Unit 2: Grammar lesson
English 101C
Prefixes & suffixes are grammatical “affixes.” We use them
to change the meaning of a base word.
 Prefixes are added before a base word.
 UN + HAPPY = UNHAPPY
 Suffixes are added after a base word.
 HELP + FUL = HELPFUL
 Prefixes and suffixes can be used at the same time.
 PRE + HISTORY + IC = PREHISTORIC
Prefix
meaning
examples
Prefix
meaning
examples
Anti-
against
antisocial,
antioxidant
Hyper-
Over, more
Hyperactive,
hyperdrive
Co-
with
copilot,
coworker
Non-
Not, without Nonviolent,
nonsmoking
De-
Off, away
from
devalue,
deactivate
Mis-
Wrong or
incorrect
Misinform,
mistrust
Dis-
not
disappear,
disregard
Pre-, pro-
before
Precede,
project
En-
Put into
enclose,
enrich
Sub-
under
Submarine,
subatomic
Ex-
Out of,
former
Extract,
ex-president
Trans-
across
Transmit,
transverse
Il-, im-, in-,
ir-
Not, without Illegal,
immoral,
inadequate,
irregular
Un-
not
Unfinished,
unhappy,
unusual
Suffix
meaning
examples
Suffix
meaning
examples
- acy
state or
quality
privacy,
democracy
-ment
condition of
argument,
refreshment
- al
act or
process of
refusal,
disposal
-ness
state of
being
happiness,
kindness
-ance, -ence
state or
quality of
maintenance,
eminence
-sion, -tion
state of
being
transition,
concession
-er, -or
one who
trainer,
protector
-ship
position held friendship,
fellowship
-ism
doctrine,
belief
communism,
consumerism
-ate
become
eradicate,
agitate
- ist,
one who
chemist,
typist
-en
become
enlighten,
whiten
-ity, -ty
quality of
ability,
cruelty
-ize
become
civilize,
santize
suffix
meaning
examples
suffix meaning
examples
-able, -ible capable of being
Edible,
presentable
-ive
Having the
nature of
Creative,
festive
-al
pertaining to
Regional,
hormonal
-less
without
Endless,
helplesss
-esque
Reminiscent of
Picturesque,
romanesque
-y
Characterized
by
Lazy, sunny
-ful
Notable for
Beautiful,
helpful
-il, ile Pertaining to,
capable of
Civil, docile
-ic, -ical
Pertaining to
musical,
mystic
-ous
Full of
nauseous,
ludricrous
-ious, -ous Characterized by hilarious,
heinous
-ose
Full of
verbose,
glucose
-ish
-ly
Having the
attributes of
Quickly,
lovely
Having the
quality of
girlish,
foolish
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Valerie is unable to attend the party
The students were misinformed about their homework.
The food disappeared from the table.
The fireworks illuminated the sky.
The veterinarian declawed the cats.
When he drinks beer, he acts foolish.
Tom ate some bad fish and felt nauseous.
The loudness of the speakers hurt my ears.
The line for the tickets seemed endless.
I like going to festive parties.