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GCSE · Grammar

Y10.7 Etymology and Word Formation

Calculators not allowed · about 60 minutes

Total Marks

Name: _______________________________ Date: ____ / ____ / ______

Answer ALL questions. Show all your working.

The table below shows six word roots that appear in many English words.

Root	Example word
bio	biology
tele	telephone
script	manuscript
dict	predict
spect	inspect
rupt	interrupt

For each root, identify its meaning by choosing the correct option.

(a)bio(1)

A) life
B) death
C) light
D) sound

(b)tele(1)

A) near
B) far/distant
C) fast
D) small

(c)script(1)

A) to speak
B) to write
C) to see
D) to break

(d)dict(1)

A) to write
B) to speak/say
C) to carry
D) to lead

(e)spect(1)

A) to look/see
B) to hear
C) to touch
D) to smell

(f)rupt(1)

A) to build
B) to send
C) to break
D) to turn

(Total for Question 1 is 6 marks)

English vocabulary has been shaped by many source languages. The table below gives six words.

Word	Meaning/use
house	a building where people live
democracy	rule by the people
beef	meat from cattle
sky	the space above the earth
circus	a travelling show with performers
parliament	the group that makes a country's laws

For each word, identify its most likely origin from the options given.

(a)house(1)

A) Old English
B) Greek
C) French
D) Old Norse

(b)democracy(1)

A) Old English
B) Greek
C) French
D) Latin

(c)beef(1)

A) Old English
B) Greek
C) French
D) Old Norse

(d)sky(1)

A) Old English
B) Old Norse
C) Latin
D) French

(e)circus(1)

A) Old English
B) Greek
C) Latin
D) French

(f)parliament(1)

A) Old English
B) Old Norse
C) French
D) Greek

(Total for Question 2 is 6 marks)

Identify the meaning of each prefix below, using the example word to help you.

Prefix	Example word
anti-	antibiotic
sub-	submarine
inter-	international
circum-	circumference
trans-	transport

(a)anti-(1)

A) against
B) before
C) again
D) under

(b)sub-(1)

A) above
B) under
C) around
D) between

(c)inter-(1)

A) between
B) beyond
C) before
D) across

(d)circum-(1)

A) across
B) under
C) around
D) after

(e)trans-(1)

A) around
B) across
C) under
D) against

(Total for Question 3 is 5 marks)

Each base word below has had a suffix added. Identify the word class of the resulting word.

Base word + suffix	Resulting word
happy + -ness	happiness
act + -ion	action
simple + -ify	simplify
danger + -ous	dangerous
quick + -ly	quickly

(a)happiness(1)

A) noun
B) verb
C) adjective
D) adverb

(b)action(1)

A) noun
B) verb
C) adjective
D) adverb

(c)simplify(1)

A) noun
B) verb
C) adjective
D) adverb

(d)dangerous(1)

A) noun
B) verb
C) adjective
D) adverb

(e)quickly(1)

A) noun
B) verb
C) adjective
D) adverb

(Total for Question 4 is 5 marks)

Each word below was created using a different word-formation process. Identify the process used in each case.

Word	How it was likely formed
toothbrush	tooth + brush
brunch	breakfast + lunch
unhappy	un- + happy
burgle	formed from 'burglar'
to google	from the proper noun 'Google'
phone	shortened from 'telephone'

(a)toothbrush(1)

A) compounding
B) blending
C) affixation
D) back-formation
E) conversion
F) clipping

(b)brunch(1)

A) compounding
B) blending
C) affixation
D) back-formation
E) conversion
F) clipping

(c)unhappy(1)

A) compounding
B) blending
C) affixation
D) back-formation
E) conversion
F) clipping

(d)burgle(1)

A) compounding
B) blending
C) affixation
D) back-formation
E) conversion
F) clipping

(e)to google(1)

A) compounding
B) blending
C) affixation
D) back-formation
E) conversion
F) clipping

(f)phone(1)

A) compounding
B) blending
C) affixation
D) back-formation
E) conversion
F) clipping

(Total for Question 5 is 6 marks)

The Latin root 'struct' means 'to build'. Use 'struct' together with the correct prefix and/or suffix to form the word that matches each definition.

(a)to build something for the first time(1)

(b)the act of building something back up after damage(1)

(c)the process of pulling something down or breaking it apart(1)

(d)a person whose job is to teach or direct others, literally to 'build' knowledge in someone(1)

(e)something that blocks or gets in the way of progress(1)

(Total for Question 6 is 5 marks)

Complete the missing word in each row of the table below. Each row shows different forms of the same base word.

Base word	Verb	Noun	Adjective
act	act	action	(1)
please	please	pleasure	(2)
create	create	(3)	creative
decide	decide	decision	(4)

(a)(1)(1)

(b)(2)(1)

(c)(3)(1)

(d)(4)(1)

(Total for Question 7 is 4 marks)

Read each sentence below. Using your knowledge of word roots and affixes, explain what the underlined word (shown in capitals) most likely means, and identify the root(s) that help you work this out.

(a)'Despite years of research, no one could disprove her theory, and her colleagues began to think of her as almost OMNISCIENT.'(3)

(b)'The retired sailor spent his final years teaching young cadets how to CIRCUMNAVIGATE the globe safely.'(3)

(Total for Question 8 is 6 marks)

Each word below is a 'blend' - a new word formed by joining parts of two existing words. Identify the two words that have been blended together to form each one.

(a)brunch(1)

(b)motel(1)

(c)smog(1)

(d)chillax(1)

(Total for Question 9 is 4 marks)

Each sentence below contains a word that has been formed with the wrong negative prefix. The Latin prefix 'in-' changes its spelling depending on the letter that follows it (becoming im-, il-, ir-, or staying as in-). Identify the incorrect word in each sentence and rewrite it correctly.

(a)'The plan was so unlogical that nobody wanted to follow it.'(2)

(b)'The professor's argument seemed totally unrelevant to the topic.'(2)

(c)'The witness gave a very unaccurate account of what had happened.'(2)

(d)'The politician was accused of giving a completely uncorrect summary of the report.'(2)

(Total for Question 10 is 8 marks)

A student wrote the following claim in their homework: 'The suffix "-holic" can be added to any noun to mean addicted to, like in workaholic and chocoholic. This must be an old Latin or Greek suffix, just like the roots we have studied in this pack.'
Explain why this claim about the origin of '-holic' is not quite accurate, referring to the real word this suffix came from.

(Total for Question 11 is 3 marks)

The paragraph below contains four errors: two words that have been formed with the wrong prefix, and two homophones that have been used incorrectly. Rewrite the paragraph correctly.

'After the storm, the old fishing boat looked completely unrepairable, and the harbourmaster said the damage was totally unpossible to fix before winter. The captain agreed that they're was no point risking the crew on such an unsafe vessel, and he told them the boat had lost it's rudder in the worst of the weather.'

(Total for Question 12 is 4 marks)

The Greek prefix 'auto-' means 'self'. Invent ONE new English word that does not currently exist, using 'auto-' plus any suffix or root of your choice. Give its meaning and use it correctly in a sentence.

(Total for Question 13 is 3 marks)

Choose ONE root from the box below (do not use a root that has already appeared elsewhere in this pack). Use it to form three different real English words: one noun, one verb and one adjective.

Root	Meaning
photo	light
hydro	water
port	carry
cred	believe

(Total for Question 14 is 3 marks)

Write a short explanation (60-100 words) of how a reader could use knowledge of word roots and affixes to work out the meaning of an unfamiliar word in an exam text. Use at least TWO example roots or affixes from this pack to support your explanation.

(Total for Question 15 is 6 marks)

Write a short piece of continuous prose (approximately 100-120 words) in which a character explains to a younger sibling why English spelling and vocabulary can seem so irregular.
Your writing must include: one compound word, one blended word, one word that uses a Greek or Latin root explored in this pack, and one correctly used possessive or contraction apostrophe. Underline each of these four features in your answer.

(Total for Question 16 is 12 marks)

Mark scheme · Y10.7 Etymology and Word Formation

Question 1

(a) B1 A) life
(a) Answer: A
(b) B1 B) far/distant
(b) Answer: B
(c) B1 B) to write
(c) Answer: B
(d) B1 B) to speak/say
(d) Answer: B
(e) B1 A) to look/see
(e) Answer: A
(f) B1 C) to break
(f) Answer: C

Question 2

(a) B1 A) Old English
(a) Answer: A
(b) B1 B) Greek
(b) Answer: B
(c) B1 C) French
(c) Answer: C
(d) B1 B) Old Norse
(d) Answer: B
(e) B1 C) Latin
(e) Answer: C
(f) B1 C) French
(f) Answer: C

Question 3

(a) B1 A) against
(a) Answer: A
(b) B1 B) under
(b) Answer: B
(c) B1 A) between
(c) Answer: A
(d) B1 C) around
(d) Answer: C
(e) B1 B) across
(e) Answer: B

Question 4

(a) B1 A) noun
(a) Answer: A
(b) B1 A) noun
(b) Answer: A
(c) B1 B) verb
(c) Answer: B
(d) B1 C) adjective
(d) Answer: C
(e) B1 D) adverb
(e) Answer: D

Question 5

(a) B1 A) compounding
(a) Answer: A
(b) B1 B) blending
(b) Answer: B
(c) B1 C) affixation
(c) Answer: C
(d) B1 D) back-formation
(d) Answer: D
(e) B1 E) conversion
(e) Answer: E
(f) B1 F) clipping
(f) Answer: F

Question 6

(a) B1 construct, cao
(a) Answer: construct
(b) B1 reconstruction, cao
(b) Answer: reconstruction
(c) B1 destruction, cao
(c) Answer: destruction
(d) B1 instructor, cao
(d) Answer: instructor
(e) B1 obstruction, cao
(e) Answer: obstruction

Question 7

(a) B1 active, cao
(a) Answer: active
(b) B1 pleasant, cao
(b) Answer: pleasant
(c) B1 creation, cao
(c) Answer: creation
(d) B1 decisive, cao
(d) Answer: decisive

Question 8

(a) B1 identifies the meaning as knowing everything, or all-knowing (oe)
(a) B1 identifies the root omni- (meaning all)
(a) B1 identifies the root sci (meaning to know, as in science)
(a) Answer: Omniscient means knowing everything, or all-knowing. It combines the root omni- (all, as in omnivore) with sci (to know, as in science), so someone omniscient appears to know everything.
(b) B1 identifies the meaning as to sail or travel all the way around something (oe)
(b) B1 identifies the root circum- (meaning around)
(b) B1 identifies the root nav (meaning ship/to sail, as in navy or navigate)
(b) Answer: Circumnavigate means to sail or travel all the way around something. It combines circum- (around, as in circumference) with nav (ship/sail, as in navigate), giving the sense of sailing right around the globe.

Question 9

(a) B1 breakfast + lunch
(a) Answer: breakfast + lunch
(b) B1 motor + hotel
(b) Answer: motor + hotel
(c) B1 smoke + fog
(c) Answer: smoke + fog
(d) B1 chill + relax
(d) Answer: chill + relax

Question 10

(a) B1 identifies 'unlogical' as the incorrect word
(a) B1 corrects it to 'illogical' (in- assimilates to il- before l), cao
(a) Answer: illogical
(b) B1 identifies 'unrelevant' as the incorrect word
(b) B1 corrects it to 'irrelevant' (in- assimilates to ir- before r), cao
(b) Answer: irrelevant
(c) B1 identifies 'unaccurate' as the incorrect word
(c) B1 corrects it to 'inaccurate', cao
(c) Answer: inaccurate
(d) B1 identifies 'uncorrect' as the incorrect word
(d) B1 corrects it to 'incorrect', cao
(d) Answer: incorrect

Question 11

B1 identifies that '-holic' actually comes from the existing word 'alcoholic' (alcohol + the adjective suffix -ic)
B1 explains that speakers mistakenly re-split alcoholic as alc- + -oholic/-holic, treating the fragment as if it were its own suffix meaning 'addicted to' (oe)
B1 notes that, unlike the ancient Latin/Greek roots studied elsewhere in this pack, '-holic' only emerged through this modern reanalysis, though it is now an accepted, productive part of informal English (oe)
Answer: '-holic' is not an ancient Latin or Greek suffix. It comes from 'alcoholic' (alcohol + -ic), which English speakers mistakenly re-split as alc- + -oholic, treating the leftover fragment as if it were a suffix meaning 'addicted to'. This created new words such as workaholic and chocoholic. Although it began as a mistaken re-analysis rather than a genuine ancient root, it is now a recognised, productive part of informal modern English.

Question 12

B1 corrects 'unrepairable' to 'irreparable' (in- assimilates to ir- before r), cao
B1 corrects 'unpossible' to 'impossible' (in- assimilates to im- before p), cao
B1 corrects 'they're' to 'there' (the place adverb, from Old English, is needed, not the contraction of 'they are'), cao
B1 corrects 'it's' to 'its' (the possessive determiner 'its' never takes an apostrophe, unlike a noun's possessive), cao
Answer: After the storm, the old fishing boat looked completely irreparable, and the harbourmaster said the damage was totally impossible to fix before winter. The captain agreed that there was no point risking the crew on such an unsafe vessel, and he told them the boat had lost its rudder in the worst of the weather.

Question 13

B1 invents a plausible new word that logically uses auto- to mean 'self' (any reasonable coinage accepted)
B1 gives a clear definition that is consistent with the meaning of auto- and the rest of the word
B1 uses the invented word correctly and grammatically within a full sentence
Answer: Sample answer (indicative, not the only acceptable response): 'autotidy (adjective): able to tidy itself without help. My little sister wished her bedroom was autotidy so she would never have to clean it.'

Question 14

B1 gives a correctly formed, real noun using the chosen root, cao
B1 gives a correctly formed, real verb using the chosen root, cao
B1 gives a correctly formed, real adjective using the chosen root, cao
Answer: Sample answer using 'port' (to carry): noun - porter (a person who carries luggage); verb - export (to carry goods out); adjective - portable (able to be carried).

Question 15

Level 1 (1-2): Simple, undeveloped explanation, with little or no use of specific roots/affixes as evidence.
Level 2 (3-4): Some relevant explanation of the strategy, supported by at least one accurate example root or affix.
Level 3 (5-6): Clear, well-developed explanation of the strategy, supported by at least two accurate example roots or affixes, showing how breaking a word into parts builds a plausible overall meaning.
Indicative content:
- A reader can break an unfamiliar word into recognisable parts: prefix, root and suffix.
- Each part usually carries a stable meaning that can be combined to estimate the whole word's meaning, e.g. circum- (around) + nav (sail) suggests 'to sail around'.
- Suffixes also signal word class, which helps a reader predict how the word functions in the sentence, e.g. -tion/-ion usually marks a noun.
- This strategy will not always give an exact dictionary definition, so readers should also check the word against the surrounding context (oe).
- Recognising a root from one known word (e.g. spectator) can help decode a related unfamiliar word (e.g. spectacle) even under exam time pressure.

Question 16

AO5: Content and organisation (AO5)
- Level 1 (1-2): Simple explanation of why English can seem irregular; little sense of a consistent character voice or clear organisation.
- Level 2 (3-4): Some relevant, engaged explanation; an attempt at a consistent speaking voice appropriate to explaining something to a younger sibling; ideas are mostly sequenced clearly.
- Level 3 (5-6): Clear, engaging and convincing explanation in a consistent, well-judged voice; well organised, with a genuine sense of patience and clarity appropriate to addressing a younger sibling.
AO6: Technical accuracy (range and required features) (AO6)
- Level 1 (1-2): Limited accuracy; the four required features (compound word, blend, root-based word, apostrophe) are mostly missing or used incorrectly.
- Level 2 (3-4): Most of the four required features are present and mostly accurate, with occasional errors elsewhere.
- Level 3 (5-6): All four required features are present, clearly marked and used accurately and effectively, alongside a controlled range of other accurate sentence forms and vocabulary.

Etymology and Word Formation - Worksheets, Questions and Revision