Prefixes and Suffixes
Prefixes and suffixes are grammatical “affixes” (prefixes come
before the root word, and suffixes come after).
In very simplistic terms, prefixes change the meaning of words,
and suffixes change their form (including plural, tense,
comparative, and part of speech).
Prefixes – Change the Meaning of Words
Some of the most common prefixes are:
Prefix
unredisinternonprepostpolysubco-
Meaning
not
again
not, undo
between
not
before
after
many
under
together
Examples
unhappy, unsuccessful, unable
redo, return, reappear
disappear, disgrace, discontinue
International, internet, intermission
nonsense, nonfiction, nonviolent
predawn, prefix, precaution
postpone, postscript, postwar
polygamy, polyester, polyglot
subterranean, submarine, subordinate
cooperate, collaborate, coordinate
Suffixes – Change the Form of Words
Some of the most common suffixes are:
Form
Noun
Suffix
-age
-ence
-ant
-arium
-tion
-cy
-dom
-eer
-ectomy
Meaning
action or process
state or quality of
one who
place for
state or quality of
state or quality of
state or quality of
person
surgical removal of
Examples
marriage, voyage, pilgrimage
violence, absence, reticence
servant, immigrant, assistant
aquarium, planetarium, auditorium
starvation, inspiration, tension
accuracy, bankruptcy, conspiracy
freedom, boredom, wisdom
engineer, puppeteer, auctioneer
tonsillectomy, appendectomy
-ent
-eur
-hood
-i
-ism
-wright
-ology
Adjective -able
-acious
-ant
-ative
-ic
-y
Verb
-ble
-ed
-en
-ify
-ize
Adverb
-ly
-ward
-ways
one who
one who
state or quality of
plural
doctrine of
one who works with
study of
Is, can be
inclined to be
inclined to be
inclined to be
characteristic of
characteristic of
repeated action
past tense
made of
to make
to make
resembling
direction
manner
superintendent, resident, regent
chauffeur, masseur
childhood, falsehood, neighborhood
alumni, foci, syllabi
capitalism, socialism, patriotism
playwright, shipwright
biology, etymology, psychology
comfortable, durable, perishable
audacious, loquacious, spacious
vigilant, pleasant, defiant
demonstrative, talkative, pejorative
comic, poetic, historic
fruity, sunny, chewy
stumble, squabble, mumble
wanted, hated, looted
strengthen, fasten, frighten
terrify, falsify, vilify
standardize, computerize, pulverize
slowly, kindly, seriously
forward, backward, onward
sideways, crossways
Examples of words broken down by roots/prefixes/suffixes:
/
below
sub atom ic
|
\
atom
(a=not; tom=cut)
relating to the
science of
Subatomic means: relating to particles smaller than an atom.
small
micro
/
econom
|
household management, thrift
ics
\
scientific or social
system
Microeconomics refers to: the study of smaller components of
a national economy such as individual businesses or
consumers.
pseudo scientif ic
/
|
\
false
knowledge
having characteristics of
Pseudoscientific refers to: methods or theories based on faulty
scientific procedures or lacking supporting evidence.
super cali fragilistic expiali docious
/
|
|
|
\
above beauty
delicate
to atone
educable
In the movie Mary Poppins, this word is defined as “something
to say when you have nothing to say.” But using
knowledge of prefixes/suffixes, it could be defined as:
atoning for educability through delicate beauty.
For more information on roots, prefixes, suffixes, and how words
are formed, go to: www.Prefix.Suffix.com. There’s even a root
word search engine to help you understand a word’s meaning.
Any good dictionary will also have words broken down into
their individual components.