SUPPLEMENTARY 3
ROOT WORDS, PREFIXES AND SUFFIXES
PREFIX (before)
mis
en
ROOT(core)
SUFFIX(after)
use
use
less/ ful
joy
ment/ ful
*Notes: We can change the meaning of a word by putting something before or after the root.
Prefixes may create new words: immigrate, preoccupied
Prefixes may create antonyms:
unfriendly dissatisfied
The following are commonly used prefixes that modify the words they precede
PREFIX
aero
ante
anti
aqua
auto
bene
bi two,
circum
co with,
contra
counter
de away,
dis
e
en
ex
fore
hyper
in, im, ir, il
MEANING
air
before
against
water
self
good
twice
around
together
against
against
down, remove
not
out of
take in
out of, previous, from
in front, before
extreme, exaggerated
not
USAGE
aero plane aeronautical aerodynamic
antenatal ante-nuptial contract
anticlockwise anti-nuclear antisocial
aquarium aquamarine
autobiography autograph automatic
benefactor beneficial benefit
bicycle binocular bi-annual
circumference circumnavigate
co-pilot co-operate collate
contradict contravene
counteract counterattack
descend de-stress decompose
disembark disengage disarray
emit emigration
engulf enjoy endear
extract ex-President ex-New Yorker
foreground foresee forecast
hypersensitive hypermarket hyperbole
insufficient improper irregular illiterate
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PREFIX
MEANING
mid
mis
mono
multi
non
poly
post
pre
re
semi/hemi
sub
tele
trans
tri
ultra
middle
not, incorrect
one
many
not
many
after
before, in front
again
half
under
at a distance
across
three
extreme
un
not
USAGE
midway midrib midstream
misunderstood misusage
monotonous monologue
multiracial multimillionaire
non-toxic non-believer nonentity
polygamy polyclinic
post war postpone
premeditated premature prefix
rewind reapply
semi-circle semi-conscious hemisphere
submarine subdivide sub-editor
telephone television telescope
transport translate
tricycle triangle trilogy
ultra-sensitive ultrasonic ;
uninspired unco-operative unconventional
SUFFIXES
Insert the right suffixes into the spaces provided.
1. A systems anal_____ studies organization_____ systems and
decides what act_____
needs to be taken to maxim_____ efficien_____.
2. A program____ designs, writes, and tests programmes for perform____ various tasks on
a comput____.
3. Laser print_____s are prefer_____ to other types of print_____ devices because of their
speed and quite_____
4. The microcomput_____ we have purchased does not have a FORTRAN compil____. It
is program_____ in BASIC only.
5. Spool____ is a way of stor____ data temporari ______on disk or tape until it can be
process____ by another part of the system.
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6. The number of ship____s will increase over the com____ months.
7. We decided to computer____ the entire planet to give each divis____ more
independ____.
8. We have found that operat_____s who have the freedom to take short breaks during
the day great____ improve their perform_____.
9. Turn____ your office into a paper____ environ____ may be expens____ at the
beginning, but can produce big sav____s in the long run.
10. Software develop ____s are produc____
applicat_____s for a grow____ glob____
increasing____ sophisticat____
market.
PREFIXES
Insert the right prefixes into the spaces provided
1. You will receive a ____-annual bonus (twice a year) if you get this job.
2. If a printer ____functions, you should check the ____face cable
3. Most people prefer a colour screen to a _____chrome screen.
4. ____proper installation of the ____glare shield will make it ____possible to read what is
on the screen
5. A ____byte equals approximately one million bytes.
6. You can ____mize your chances of finding a job if you are ____lingual or
even____lingual
7. ____pheral devices can be either ____put devices (such as keyboards) or ____put devices
(such as printers).
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8. Floppy disks are ____expensive and ____useable.
9. The introduction of _____conductor technology revolutionized the computer industry.
10. As the results are ____ regular, the programme will have to be _____ written
PREFIXES & SUFFIXES
Complete the table with the correct form of the word. If you are not sure of the correct
form, check your dictionary.
Noun
imagination
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
complete
convincing
excel
satisfactorily
excess
repeated
consideration
succeed
comparatively
separate
persuade
decisively
competitive
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