Classzone: The Language of Literature, Grade 8

Name _______________________________________

Lesson 25 Greek combining forms

gram grammar telegram

phon phonics telephone

graph graphic phonograph

naut nautical astronaut

meter, metry meter geometry

opti, opto optical optometry

thermo thermos thermometer

stat static thermostat

typos typical stereotype

agon agony protagonist

TERMS TO KNOW:
Combining forms are word elements that, unlike prefixes and suffixes, may be used in different positions when they are combined with other word elements.

1. The Greek combining forms in the first column become English nouns or adjectives when suffixes are added to form the words in the second column. Does the spelling of some combining forms change when endings are added? _____

2. The words in the last column have been formed by joining two Greek combining forms. Can the same Greek form sometimes be used at the beginning of one word and at the end of another? _____

Lesson Generalization
Suffixes can be added to some Greek combining forms to make English nouns and adjectives:

the noun suffix ic forms the noun static: stat + ic.

the adjective suffix cal forms the adjective optical: opti + cal.

The spelling of the Greek combining form may change slightly when it is joined to other word parts.

Two Greek combining forms may be joined like the two parts of a compound word:

nighttime /timekeeper telephone /phonograph

(compound words) (Greek combining forms)

Knowing the meaning of the separate parts will help you to understand the different words made by combining the parts.