THE RELATION OF THE VERBS WITH A PREFIX IN THE SLOVAK, SERBIAN AND ENGLISH LANGUAGE

Abstract

This paper gives insight into the correlation of verbal prefixes in Slovak, Serbian and English. To that effect, for the illustrative purpose, the examples were shown in tables to point out the semantic diversity and richness of the languages, that we analysed on a morpho-lexical, and in certain cases on a syntactic and also on word formation level, since prefixation is first of all a part of word formation, one of the most significant linguistic fields.

In terms of prefixes, the following caught attention the most: do-/до-, za-/за-, vy-/из-, na-/на-, od-/од-, po-/по-, pre-/пре-, pro-/про-, z-, s-/з-, с- and o-/о, because they have similar functions both in Slovak and Serbian. Even though there are verbal prefixes in English (out-, over-, under-, etc.), it is not always possible to find an adequate equivalent to Slovak or Serbian prefixes, so quite often catenative, periphrastic constructions and adverbial modifications can be found. The aim of this paper is to compare and contrast verbs with prefixes of two cognate languages and one which is not directly related and to show semantic and lexical richness that those prefixes bring into each of the mentioned languages.