PREFIXES AND SUFFIXES

Words with a different grammatical form or meaning can be derived from a base word
using prefixes and suffixes.
By understanding how these prefixes and suffixes work, it is often easier to deal with
unknown vocabulary. You can sometimes see what part of speech a word is (verb, noun,
adjective etc.), or additional information that a prefix may give.

Changes in grammatical form

The noun 'power' can be used as an adjective by adding the suffix ~ful (powerful). The
adverbial form is made by adding the suffix ~ly to the adjective (powerfully).
The verb 'to improve' becomes a noun by adding the suffix ~ment (improvement). The
same root word can also become a verb (improvise)
The noun 'nation' changes into an adjective with the suffix ~al (national), and by
adding another suffix ~ize the word changes from an adjective to a verb (nationalize)
The adjective 'special' can change to a verb (specialize) or a noun (speciality).

Changes in meaning
Prefixes and suffixes can also change the meaning of a word.
The meaning of 'possible' is reversed with the addition of the prefix im~ (impossible).
To 'overeat' means to eat too much and if food is undercooked, it is not cooked enough.

Some suffixes commonly denote an occupation.

For example, the verb 'to teach' is transformed into the occupation with the suffix ~er
(teacher).

Both grammatical changes and changes in meaning can be applied to the same base
word. For example, the noun 'interest' can be made an adjective and given opposite
meaning by adding a prefix (un~) and a suffix (~ing) (uninteresting).

Changes in pronunciation
When prefixes and suffixes are added to root words, the word stress sometimes changes.
For example,
Noun and verb: 'photograph’; Adjective: 'photographic'; Opposite: 'unphotographic';
Person: 'photographer'.

In English the word stress is often on the third syllable from the end.
Prefixes
What are Prefixes?
Prefixes are first syllables like “non-” and “re-” that have their own meaning.
Prefixes combine with words to create new meanings.
For example,
Pre + View = Preview (first look) and Super + Star = Superstar (top player)

Why learn Prefixes?

Prefixes add meaning to thousands of words.
Learn a few prefixes, and you open up the meaning of thousands of words.

Most Common Prefixes

Examples

a = without amoral, apolitical, atypical

ante = before antecedent, antedate, antenatal

anti = against, opposing anti-war, anti-bacterial, antiviral, antivirus,

antisocial

arch = more extreme arch-capitalist, arch-rebel, arch-enemy

auto = self auto-dial, auto-rotate, autofocus

bi = two, twice bilingual, bisect, bi-monthly, bicycle

circum = round circumnavigate, circumvent

co = with co-author, co-edit, co-pilot

col, com, con = with collaborate, colleague, combine, connect

contra, counter = against, opposing contraception, counter-claim

de = opposite action declassify, destroy

dia = across diagonal, diameter

dis = not, opposite of disagree, disprove, distrust, disbelief

dys = abnormal dyslexia, dysfunctional

e = electronic e-book, e-mail

eco = relating to the environment eco-tourism, eco-disaster

en(m) = cause to encode, embrace, empower

equi = equal equidistant, equilateral

ex = previously ex-president, ex-student, ex-boyfriend

extra = very extra-bright, extra-strong, extraordinary

extra = outside extra-curricular, extra-sensory

fore = before forecast, foresee, forehead

hyper = having too much hyperactive, hypersensitive

il, im, in, ir = not illogical, illegible, impossible, imperfect,

indistinct, irrational, irresponsible

in(m) = in, movement to input, inset, intake, implant, import

inter = between, connected interrelated, interact

intra = within intra-generational, intramuscular

kilo = thousand kilogram, kilometre, kilowatt

macro = large in size or scope macro-economics, macro-scale

mal = badly malfunction, malpractice

micro = small in size or scope micro-economics, micro-scale

mid = middle midway, midday, midnight

mis = wrongly mistake, mistranslate, misunderstanding,

misspelling

mono = one mono-centric, monoculture, monologue

multi = many multicultural, multi-level, multinational

neo = based on something older neo-classical, neo-colonialism

but in new form

non = no non-believer, non-competitive, non-payment,

non-negotiable, non-resident, nonsense

out = more, to a greater extent outnumber, outlive, outdated, outcry,

outdoors, outcast

over = over/above/too much overlook, overcook, overhead, overflow,

overexcited, overdue, overexcited,
overemphasis, overpay, overpopulated

post = after post-examination, posthumous, postscript,

post-mortem, postgraduate

pre = before pre-industrial, preview, pre-war, pre-packed,

prepaid, pre-wash

pro = in favour of pro-feminist, pro-liberal

pseudo = false pseudo-intellectual, pseudo-science

quasi = almost, not quite quasi-academic, quasi-legal, quasi-scientific,

quasi-official

re = again rediscover, redefine, rename, return, refund,

remake, rewind

retro = backwards retrogressive, retrospective

semi = half, partly semicircle, semi-organic, semi-precious

sub = under, beneath, part of submarine, subsection, subtitle, subtotal,

something subscribe

super = above, bigger superpower, supersonic, supernatural,

superstar, superhuman,

trans = across transcontinental, transcribe, transport,

transform,

ultra = extreme ultra-sensitive, ultrasound, ultraviolet

un = not uncertain, unusual, unscrew, unplug,

unfriendly, unannounced, unanswered,
uncomfortable, unappealing, unarmed, untidy,
unclear, unbalanced, unchecked, unchanged,
uncover

under = insufficient, under, underemployed, undersea, undercharge,

beneath undercook, underinsured, underground,
underline, undernourished, underperform,
underpriced, understatement

well = useful, successful well-designed, well-written, well-groomed,

well-wisher

Suffixes
What are Suffixes?
Suffixes are last syllables like “ed” and “ly” that have their own meaning.
Suffixes combine with words to create new meanings.
For example,
Turn + ed = Turned (in the past) and Quick + ly = Quickly (how it turned)

Why learn Suffixes?

Suffixes add meaning to thousands of words.
Learn a few Suffixes, and you open up the meaning of thousands of words.

Suffixes used to create nouns

~ment ; ~er; ~ness; ~age; ~sion; ~sis; ~tion; ~ism; ~ty; ~ity; ~al; ~ant; ~ance;
~ssion; ~hood; ~ship; ~dom; ~th; ~ght; ~cess; ~ful

Suffixes used to create adjectives

~ful; ~ive; ~ic; ~al; ~able; ~ed; ~ible; ~ing; ~ous; ~ish; ~y; ~ly; ~like;
~some; ~worthy

Suffixes used to create adjectives

~ize; ~ise; ~yse; ~ate; ~ent; ~ent; ~en; ~ify; ~fy; ~ct; ~fine; ~ive

Suffixes used to create adverbs

~ly; ~ily; ~ely; ~ingly

Suffixes for professions and people

~er; ~ess (female); ~or; ~ian; ~ist; ~ic; ~ee; ~eer; ~man

Suffixes to denote “without” or “small”

~less; ~let

Most Common Suffixes

Examples

-able, ible = can be done identifiable, responsible, predictable

-al, ial = has property of personal

-ant = having an effect coolant, accelerant

–based = forming a major part of: computer-based, oil-based

–cy = state or quality accuracy, literacy, urgency

-ed* = past simple “regular” verb turned, played, jumped

–ee = person affected by something interviewee, trainee, addressee, employee

-en = made of golden, wooden

-er = comparative adjectives higher, bigger, greater

-er, -or = one who doer, employer, worker, actor

-est = superlative adjectives highest, biggest, greatest, best

–free = without debt-free, pain-free, carefree

–ful = full of careful, joyful, successful, powerful, helpful

–hood = state, condition, period adulthood, motherhood, neighbourhood

–ic = having property of, connected linguistic, photographic, electric

with

–ics = study of genetics, electronics

–ify = give something a quality clarify, purify, solidify

–ing* = “continuous tense” running, walking, jumping, speaking

–ism = belief, behaviour modernism, heroism, feminism

– ist = person with specific beliefs anarchist, optimist, feminist

or behaviour

–(t)ion = act, process action, production

–(i)ty = state of infinity, sanity

–(t)ive = adjective motive, sensitive

–ize, -ise = bring about a state or modernize/modernise, colonize/colonise

condition

–less = without fearless, careless, meaningless, powerless

–like = resembling bird-like, child-like, hook-like

–ly* = adverb quickly, quietly, softly, generally, usually

–ment = action, process enjoyment, entertainment, settlement

–ness = quality or state of kindness, effectiveness, openness, frankness

–ocracy = type of ruling body meritocracy, bureaucracy

–ocrat = person ruling technocrat, aristocrat

–ology, -ological = study of archaeology, biology, geology, psychology,

physiological, biological, psychological

–ous = having joyous, religious, adventurous, ambitious

–proof = protected against, safe waterproof, dustproof

from

–s* = plural form books, teachers, sisters

–ship = state or experience of professorship, leadership, membership,

having a specific position friendship

–y = having happy, windy