Lesson 5: Conversion (Zero-Derivation)
When Words Change Their Jobs
You have learned how we add prefixes and suffixes to change a word's meaning or type. But sometimes, English is a little 'lazy' in a very clever way! It uses the exact same word as a noun, a verb, or even an adjective. This is called "conversion1" or "zero-derivation". Understanding this concept is a key B2 skill for recognizing a word's part of speech2 in a sentence.
What is Conversion?
Conversion is when we use a word that is usually one part of speech (like a noun) as a different part of speech (like a verb) without changing its spelling. The word's 'job' changes based on its position in the sentence.
Common Examples of Conversion (Noun ↔️ Verb)
| Word | As a Noun (a thing) | As a Verb (an action) |
|---|---|---|
| I received an email. | Please email me the report. | |
| book | I am reading a good book. | I need to book a hotel room. |
| water | Can I have a glass of water? | You need to water the plants. |
| text | I sent you a text message. | Please text me when you arrive. |
| Google is a search engine. | Just google it if you don't know the answer. |
Noun to Adjective Conversion
Sometimes a noun can be used *like* an adjective to describe another noun.
- a stone wall (a wall made of stone)
- a school bus (a bus for the school)
Usage Note: How to Identify a Word's Job
If the same word can be a noun and a verb, how do you know which one it is? Look at the sentence position! Grammar gives you clues.
- If it follows 'a', 'an', or 'the', it is usually a noun.
Example: "I sent an email." - If it follows a subject (I, you, he) and shows an action, it is a verb.
Example: "I will email you." - If it comes before another noun and describes it, it is acting like an adjective.
Example: "a brick wall."
In Conversation
Srey and Bora are planning a trip.
Srey: Bora, I need to book our bus tickets for the trip.
Bora: Okay. Can you also check if the guesthouse has our booking?
Srey: Sure. I'll send them an email right now.
Bora: Great. While you email them, I'm going to get a cold drink.
Srey: Okay. Can you bring me some water? I need to water my plants before we leave.
Bora: No problem. I'll also send you a text when I'm on my way back.
quiz Check Your Understanding
1. In the sentence "Please text me later," what is the job of the word 'text'?
- a) Noun
- b) Verb
- c) Adjective
Click to see the answer
Answer: b) Verb (It's an action you can do).
2. In the sentence "I received your text," what is the job of the word 'text'?
- a) Noun
- b) Verb
- c) Adjective
Click to see the answer
Answer: a) Noun (It's the thing that you received).
3. When a word like 'book' can be a noun or a verb without changing its spelling, this is called ______.
- a) a prefix
- b) a suffix
- c) conversion
Click to see the answer
Answer: c) conversion
edit Your Mission
- My Sentences: The word 'water' can be a noun or a verb. Write two sentences showing both uses.
- Find Your Own: Think of another word in English that can be both a noun and a verb. (Hint: think about your phone or a physical conflict). Write two sentences with it.
- Speak: Your mission is to use one word from this lesson as both a noun and a verb in a conversation. (e.g., "I sent you an email. Did you want me to email you again?")
book Lesson Glossary
- Conversion / Zero-Derivation (noun) - Khmer: ការបំប្លែង (kaa bɑm-phlaeng) - The process of changing a word's function (e.g., from noun to verb) without adding a prefix or suffix. ↩
- Part of Speech (noun phrase) - Khmer: ផ្នែកនៃពាក្យ (phnaek ney peak) - The category to which a word belongs based on its grammatical function (e.g., noun, verb, adjective). ↩