Combining Forms
📋 What it is
Greek combining forms act like roots that love company: -ology = study of, -graphy = writing of, -phile = lover of, -phobia = fear of, -scope = tool to see.
🗣️ Coach says
These are word-building LEGO. "bio + -ology" = the study of life = biology. "tele + -scope" = a far-seeing tool. Snap a topic onto the form and you have named a science or a tool.
🧠 Memory hook
-ology = study of · -graphy = writing of · -phile = lover of · -phobia = fear of.
😂 Giggle
What did "un-" say to the happy word?
"Not so fast — I can flip your whole meaning!"
😲 Whoa!
"Arachnophobia" (fear of spiders) and "philosophy" (love of wisdom) both hide a feeling-part: -phobia = fear, phil- = love.
✅ Quick check: "-ology" means "the study of". What does a "zoologist" study? (zoo = animal)
Say your answer out loud first — then reveal.
Animals — zoology is the study of animals, so a zoologist studies animals.
A combining form + a topic root names an entire field of study.
🧪 Try it! (2 minutes)
Build the "study of" words for earth (geo), the heart (cardio), and weather (meteor).