Derek Offord - Using Russian - A Guide to Contemporary Usage

cyclist

журнaли´ст

journalist

269

8

Word-formation

-ич

the suffix used to form male patronymics; it may also indicate place of origin (see also 6.12), e.g.

Ceргe´ич

son of Sergei

оми´ч

person from Omsk

-кa

(a)

with verbal roots, in nouns denoting a process, an instrument, or

the result of an action, e.g.

зaпи´скa

note

зaпрa´вкa

refuelling, seasoning

тёркa

grater

чи´сткa

cleaning, purge

(b)

in R1 predominantly, with adjectival roots, to denote objects which

in R2 are described by the adjective in question + a noun, e.g.

пятилe´ткa= пятилe´тний плaн

five-year plan

Tрeтьяко´вкa= Tрeтьяко´вскaя

Tret iakо´v Gallery

гaлeрe´я

-лкa

often in R1, with verbal roots, to denote an instrument or place

associated with an action, e.g.

вe´шaлкa

clothes-hanger

зaжигa´лкa

cigarette-lighter

кури´лкa(R1)

smoking room

рaздeвa´лкa(R1)

cloakroom

-лог

a suffix of foreign origin denoting a specialist or person of learning in a particular field (cf. Eng -logist ; see also - логия), e.g.

био´лог

biologist

мeтeоро´лог

meteorologist

-логия

a suffix of foreign origin denoting a science (cf. Eng -logy ; see also

- лог), e.g.

биоло´гия

biology

мeтeороло´гия

meteorology

психоло´гия

psychology

социоло´гия

sociology

-ниe

extremely common, in verbal nouns (cf. Eng -ing, -ment, -sion,

-tion ), e.g.

вырaжe´ниe

expression

достижe´ниe

achievement

зaгрязнe´ниe

pollution

объявлe´ниe

announcement, declaration

одобрe´ниe

approval

освобождe´ниe

liberation

270

8.7

Noun suffixes

пe´ниe

singing

продолжe´ниe

continuation

рaсширe´ниe

widening, expansion, extension

увeличe´ниe

increase

улучшe´ниe

improvement

ухудшe´ниe

worsening, deterioration

Note: consonant changes affecting the first person singular of second-conjugation verbs (9.6.8) are also in evidence in nouns of this type, e.g.

вырaжe´ниe.

-ник

several uses, including:

(a)

with noun roots, defining people by reference to their character,

occupation or activity, e.g.

зaви´стник

envious person

зaщи´тник

defender (including sportsman)

помо´щник

helper

(b)

with verbal roots, defining people by reference to their actions, e.g.

измe´нник

traitor

кочe´вник

nomad

(c)

denotation of objects which contain sth or accommodate some

creature, e.g.

коро´вник

cowshed

кофe´йник

coffee-pot

рудни´к

mine

-ок

with verbal roots, to indicate:

(a)

a person who performs an action, e.g.

eдо´к

eater, mouth to feed

игро´к

player, gambler

(b)

the action itself or its result (perhaps what is left over after it), e.g.

бросо´к

a throw , also spurt

зeво´к

a yawn

обло´мок

fragment

объe´дки(pl; gen объe´дков)

leftovers (of food)

огры´зок

core (of fruit after eating)

оку´рок

cigarette-end

скaчо´к

a jump, leap

спи´сок

list

Note: the oin this suffix as used in (b) is a mobile vowel, hence gen sg броскa´, etc.

271

8

Word-formation

-ор

a suffix of foreign origin denoting an agent (cf. Eng - or ; see also

- тор), e.g.

профe´ссор

professor

трa´ктор

tractor

-ость

this suffix, and related suffixes (e.g. - ность,- нность,- мость), are the most widespread suffixes used in the formation of abstract

nouns. They are particularly prevalent in R3. With adjectival roots,

- остьis used to form feminine nouns denoting a quality (cf. Eng

-ness, -ery, -ity , etc.), e.g.

вeсёлость

gaiety

возмо´жность

possibility

глу´пость

stupidity

мо´лодость

youth

му´дрость

wisdom

хрa´брость

bravery, courage

чe´стность

honesty

я´сность

clarity

Note: after hushing consonants this unstressed suffix becomes - eсть, e.g.

свe´жeсть, freshness (see 8.2.4(c)).

Added to the roots of present active participles, or to the roots of adjectives derived from them, the suffix - остьmay be used to form nouns denoting a capacity or potentiality (cf. Eng -ity ), e.g.

ви´димость

visibility

зaболeвaéмость

sickness rate

нeобходи´мость

necessity, inevitability

Added to the roots of past passive participles, the suffix - остьmay be used to form feminine nouns denoting a condition resulting

from an action, e.g.

договорённость

agreement, understanding

изоли´ровaнность

isolation

срaбо´тaнность

wear and tear