Affix definition: An affix is an word attachment to a root or stem that gives a word a different meaning. What is an Affix? What does affix mean? An affix literally “fix”es itself to a root word or a stem word. An affix changes the meaning of a word. An affix may be attached to the beginning or the end of a root or stem word. If an affix is attached to the beginning of a word, it is called a prefix. If an affix is attached to the end of a word, it is called a suffix. Some root or stem words may have both an affix and a suffix or multiple affixes and suffixes in order to make new words and to change the meaning of the root or stem word. Affix Examples: stem word: like with affix (prefix): unlike stem word: like with affix (suffix): likely Different Types of Affixes The two most common types of affixes are prefixes and suffixes. What is the different between Prefix and Suffix? In the English language, we often place prefixes and suffixes at the beginning and end, respectively, of a word in order to modify it. The original word does have meaning in itself, but by adding a prefix or suffix to it, we change the word. What is a prefix? Prefixes are placed at the beginning of a word in order to alter its meaning. “Janet resubmitted her application after she was initially denied a loan.” Resubmitted includes the prefix re which means again. What is the different between Prefix and Suffix? What is a suffix? Suffixes are placed at the end of a word in order to alter its meaning or change the classification of the word. “We work hard in order to ensure our children’s happiness.” Happiness includes the state of being suffix ness. By adding the suffix, we have changed our word from an adjective to a noun in order for it to fit grammatically in our sentence. What are Prefixes? What does prefix mean? A prefix can be a letter or group of letters that may be added to the beginning of a word in order to modify its meaning. Prefix Examples: • a-, an- = without; amoral, anemic word prefix new word • ante- = before; antecedent happy • co- = with; co-worker ununhappy • de- = off, remove; de-ice cultural multimulticultural • ex =out of, former; ex-boyfriend work overoverwork • il = not; illegal space cybercyberspace • inter = between; intergalactic market supersupermarket • post = after; postpone • super = above; supersede • un = not; unnatural Let’s try using a prefix in a sentence. Craig was dissatisfied with the customer service he received at the store. What are Suffixes? What does suffix mean? Suffixes are used at the end of words in order to change the word to fit grammatically within your sentence. Suffix Examples: • –al = having characteristics of; remedial, denial word suffix new word • –ed = past-tense verbs; traveled, talked child childish • –en = made of, consisting of; wooden, golden -ish work -er worker • –er, -est = comparative; stronger, strongest taste -less • –tion, -ion = state of being, condition; completion, relation tasteless • –ity = quality of; humility, enormity idol -ize/-ise idolize/idolise • –less = without; hopeless, homeless like -able likeable • –ly = characteristic of; brotherly, lovely • –s, -es = more than one; apples, trenches Let’s look at an example of a suffix used in a sentence: In government class, students will research the current election. Suffix = ion = act, process 2. If the verb ends in a Consonant + Y, we remove the Y and + IES in the third person.
