English Word Power : Prefixes and Suffixes

Prefixes and suffixes

Words with a different grammatical form or meaning can be derived from a base word using prefixes and suffixes. By understanding how these prefixes and suffixes work, it is often easier to deal with unknown vocabulary. You can sometimes see what part of speech a word is (verb, noun, adjective etc.), or additional information that a prefix may give.

1. Changes in grammatical form.

The noun 'power' can be used as an adjective by adding the suffix ~ful (powerful). The adverbial form is made by adding the suffix ~ly to the adjective (powerfully).

The verb 'to improve' becomes a noun by adding the suffix ~ment (improvement). The same root word can also become a verb (improvise)

The noun 'nation' changes into an adjective with the suffix ~al (national), and by adding another suffix

~ize the word changes from an adjective to a verb (nationalize)

The adjective 'special' can change to a verb (specialize) or a noun (speciality).

2. Changes in meaning.

Prefixes and suffixes can also change the meaning of a word.

The meaning of 'possible' is reversed with the addition of the prefix im~ (impossible).

To 'overeat' means to eat too much and if food is undercooked, it is not cooked enough.

Some suffixes commonly denote an occupation.

Eg. The verb 'to teach' is transformed into the occupation with the suffix ~er (teacher).

Both grammatical changes and changes in meaning can be applied to the same base word.

Eg. The noun 'interest' can be made an adjective and given opposite meaning by adding a prefix and a suffix ~un….~ing (uninteresting).

3. Changes in pronunciation.

When prefixes and suffixes are added to root words, the word stress sometimes changes.

Eg. Noun & verb: 'photograph'. Adjective: 'photographic'. Opposite: 'unphotographic'.

Person: 'photographer'.

In English the word stress is often on the third syllable from the end.

Overleaf is a list of the most common suffixes and prefixes and the grammatical and meaning changes that they apply to root words.

Prefixes

What Are Prefixes?

•Prefixes are first syllables like “non-” and “re-” that have their own meaning.

•Prefixes combine with words to create new meanings.

1.Pre + View = Preview (first look)

2.Super + Star = Superstar (top player)

Why Learn Prefixes?

•Prefixes add meaning to thousands of words.

•Learn a few prefixes, and you open up the meaning of thousands of words.

•The four most frequent prefixes are 97% of prefixed words!

Most Common Prefixes

1. a = without : amoral, apolitical, atypical

2. ante = before : antecedent, antedate

3. anti = against, opposing : anti-war, anti-bacterial

4. arch = more extreme : arch-capitalist, arch-rebel

5. auto = self : auto-dial, auto-rotate

6. bi = two, twice : bilingual, bisect, bi-monthly

7. circum = round : circumnavigate, circumvent

8. co = with : co-author, co-edit

9. col, com, con = with : collaborate, combine, connect

10. contra, counter = against, opposing : contraception, counter-claim

11. de = opposite action : declassify, destroy

12. dia = across : diagonal, diameter

13. dis = not, opposite of : disagree, disprove, distrust, disbelief

14. dys = abnormal : dyslexia, dysfunctional

15. e = electronic : e-literate, e-book

16. eco = relating to the environment : eco-tourism, eco-disaster

17. en(m) = cause to : encode, embrace

18. equi = equal : equidistant, equilateral

19. ex = previously : ex-president, ex-student

20. extra = very : extra-bright, extra-strong

21. extra = outside : extra-curricular, extra-sensory

22. fore = before : forecast

23. hyper = having too much : hyperactive, hypersensitive

24. il, im, in, ir = not : illogical, impossible, indistinct, irrational

25. in(m) = in, movement to: input, inset, intake, implant, import

26. inter = between, connected : interrelated, interact

27. intra = within : intra-generational, intramuscular

28. kilo = thousand : kilogram, kilometer, kilowatt

29. macro = large in size or scope : macro-economics, macro-scale

30. mal = badly : malfunction, malpractice

31. micro = small in size or scope : micro-economics, micro-scale

32. mid = middle : midway

33. mis = wrongly : mistake, mistranslate, misunderstanding

34. mono = one : mono-centric, monoculture

35. multi = many : multicultural, multi-level

36. neo =  based on something older but in new form : neo-classical

37. non = not : non-believer, non-competitive, nonsense

38. out = more, to a greater extent : outnumber, outlive

39. over = over/above/too much : overlook, overcook, overhead

40. post = after : post-examination, post-modern

41. pre = before : pre-industrial, preview, pre-war

42. pro = in favour of : pro-feminist, pro-liberal

43. pseudo = false : pseudo-intellectual, pseudo-science

44. quasi = almost, not quite : quasi-academic, quasi-legal

45. re = again : rediscover, redefine, rename, return

46. retro = backwards : retrogressive, retrospective

47. semi = half, partly : semicircle, semi-organic, semi-precious

48. sub = under, beneath, part of something: submarine, subsection

49. super = above, bigger : superpower, supersonic, superstar

50. trans = across : transcontinental, transcribe, transport

51. ultra = extreme : ultra-sensitive, ultrasound

52. un = not : uncertain, unusual, unscrew, unplug, unfriendly

53. under = insufficient, under, beneath : underemployed, undersea

54. well = useful, successful : well-designed, well-written

Now we will turn our attention to suffixes

Suffixes for Adjectives

~ful      ~ive       

~al       ~ic         

 ~ed     ~able                  

~ing    ~ible      

~ish     ~ous     

~ly       ~y          

~some            ~like      

~worthy                        

                          

Suffixes for Nouns                 

~ment             ~er        

~ness  ~age      

~sion  ~sis       

~tion   ~ism     

~ty       ~ity        

~al       ~ant      

~ance  ~ssion              

~hood             ~ship    

~dom              ~th        

~ght    ~cess    

~ful                   

Suffixes for   Adverbs                                    

~ly                     

~ily                    

~ely                   

~ingly               

Suffixes for                  

'Without/small'                        

~less                 

~let                    

                          

Suffixes for verbs                   

~ize                   

~ise                   

~yse                  

~ate                   

~ent                  

~en                    

~ify                    

~fy                     

~ct                     

~fine                 

~ive                   

                          

Suffixes for                  

Professions & people                         

~er                    

~ess (female)               

~or                    

~ian                   

~ist                    

~ic                     

~ee                    

~eer                  

~man                

                          

Suffixes for University subjects                   

~ics                   

~y                      

~ing                  

~ism                                

What Are Suffixes?

Suffixes are last syllables like “ed” and “ly” that have their own meaning.

Suffixes combine with words to create new meanings.

1.Turn + ed = Turned (in the past)

2. Quick + ly = Quickly (how it turned)

Why Learn Suffixes?

Suffixes add meaning to thousands of words.

Learn a few Suffixes, and you open up the meaning of thousands of words.

The four most frequent suffixes are 97% of suffixed words!

Most Common Suffixes

1. -able, ible = can be done : identifiable, predictable

2. -al, ial = has property of : personal

3. -ant = having an effect : coolant, accelerant
4. –based = forming a major part of : computer-based, oil-based

5. –cy = state or quality : accuracy, literacy, urgency

6. -ed* = past verb : turned

7. –ee = person affected by something : interviewee, trainee, addressee

8. -en = made of : golden

9. -er = comparative : higher

10. -er = one who : doer, actor

11. -est = superlative : best, biggest

12. –free = without : debt-free, pain-free

13. –ful = full of : careful, joyful

14. –hood = state, condition, period : adulthood, motherhood

15. –ic = having property of, connected with : linguistic, photographic, electric

16. –ics = study of : genetics, electronics

17. –ify = give something a quality : clarify, purify, solidify

18. –ing* = present participle : running

19. –ism = belief, behaviour : modernism, heroism

20. – ist = person with specific beliefs or behaviour : anarchist, optimist

21. –(t)ion = act, process : action

22. –(i)ty = state of : infinity, sanity

23. –(t)ive = adjective : motive, votive

24. –ize, -ise = bring about a state or condition : modernize/modernize, colonize/colonise

25. –less = without : fearless, careless, childless, meaningless

26. –like = resembling : bird-like, child-like, hook-like

27. –ly* = having : quickly, quietly

28. –ment = action, process : enjoyment

29. –ness = quality or state of : kindness, effectiveness, openness

30. –ocracy = type of ruling body : meritocracy, bureaucracy

31. –ocrat = person ruling : technocrat, aristocrat

32. –ology, -ological = study of : archaeology, biology, biological, geology, physiological

33. –ous = having : joyous, religious

34. –proof = protected against, safe from : waterproof, dustproof

35. –s* = more than one : books

36. –ship = state or experience of having a specific position : professorship, leadership

20. –y = having : happy, windy

 Use these suffixes correctly, and you look and sound pretty smart.