Chapter 4

Conversion

Conversion Definition Examples She singled him out at once as a

possible victim. He elbowed forward through the

crowd. It was a beautiful win.

Conversion Definition Examples She singled him out at once as a possible

victim. (adj→v) He elbowed forward through the crowd. (n→v) It was a beautiful win. (v→n)

Conversion Conversion is to use words of one class

as those of different classes. Conversion is the change of word-class

in actual use. Other names: functional shift = change of functions zero-derivation = derivation by

adding zero affix

Conversion Continental quilts simplify bed-making. (simple → simple + -ify) She singled him out at once as a possible

victim. (single →single)

Conversion Conversion involves mainly three

classes of words: nouns verbs adjectives.

Conversion 1. Conversion to N (nouns) V to N (1) State (of mind or sensation) He has a deep love for his country. (2) Event or activity The class has decided to have a

swim in the afternoon.

Conversion (3) Result of the action The fishermen were very happy to

have a good catch this time. (4) Doer of the action The boy is such a bore. It seems he

never speaks. (5) Tool or instrument to do the action

with Better hammer the nail in.

Conversion (6) Place of the action This road is dangerous, for it has

many sharp turns.

Conversion Phrasal verbs to N (nouns) hand out 分发 hand-out 施舍物 / 印

刷品 stand by 旁观 stand-by 备用 ( 人员 / 物 ) lay by 储存 / 备用 lay-by 路侧停车处 shut down 关闭 shut-down 关闭 right-branching

Conversion Phrasal verbs to N (nouns) break out outbreak fall down downfall flow over overflow cry out outcry left-branching

Conversion A to N (1) Full conversion common adjectives a white 　　　　 a liberal drinkables 　　 necessaries participles and others a drunk 　　　 newly-weds bests worsts

Conversion Characteristics: An adjective is treated as a common

noun. It can be changed into singular by

taking article a or into plural forms by taking -s.

Conversion (2) Partial conversion the poor, the poorer, the poorest the more affluent, the most corrupt In partial conversion, an adjective

functions as a noun but it keeps the adjective features:

A. it should be used with the article the; B. it can be used in different degrees.

Conversion Examples: Come to the fire and have a warm. Poor innocents! The old man is the poorest among the

poor. The young should not look down upon

the old.

Conversion Miscellaneous conversion Would you like a with or a without? (preposition) Better to be an also-ran than a never-

was. (past form) His argument contains too many ifs

and buts. (conjunction)

Conversion Life is full of ups and downs. (particles) Rubber gloves are a must if your skin

is sensitive to washing powders. (modal verb) Patriotisms, nationalisms, and any

other isms you'd like to name. (suffix)

Conversion 2. Conversion to V (verbs) N to V Seven types of meaning of V

converted from N: (1) To put in or on N The thief was pocketing the money

from the drawer when the host came in. (to put the money into the pocket)

Conversion (2) To give N or to provide with N Now the scientists are busy fueling

the rocket. (to provide the rocket with fuel) (3) To remove N from The monkey knows how to peel

bananas before eating them. (to remove the peel from bananas)

Conversion (4) To do with N People there have to pump water

from deep wells. (to get water with pumps) (5) To be or act as N Each supervisor tutors three post-

graduate students. (to act as tutors)

Conversion (6) To make or change into N You can fool some of the people all the

time, and all the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all the peo

ple all the time. (Loncoln) (to change them into fools)

Conversion (7) To send or go by N Bush helicoptered to Irag stealthily. (to go by helicopter) The goods will be shipped to Shanghai. (to send by ship) All the verbs converted from nouns are tr

ansitive except type (7), which includes intransitive use.

Conversion suffix (v) The function of the bound morphemes w

hen suffixed to nominals… To noun the process, …

Conversion A to V Meaning of verbs converted: He walked carefully so as not to wet his s

hoes. (to make …wet) vt The photograph yellowed with age. (to become yellow) vi

Conversion Two men carrying a wooden keg

emptied its contents into the opening. The play was over and the auditorium

began to empty. Most verbs converted from A can be

used both transitively and intransitively.

Transitive verbs are not many and intransitive verbs are few.

Conversion Miscellaneous conversion The intellectuals are muched again. (adverb to V) We downed a few beers. (particle to V) She will off and do her own thing. (Particle to V)

Conversion But me no buts. (conjunction to V) The engineers ahed and ouched at the ne

w car. (Onamatopeic word to V)

Conversion 3. Changes Changes are few, but the few changes are f

ound mainly in pronunciation and spelling. (1) Voiceless to voiced consonant 　　 Noun 　　　　　 Verb 　　 house /-s/ 　　　 house /-z/ 　　 use /-s/ 　　　　 use /-z/ mouth /-θ/ 　　 mouth /-ð/ 　 shelf /-f/ 　　　 shelve /-v/ heath /-θ/ 　 sheathe /-ð/

Conversion (2) Vowel change Noun Verb breath /e θ / breathe /i: ð / bath /α: θ / bathe /ei ð /

Conversion (3) Initial to end stress Noun Verb `conduct con`duct `extract ex`tract `permit per`mit