Prefixes and suffixes
Prefixes:
are a group of letters that come at the beginning of a word and they change its meaning :
example : happy / unhappy war / postwar
Suffixes:
are a group of letters that come at the end of a word and they change its category ( verb – noun – adjective – adverb….) :
example :
child / childish
comfort / comfortable
lazy /lazily
- generally speaking there are three types of suffixes :
- Verb suffixes
are suffixes added to adjectives or nouns to make verbs .
dark (adjective) => darken
centre (noun) => centralize
- Noun suffixes
are suffixes added to verbs, adjectives, or nouns to make nouns.
manage (verb) => management
serious ( adjective) => seriousness
friend (noun) => friendship
- adjectival suffixes
are suffixes added to nouns, adjectives , or verbs to make adjectives .
beauty (noun) => beautiful
economic (adjective) =>economical
excite (verb) => excited
NOTE : a word without any prefix or suffix is called the root
List of Common prefixes
| Prefix | Meaning | Examples |
| anti | against, opposed to | antibiotic, antiwar, anti-virus, antifreeze |
| auto | self/by oneself | autobiography – autograph – autodidact – automatic |
| bi | two | bicycle – bilingual – bilateral |
| co | with – together | co-worker , co-producer , co-author |
| counter | against, opposing | counter-clockwise , counteract , counter-attack |
| de | undo / opposite action / remove | depress , demotivate , decode , degenerate |
| dis | not / the opposite of | dislike , distrust , disable , disagree , disorganised, disarm ,disadvantage ,disable , disobey |
| en | cause to be or become | enlarge ,enrich ,endanger ,enable ,enact |
| ex | former / previous | ex-teacher , ex-president , ex-student, ex-wife |
| il | not ( used before a word beginning with the letter “L” like legal) | illegal ,illogical ,illicit ,illegitimate |
| im | not ( used before a word beginning with the letter “m” like mature or “p” like possible) | immature ,impossible ,improbable ,imperfect -impersonal ,immodest ,immobile |
| in | not / opposite to | indistinct , inaccurate , indecent , inhuman ,incorrect , incapable , insufficient , incomprehensible , incomparable |
| in | in , movement to | insert , instil , inbuilt |
| inter | among / between / connected | international , inter-ship , intercontinental , internet |
| ir | not ( used before a word beginning with the letter “r” like rational) | irrational , irregular , irresistible , irresponsible ,irrelevant |
| mis | wrongly / badly | mislead , mistake , misunderstand |
| mono | one / having one | monolingual , monosyllabic |
| multi | many | multicultural , multilingual , multimedia |
| neo | new / based on something old but in a new form | neocolonialism , neoclassic , neonatal ,non-conservative |
| non | not | non-governmental , nonsense , non-essential |
| out | more / to a greater extent | outnumber , outlive , outrage , outlaw |
| over | above / too much | overcook , overheat , overdo , overeat , overpaid |
| poly | many | polyglot , polyclinic , polygamy |
| post | after /come after | postwar , post-conflict , post-communism ,post-colonialism |
| pseudo | false | pseudonym , pseudo-scientist , |
| pre | before / come before | prehistoric , prefix , pretest , predict , prepare |
| pro | in favour of | pro-American , pro-capitalist , proactive |
| re | back / do again | redo , rewrite , rename , revisit |
| self | by oneself | self-made , self-sufficient , self-service ,self-taught , selfish |
| half | semi | half-baked , halfway , half-time |
| sub | under / beneath | submarine , subject , subordinate , subway |
| super | above / beyond | superpower , superman , superstar |
| tele | far | telephone , telescope , telecommunicate , telescope |
| trans | across | transcontinental , transatlantic , transfer , transform |
| un | not | unknown , unjust , unkind , unsafe , unable |
| under | below / beneath / not enough , insufficient | underline , under-age , underemployed , underpaid |
List of Common suffixes
| suffixes | meaning | examples |
| -able/-ible | liable / that can be of /capable of | drinkable , washable , disposable , believable , responsible |
| -ai /ial | has the property of | personal , industrial , financial , critical , musical |
| -ance | state /condition or quality | acceptance , inheritance , performance , assistance ,importance ,guidance |
| -ant | quality or state / full of | assistant , distant , important , pleasant , ignorant , relevant , tolerant |
| -ate | to make | cooperate , procrastinate , coordinate , decorate ,collaborate , accelerate , activate , donate , animate |
| -ent | quality or state | fluent , innocent , prudent , silent , different ,confident |
| -ar | one who / thing which / from | liar , regular , muscular , solar , lunar , similar |
| -ary | like / connected with / belonging to | stationary , dictionary , legendary , imaginary ,necessary , secondary , documentary , summary , voluntary |
| -dom | state or condition | freedom , boredom , wisdom |
| -cy | state or quality | literacy , accuracy , frequency , fluency , democracy ,privacy |
| -ed | past from | turned , collected , cooked , killed |
| -en | made of (adjective) | golden , wooden |
| -en | to make (verb) | lengthen , widen , shorten , soften , threaten |
| -ence | quality or state | reference , conference , residence , difference ,violence , existence , competence |
| -ent | one who | resident , president |
| -er | one who | teacher , writer , painter , worker , player |
| -er | comparative | taller , shorter , bigger , smaller , faster |
| -ful | full of / with | hopeful , painful , careful , joyful , skilful ,peaceful , successful , harmful ,wonderful |
| -hood | state / condition / period | fatherhood , girlhood , neighbourhood , adulthood ,womanhood , brotherhood |
| -ic | having the property of / connected with | heroic , economic , automatic , periodic , allergic ,fantastic |
| -ify | make …./cause…. | clarify , justify , purify , solidify , classify ,simplify , qualify , verify , identify |
| -ion | act / process | action , prediction , pollution , solution , addition ,occupation , description , explanation , classification |
| -ish | like / similar to / of a nationality | childish , girlish , mannish , Spanish , British ,foolish |
| -ism | act / action / behaviour / doctrine | tourism , cubism , criticism , socialism , journalism ,racism , feminism , heroism |
| -ist | person with specific knowledge , belief or behaviour | optimist , typist , specialist , stylist , socialist ,novelist , dentist |
| -ive | connection / function / disposition / character /quality / tendency / inclination | detective , destructive , impressive , massive ,productive , creative , active , attentive , passive , relative ,addictive |
| -ity | state / quality or condition | sanity , ambiguity ,, ability , purity , fraternity ,dignity |
| -ize / -ise | bring about a state or condition / make | modernize , colonize , advertise , summarise , analyse |
| -less | without | homeless, childless , fearless , toothless ,sleepless ,jobless |
| -ly | every | daily , weekly , monthly |
| -ment | action / process | enjoyment , employment , development , movement ,environment , agreement |
| -ness | quality / state of being | kindness , openness , darkness , awareness , happiness ,greatness |
| -or | the person who | actor , doctor , advisor , counsellor ,governor , sailor |
| -ory | the state of being / relating to | satisfactory , discriminatory , repository ,contradictory , compulsory |
| -ous | full of / having | marvellous , religious , famous |
| -ship | state or experience of having a specific position | leadership , relationship , championship , citizenship,friendship , membership |
| -y | the state of / having | sunny , rainy , happy |
Prefixes and suffixes
Leaderboard: Prefixes and suffixes
| Pos. | Name | Entered on | Points | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Thank you soo much my teacher for all your effort may Allah bless you
Teacher please where i can found the answers ?
التصحيح هو منين تتعطي الجواب الصحيح . عاد التمرين تيقبلو وتيعطيك النقطة ديالك
Teacher please where i can found the answers ?
here in ya but
hi sir am aziza i wanted to askl you if prefixes and sufixes are included in 2 bac national exam? THANKS IN ADVANCE
Yes They are
Thank you my teacher nabil I’m zakaria
You are welcome zakaria . 🙂
6
thanks for the effort .
with pleasure , Rachid .