Name: ______________________
Topic:
Affixes (Suffixes & Prefixes) – Word Work
On a separate sheet of paper, answer each of the following questions using complete sentences, unless
otherwise indicated. Complete one section at a time throughout the week. Items in parenthesis, are
meant to help answer that question and are not separate questions. Unless noted, questions refer to the
English Language as used in America.
1. What is a suffix?
2. What is a prefix?
3. What is an affix?
4. What do the suffixes -ian, -ant, -ent, and –ist often do to the meaning of a word?
5. What do the prefixes bi-, tri-, semi-, uni- mean?
-----------6. Make a chart to answer this question: what “other” words end in -ian, -ant, -ent, or –ist and
refer to people? (try to find four for each) -ian
-ant
-ent
-ist
1
2
3
4
7. Make a chart to answer this question: what “other” words start with bi-, tri-, semi-, or uni-? (try
to find four for each)
bi-
tri-
semi-
uni-
1
2
3
4
----------8. What are the prefixes for the numbers four to ten?
9. Come up with two examples for each prefix in question 8.
10. What does the word semicolon mean? How is its meaning related to its affix and base word?
11. What does the word trillion mean? How is its meaning related to its affix and base word?
----------12. What does the word universal mean? How is its meaning related to its affix and base word?
13. What does the word incumbent mean? How is its meaning related to its affix and base word?
14. What does the word defendant mean? How is its meaning related to its affix and base word?
15. Make a chart to answer this question: what are “other” common affixes used in the English language?
Affix
1
2
3
4
5
Is it a Prefix or Suffix
Meaning
An Example
Another Example
This Week’s Words:
People Suffixes
Number Prefixes
1.
comedian
1.
biweekly
2.
musician
2.
bicycle
3.
custodian
3.
triangle
4.
physician
4.
triple
5.
accountant
5.
triplets
6.
defendant
6.
semicircle
7.
dependent
7.
semisweet
8.
novelist
8.
semifinals
9.
specialist
9.
unison
10.
soloist
10.
universal
11.
pedestrian
11.
bifocals
12.
technician
12.
bicentennial
13.
politician
13.
biceps
14.
attendant
14.
tripod
15.
participant
15.
trillion
16.
superintendent
16.
semiprivate
17.
incumbent
17.
semicolon
18.
pharmacist
18.
unicycle
19.
motorist
19.
unify
20.
chemist
20.
unique