Learn How to Use Prefixes and Suffixes

Learn How to Use Prefixes and Suffixes

Learn How to Use Prefixes and Suffixes

Suffixes and Prefixes 

Prefix-----<root-word>------Suffix 

un-comfort-able 

(un=prefix; comfort=root word; able=suffix) 

 

Affix is a group of letters added to a word to change its meaning and parts of speech. Some affixes can be added to the front of words and some others at the back. An affix added to the beginning of a word to form a new meaning is known as a prefix. For example, ‘mis’ in misunderstand, and ‘un’ in untie are called prefixes.  

The most common prefixes in English are – dis, in, re, un. These four covers most of the prefixed words. On the other hand, the most common suffixes are – ed, Ing, ly, es. They also cover most of the words made with suffixes.  

 

Now read the most commonly used prefixes, their meaning, and examples from the following table.  

 

Prefix	Implied meaning	Examples.
En	increase	Enrich, encourage, enlarge, enjoy, endanger.
un	not	Unhappy, unjust, uncommon, unpaid, unready.
re	again	Rewrite, reenter, recall, return, rethink.
In,im,ir	not	Incorrect, impossible, irrelevant, irregular
dis	opposite	Dislike, discomfort, dishonor, dismiss, disclose.
non	not	Nonsmoker, nonstop, nonregistered, non-Indian.
im	not/opposite	Impossible, impure, impatient, immoral.
over	above/extra	Overtime, overlook, overweight, overnight.
Ill	opposite	Illegal, illiterate, illegible, illogical, ill-practice.
mis	wrong	Misdeed, mistake, misguide, misunderstand.
sub	under	Substation, submarine, subcommittee, subdue
anti	against	Anti-nuclear, anti-aircraft, anti-liberation.

 

Look at some prefixes, their meaning and words formed with them. 

  

Prefixes	Implied meaning	Words formed
Under	Small/little	Undersize, underpaid
Co	with/together	Co-author, coordinator
Mal	opposite/bad	Malpractice, malnutrition
de	opposite	Defrost, deform
fore	front/before	Forehead, forecast.

 

Look at the most commonly used suffixes, their meaning, and words made with them from the following table.  

Suffixes	Implied meaning	Words/examples.
S, es	Pluralize/make a verb singular	Books, goes
ed	Form past tense/past participle/adj.	Helped, (had) helped
ing	Form present participle/adj/gerund	Running, running car
ly	Indicate how, when, where, or something happens	Slowly, friendly
er	Indicates a person who does a particular work  Make comparative degree.	Player, farmer    Bigger, taller
ic	Having qualities	Heroic, patriotic
Able, ible	Able to be	Comparable, invisible
ness	Indicate state, condition, degree	Brightness, kindness
ful	Having something	Powerful, handful
ment	completion	Payment, punishment