If you’re delving into English, you’re bound to cross paths with ‘prefixes and suffixes’. We teach these in depth at all EC English Language Centres , but we’re giving you a free lesson right here.
A prefix is a collection of letters placed at the onset of a word. Intriguingly, a prefix can’t function independently but has the prowess to alter a word’s essence.
1. “I feel uncomfortable speaking Italian; more practice is warranted.”
– Base Word: Comfortable | Prefix: Un-
– Outcome: Un- + Comfortable = Not Comfortable
2. “After underperforming in the test, the boy was demotivated, expecting better outcomes.”
– Base Word: Motivated | Prefix: De-
– Outcome: De- + Motivated = Lacking Motivation
3. “Have you seen the latest ‘Mission Impossible’? Tom Cruise’s real stunts are jaw-dropping!”
– Base Word: Possible | Prefix: Im-
– Outcome: Im– + Possible = Not Possible
Here’s 12 prevalent prefixes:
| No. | Prefix | Meaning | Example Word |
|———|————|———————–|———————-|
| 1 | Anti- | Against | Antisocial |
| 2 | De- | Opposite | Demotivated |
| 3 | Un- | Not | Unhappy |
| 4 | Dis- | Not, opposite of | Disagree |
| 5 | Im- | Not | Impolite |
| 6 | Mid- | Middle | Midday |
| 7 | Mis- | Wrongly | Misunderstand |
| 8 | Over- | Excessive | Overenthusiastic |
| 9 | Pre- | Before | Prehistoric |
| 10 | Re- | Again | Rewrite |
| 11 | Super- | Above, beyond | Superhuman |
| 12 | Under- | Below | Underestimate |
To truly harness the power of prefixes, it’s pivotal to not just comprehend them, but also consistently employ them in real-life contexts, enhancing both understanding and application.
A suffix is a set of letters affixed to the end of a word. It can’t stand alone and transforms the word’s meaning. Interestingly, suffixes modify words differently than prefixes. For clarity, consider the following illustrations:
1. “I’m focusing on my personal development.”
– Root: Develop | Suffix: -ment
– Role: Converts the verb ‘develop’ into the noun ‘development’.
2. “Trust is vital in a true friendship.”
– Root: Friend | Suffix: -ship
– Role: Alters the noun ‘friend’ (person) into ‘friendship’ (state of being friends).
3. “He mastered Italian quickly.”
– Root: Quick | Suffix: -ly
– Role: Transforms the adjective ‘quick’ into the adverb ‘quickly’, describing the verb’s manner.
Here’s a quick reference to various suffixes:
| Suffix | Transforms Root Into | Example (with ROOT type) |
|————|————————–|——————————|
| -ity | Noun | Reality [Real (Adjective)] |
| -ment | Noun | Improvement [Improve (Verb)] |
| -ness | Noun | Happiness [Happy (Adjective)]|
| -ship | Noun | Internship [Intern (Noun, Person)]|
| -ation | Noun | Motivation [Motivate (Verb)] |
| -ize | Verb | Authorize [Author (Noun)] |
| -able/-ible| Adjective | Reliable [Rely (Verb)] |
| -ful | Adjective | Beautiful [Beauty (Noun)] |
| -ive | Adjective | Sensitive [Sense (Noun)] |
| -ous | Adjective | Dangerous [Danger (Noun)] |
| -ly | Adverb | Slowly [Slow (Adjective)] |
| -ally | Adverb | Accidentally [Accident (Noun)]|