This chapter looks at the word study strategies of using word parts, dictionaries and word cards. These are all intentional approaches to vocabulary learning and fit within the strand of language focused learning.

Word parts

Most of the content words of English can change their form by adding prefixes or suffixes. These affixes are typically divided into two types: inflectional and derivational. The inflectional affixes in English are all suffixes. They include -s (plural), -ed, -ing, -s (3rd person singular), -s (possessive), -er (comparative), -est (superlative). Unlike most derivational suffixes, inflections do not change the part of speech of the word or word group they are attached to and are added after a derivational suffix, if the word has one.

Derivational affixes in English include prefixes and suffixes. Most of the derivational suffixes and a few prefixes change the part of speech of the word they are added to (happy (adjective) / happiness (noun); able (adjective) / enable (verb)). Some of the affixes, especially prefixes, also alter the meaning of the word in a substantial way (judge/prejudge; happy/unhappy; care/careless). Words which contain affixes are sometimes called complex words.

Researchers on the vocabulary growth of native speakers of English usually distinguish three main ways in which a learner's vocabulary increases: through being taught or deliberately learning new words, through learning new words by meeting them in context, and through recognising and building new words by gaining control of prefixes, suffixes and other word building devices.