Derivational paradigm – Is there any? A contrastive research

Adjectives → Adverb
s 
A fully regular adverbial 
paradigm is formed by means of the suffix ‘
-
ment’
.
(26) 
gros
Adj 
‘fat’ → 
grossière
ment
Adv
/
grossisse
ment
Adv 
‘fatty’; 
profond
Adj 
‘deep’
 
→ 
profondé
ment
Adv 
‘deeply’; etc.
 
Adjectives → Nouns
 
Several suffixes derive nouns from adjectives. The most regular paradigm is found with the 
su
ffix ‘
-
eur’, however the paradigm is merely semi
-regular.
 

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102 
Adjectives → Adjectives
 
The derivation of adjectives from adjectives is rather irregular in French. Three suffixes 
derived adjectives from adjectives in the analysed sample. However, neither of the three 
derived regular adjectival paradigm. To illustrate, t
he suffix ‘
-
able’ gives rise to 
bas
able
Adj 
‘one which can be decreased’; 
cors
able
Adj
 
‘one which can be sharpen’
 
and 
déli
able
Adj 
‘one 
which can be slimmed’.
 
Adjectives → Verbs
 
The derivation of verbs from adjectives is also rather irregular. The derivation is enabled by 
the following suffixes: the suffix 
‘
-
er’ and the suffix ‘
-
ir’. The former derives 
a semi-regular 
derivational paradigm with verbs such as 
profond
er
V 
‘to deepen’;
baiss