The document discusses word formation in English using prefixes and suffixes. Prefixes typically change the meaning of words while suffixes usually change the part of speech. The document categorizes common prefixes according to their meaning, such as negative/positive, size, location, time/order, and number. It also categorizes common suffixes according to the part of speech they form, such as noun-forming, verb-forming, adverb-forming, and adjective-forming suffixes.
The document discusses word formation in English using prefixes and suffixes. Prefixes typically change the meaning of words while suffixes usually change the part of speech. The document categorizes common prefixes according to their meaning, such as negative/positive, size, location, time/order, and number. It also categorizes common suffixes according to the part of speech they form, such as noun-forming, verb-forming, adverb-forming, and adjective-forming suffixes.
The document discusses word formation in English using prefixes and suffixes. Prefixes typically change the meaning of words while suffixes usually change the part of speech. The document categorizes common prefixes according to their meaning, such as negative/positive, size, location, time/order, and number. It also categorizes common suffixes according to the part of speech they form, such as noun-forming, verb-forming, adverb-forming, and adjective-forming suffixes.
The document discusses word formation in English using prefixes and suffixes. Prefixes typically change the meaning of words while suffixes usually change the part of speech. The document categorizes common prefixes according to their meaning, such as negative/positive, size, location, time/order, and number. It also categorizes common suffixes according to the part of speech they form, such as noun-forming, verb-forming, adverb-forming, and adjective-forming suffixes.
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Word Formation: Prefixes &
Suffixes
ENGLISH FOR COMPUTER SCIENCE
EXTRA NOTES #3
EHSAN AKHGARI OCTOBER 2007 Introduction 2
Word formation in English:
prefix stem suffix
Examples: programmer: program + er (someone who programs) underestimate: under + estimate (estimate somebody/something too little) unrecognizable: un + recognize + able (cannot be recognized)
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Interpreting the Meaning of Prefixes and Suffixes 3
Prefixes usually change the meaning of a word
Examples: unpleasant interactive Suffixes usually change the part of speech of the word Examples: pleasantly active Be careful when interpreting the meanings based on prefixes and suffixes; it is easy to misjudge Examples: September, October, November, December
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Prefixes 4
Prefixes can be categorized as below
Negative and positive
Size
Location
Time and order
Number
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5
Negative and Positive Prefixes This prefix type is used to change the meaning of the stem negatively or positively.
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6 Prefix Meaning Examples
semi- half, partly semiconductor
Prefixes of equi- equal equidistant Size mini- small minicomputer This prefix type is used to aggregate the micro- very small microcomputer meaning of a stem with macro- macroeconomics a size concept. large, great mega- megabyte
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7 Prefix Meaning Examples
inter- between, among interface, interactive
Prefixes of intra- within, inside of intranet Location super- over supersonic This prefix type is used to aggregate the trans- across transmit, transfer meaning of a stem with ex- out exclude, extrinsic a location concept. in- inside include, intrinsic extra- beyond extraordinary sub- under subschema infra- below infra-red, infrastructure peri- around peripheral
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8 Prefix Meaning Examples Prefixes of ante- antecedent Time and pre- before prefix Order prime- first primary, primitive This prefix type is used post- after postdated to aggregate the meaning of a stem with retro- backward retroactive a time or an order concept.
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9 Prefix Meaning Examples
semi- half semicircle
Prefixes of mono- one monochromatic Numbers bi- two binary This prefix type is used to aggregate the tri- three triangle meaning of a stem with quad- four quadruple a number or count concept. penta- five pentagon hex six hexadecimal sept(em)- seven September oct- eight octal dec- ten decimal multiplexor, multi- many multidimensional
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10 Prefix Meaning Examples
before, in advance program
pro- forward progress Other Prefixes automatic auto- self autobiography This prefix type autograph includes the prefixes which cannot be co- coordinate together, with categorized into any of con- connect the aforementioned categories.
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Suffixes 11
Suffixes can be categorized as below
Noun-forming
Verb-forming
Adverb-forming
Adjective-forming
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12 Prefix Meaning Examples
-ance state performance
Noun-forming -ence quality of independence Suffixes a person who programmer, operator This suffix type creates -er, -or a thing which compiler, accumulator nouns from the stems (usually verbs). -ist, -yst a person who analyst, typist -ian pertaining to electrician -tion, the act of compilation -ation -ness condition of readiness -ion action/state conversion -ing activity multiplexing -ment state, action measurement -ity state, quality electricity -ism condition/state magnetism -dom domain/condition kingdom, freedom
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10/17/2007 13 Prefix Meaning Examples
-ize/-ise computerize Verb-forming -ate automate, activate, calculate to make Suffixes -ify simplify -en harden, widen This suffix type creates verbs from the stems.
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14 Prefix Meaning Examples Adverb- electronically, logically, forming -ly in the manner of comparably, helpfully Suffixes This suffix type creates adverbs from the stems.
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15 Prefix Meaning Examples Adjective- -al computational, logical forming -ar circular having the quality of Suffixes -ic magnetic, automatic -ical electrical This suffix type creates -able comparable adjectives from the capable of being -ible divisible stems. -ous like, full of dangerous -ful characterized by helpful -less without careless -ish like yellowish -ed computed having the quality of -ive interactive
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References 16
K. Boeckner, P. Charles Brown. Oxford English for
