains an error made
by a non-native speaker of English. In each, identify
and correct the incorrect word.
6. My culture is very difference from yours.
7. His grades proof that he is a hard worker.
What must English language learners learn in order to

avoid such errors?
1. I am very relaxed here.
2. I am very bored with this game.
3. I am very satisfied with my life.
4. Some flowers are very attractive to some insects.
5. Many people have very strong beliefs.
6. My culture is very different from yours.
7. His grades prove that he is a hard worker.

Lesson 5 Suffixal Homophones

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1. It was a finished job.

What must English language learners learn in order to

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