Word Formation Questions Long
Conversion, also known as zero derivation or functional shift, is a process in word formation where a word changes its grammatical category without any changes in its form. This means that a word can be converted from one part of speech to another, such as from a noun to a verb, verb to noun, adjective to noun, and so on. Here are some examples of words that undergo conversion:
1. Noun to Verb:
- email: originally a noun referring to electronic mail, it has been converted into a verb meaning to send a message electronically.
Example: "I will email you the document."
- bottle: originally a noun referring to a container, it has been converted into a verb meaning to put something into a bottle.
Example: "She bottles her homemade jam."
2. Verb to Noun:
- run: originally a verb meaning to move quickly on foot, it can be converted into a noun referring to a session or instance of running.
Example: "I went for a run this morning."
- talk: originally a verb meaning to communicate verbally, it can be converted into a noun referring to a formal presentation or lecture.
Example: "I attended an interesting talk on climate change."
3. Adjective to Noun:
- green: originally an adjective describing the color, it can be converted into a noun referring to an environmentalist or someone who supports environmental causes.
Example: "She is a passionate green."
- poor: originally an adjective describing a lack of wealth, it can be converted into a noun referring to someone who is impoverished.
Example: "The charity helps the poor."
4. Adjective to Verb:
- clean: originally an adjective describing something free from dirt or impurities, it can be converted into a verb meaning to make something clean.
Example: "She cleans the house every weekend."
- dry: originally an adjective describing the absence of moisture, it can be converted into a verb meaning to remove moisture from something.
Example: "He dries his clothes in the sun."
These are just a few examples of words that undergo conversion. Conversion is a common process in English word formation and allows for flexibility and creativity in language use.