Conversion

CONVERSION

Conversion is the process in which a word of one grammatical form becomes a word of another grammatical form without any changes to spelling or pronunciation. Conversion is also referred to as zero derivation or null derivation with the assumption that the formal change between words results in the addition of an invisible morpheme. However, linguistics argue for a clear distinction between the word formation processes of derivation and conversion.

Noun to verb conversion

access – to access

bottle – to bottle

can – to can

closet – to closet

email – to email

eye – to eye

fiddle – to fiddle

fool – to fool

Google – to google

host – to host

knife – to knife

microwave – to microwave

name – to name

pocket – to pocket

salt – to salt

shape – to shape

ship – to ship

spear – to spear

torch – to torch

verb – to verb

For example:

My grandmother bottled (verb) the juice and canned (verb) the pickles.

My grandmother put the juice in a bottle (noun) and the pickles in a can (noun).

She microwaved (verb) her lunch.

She heated her lunch in the microwave (noun).

The doctor eyed (verb) my swollen eye (noun).

Verb to noun conversion

to alert – alert

to attack – attack

to call – call

to clone – clone

to command – command

to cover – cover

to cry – cry

to experience – experience

to fear – fear

to feel – feel

to hope – hope

to increase – increase

to judge – judge

to laugh – laugh

to rise – rise

to run – run

to sleep – sleep

to start – start

to turn – turn

to visit – visit

For example:

The guard alerted (verb) the general to the attack (noun).

The enemy attacked (verb) before an alert (noun) could be sounded.

Sometimes one just needs a good cry (noun).

The baby cried (verb) all night.

We need to increase (verb) our productivity to see an increase (noun) in profits.

Other Conversions

Conversion also occurs, although less frequently, to and from other grammatical forms. For examples:

adjective to verb: green → to green (to make environmentally friendly)

preposition to noun: up, down → the ups and downs of life

conjunction to noun: if, and, but → no ifs, ands, or buts

interjection to noun: ho ho ho → I love the ho ho hos of Christmastime.

http://www.brighthubeducation.com/esl-lesson-plans/59339-teaching-word-formation-conversion/#sthash.pF1QvkRd.dpuf