CLASS 5 PREFIXES and SUFFIXES

PREFIXES:

Prefixes are letters which we add to the beginning of a word to make a new
word with a different meaning. Prefixes can, for example, create a new word
opposite in meaning to the word the prefix is attached to. They can also make
a word negative or express relations of time, place or manner. Here are some
examples:

base
prefixed word type of meaning
word

possible impossible opposite

able unable opposite/negation

payment non-payment negation

war pre-war time (before)

terrestria extraterrestria
place (outside of/beyond)
l l

cook overcook manner (too much)

The most common prefixes

prefix meaning examples

anti-government, anti-racist,
anti- against/opposed to
anti-war

auto- self autobiography, automobile

prefix meaning examples

de-classify, decontaminate,
de- reverse or change
demotivate

disagree, displeasure,
dis- reverse or remove
disqualify

down- reduce or lower downgrade, downhearted

extra- beyond extraordinary, extraterrestrial

hyper- extreme hyperactive, hypertension

il-, im-, in-, illegal, impossible, insecure,

not
ir- irregular

inter- between interactive, international

megabyte, mega-deal,
mega- very big, important
megaton

midday, midnight, mid-

mid- middle
October

mis- incorrectly, badly misaligned, mislead, misspelt

non- not non-payment, non-smoking

prefix meaning examples

over- too much overcook, overcharge, overrate

out- go beyond outdo, out-perform, outrun

post- after post-election, post-war

pre- before prehistoric, pre-war

pro-communist, pro-
pro- in favour of
democracy

re- again reconsider, redo, rewrite

semi- half semicircle, semi-retired

sub- under, below submarine, sub-Saharan

super- above, beyond super-hero, supermodel

tele- at a distance television, telepathic

trans- across transatlantic, transfer

ultra- extremely ultra-compact, ultrasound

remove, reverse,
un- undo, unpack, unhappy
not
prefix meaning examples

under- less than, beneath undercook, underestimate

make or move
up- upgrade, uphill
higher

VIDEO PART

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9O4jGeSAByE

JUNE 4, 2021

EXERCISE: WRITE THESE PREFIXES: dis- , il- , im- , in- , mis- , over- , pre- ,
un-

1. INDEPENDENT

2. DISLIKE

3. OVERDO

4. IMPOLITE

5. ILLEGAL

6. MISUNDERSTAND

7. ILLOGICAL
8. PREHISTORIC

9. DISAPPROVE

10.INMORAL

11.UNZIP

12.OVERCROWDED

13.DISBEHAVE

14.UNHEAR

15.UNHANDLE

16.INDIRECT

17.DISAGREE

18.UNLOCK
 SUFFIXES

A suffix is a letter or group of letters added at the end of a word which makes
a new word.

words suffix new words

forget, use -ful forgetful, useful

- statement,
state, govern
ment government

complicate,
-ion complication, creation
create

The new word is most often a different word class from the original word. In
the table above, the suffix -ful has changed verbs to adjectives, -ment, and
-ion have changed verbs to nouns. If you see a word ending in -ment, for
example, it is likely to be a noun (e.g. commitment, contentment).

Suffixes: spelling
Often, the suffix causes a spelling change to the original word. In the table
above, the -e ending of complicate and create disappears when the -ion suffix
is added. Other examples of spelling changes include:

1. beauty, duty + -ful → beautiful, dutiful (-y changes to i)

2. heavy, ready + -ness → heaviness, readiness (-y changes to i)

3. able, possible + -ity → ability, possibility (-le changes to il)

4. permit, omit + -ion → permission, omission (-t changes to ss)

A good learner’s dictionary will give you information on the correct spelling
of words with suffixes.

Common suffixes and examples

Noun suffixes

suffix examples of nouns

-age baggage, village, postage

-al arrival, burial, deferral

-ance/-ence reliance, defence, insistence

-dom boredom, freedom, kingdom

-ee employee, payee, trainee

-er/-or driver, writer, director

suffix examples of nouns

-hood brotherhood, childhood, neighbourhood

-ism capitalism, Marxism, socialism (philosophies)

capitalist, Marxist, socialist (followers of

-ist
philosophies)

-ity/-ty brutality, equality, cruelty

-ment amazement, disappointment, parliament

-ness happiness, kindness, usefulness

-ry entry, ministry, robbery

-ship friendship, membership, workmanship

-sion/-tion/-
expression, population, complexion
xion

Adjective suffixes

suffix examples of adjectives

-able/-
drinkable, portable, flexible
ible
suffix examples of adjectives

-al brutal, formal, postal

-en broken, golden, wooden

-ese Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese

-ful forgetful, helpful, useful

-i Iraqi, Pakistani, Yemeni

-ic classic, Islamic, poetic

-ish British, childish, Spanish

-ive active, passive, productive

Canadian, Malaysian,
-ian
Peruvian

-less homeless, hopeless, useless

-ly daily, monthly, yearly

-ous cautious, famous, nervous

-y cloudy, rainy, windy

Verb suffixes

suffix examples of verbs

-ate complicate, dominate, irritate

-en harden, soften, shorten

-ify beautify, clarify, identify

economise, realise, industrialize (-ise is most common in

-ise/-
British English; -ize is most common in American
ize
English)

Adverb suffixes

suffix examples of adverbs

-ly calmly, easily, quickly

- downwards, homeward(s),
ward(s) upwards

-wise anti-clockwise, clockwise, edgewise

VIDEO PART:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPuYCb49OYQ
 SUFFIXES IN ENGLISH

EXERCISE: Complete the root word with the correct suffix to make an
adjective. You can choose from "ous", "able", "ful" or "y". Sometimes you may
have to add or remove a letter for the correct spelling.

1. DANGER: ………………DANGEROUS…………………………………….

2. COMFORT: ………………COMFORTABLE…………………………………

3. FAM: ………………FAMOUS…………………………………………

4. SUN: ……………………SUNNY……………………………………

5. PAIN: ……………………PAINFUL……………………………………
6. WIND: ……………………WINDY………………………………….

7. ENJOY: …………………ENJOYABLE……………………………………

8. SUIT: ……………………SUITABLE…………………………………….

9. HELP: ………………………HELPFUL……………………………….

10. USE: …………………USEFUL……………………………………….

 Present Perfect Continuous

 It is used for actions beginning in the past and still

continuing (focus is on the action) – mostly with since (point
of time) or for (period of time)

I have been waiting for you for three hours. (It was too long.)

 It is used for recently completed actions (focus is on the

action)

She has been watching too many videos. (It took too much time.)

Signal words (Words that it is going to be present in the

present perfect continuous

 all day
 the whole day
 since
 for
 Questions with how long

Affirmative Form
have/has + been + infinitive + -ing

Examples

4.1. Affirmative sentences in the Present Perfect Progressive

Long forms Contracted forms

I have been playing handball. I've been playing handball.
 Long forms Contracted forms

You have been playing handball. You've been playing handball.

He has been playing handball. He's been playing handball.

Negative sentences in the Present Perfect Continuous

Long forms Contracted forms

I've not been playing handball.
I have not been playing handbal
l.
I haven't been playing handball
.

You've not been playing handb
all.
You have not been playing hand
ball.
You haven't been playing hand
ball.

He has not been playing handba He's not been playing handball.
 Long forms Contracted forms

He hasn't been playing handbal
ll.
l.

Questions in the Present Perfect Continuous

Long forms Contracted forms

Have I been playing handball?

Have you been playing handball? not possible

Has he been playing handball?

VIDEO CLASS: THE PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS –

AFFIRMATIVE/INTERROGATIVE/NEGATIVE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CvBeSwELV0

EXERCISES

1. I ……………HAVE BEEN RUNNING……………………………………………… this

website since 1999. (to run)
2. My parents …………………HAVE BEEN SMOKING…………………………..for
years. (to smoke)

3. He …………………………HAS BEEN WAITING……………………………. for his

girlfriend since 6 o'clock. (to wait)

4. We ………………………HAVE BEEN LIVING……………………………….. in Greece

since last August. (to live)

5. Max and Paul ……………HAVE BEEN RIDING……………………………their

bikes all day. (to ride)

6. They………………………HAVE BEEN LYING………………………………. in the sun

for hours. (to lie)

7. Emily ………………HAS BEEN WORKING…………………………………………on the

computer for too long. (to work)

8. It ……………………HAS BEEN RAINING……………………………………….. since I

came home. (to rain)

9. You …………………HAVE BEEN LISTENING………………………………………..to

music since 12:30. (to listen)

10.Frank ………………HAS BEEN DREAMING………………………………………. for

the last 20 minutes. (to dream)