Derivational Morphemes

Morphemes can be divided into inflectional or derivational morphemes.

Derivational morphemes are different to inflectional morphemes, as they create/derive a new word, which gets its own
entry in the dictionary. Derivational morphemes help us to create new words out of base words.

For example, we can create new words from <act> by adding derivational prefixes (e.g. re- en-) and suffixes (e.g. -or)

So from <act> we can get: re+act = react en+act = enact act+or = actor

Whenever a derivational morpheme is added, a new word (and dictionary entry) is derived/created.

English has a rich history, including influences from Anglo-Saxon, as well as Latin (French) and Greek. Each of these
influences have had an effect on the vocabulary and spelling of English, and these are reflected in the derivational
morphemes (prefixes and suffixes), which can be grouped into different phases of English's evolution.

It is helpful to highlight more high frequency and foundational morphemes initially, then progressively add more complex
morphemes and those with a lower frequency.
ANGLO-SAXON MORPHEMES
High frequency prefixes un- re- dis- in- mis- a- fore- de- pre- en-

sub- inter- trans- super- semi- anti- mid-

Common derivational suffixes -er -y -ly -ful -ness -less -ment -hood

-able/-ible -en

Inflections and derivational suffixes  final consonant doubling (tipping, stopper)

that need a spelling change in base  drop final e rule (raking, excitable, trading)

 change y to i rule (tried, beautiful, angriest)

 double final consonant of stressed syllable (incurred, winner)

 High Frequency Prefixes

Prefix Meaning/ Examples

function

un- not unfair, unseen, unknown

re- again retrace, reusable, reappear

dis- not disbelief, disown, dislike

in- not inexpensive, inoffensive, inaction

mis- wrong misprint, misunderstand, misbehave

a- not amoral, apolitical, atypical

fore- before forecast, forehead, foreman

de- opposite decide, deduce, detect

pre- before prevent, preclude, prepare

en- within or in enrapture, enthuse, engage

sub- under, below subject, subtract, subordinate

inter- between, among interstate, internet, interject

trans- across, through, change transmit, transplant, transcontinental

super- above supersede, superimpose, supernumerary

semi- half, partly semiconscious, semicircle, semiprecious

anti- against antibody, antibiotic, antisocial

mid- middle midlife, midsummer, midterm

Common Derivational Suffixes

Suffix Meaning/ Examples

function

-er person who does verb teacher, taster, driver

-y characterised by greasy, nerdy, smelly

-ful full of tasteful, joyful, fearful

-ness state or quality of: condition kindness, seriousness, happiness

-less without tasteless, ageless, careless

-ment action or process temperament, development, experiment

-hood state condition of being neighbourhood, likelihood, adulthood

-able/-ible capable of lovable, durable, gullible

-en to become or cause to be sharpen, golden, lengthen

LATIN MORPHEMES
Latin prefixes e.g. non- ex- con- per- mal- bi- co- di- o- pro- tri- twi-

super- circum- intra- contra- counter- extra- intro- multi- ultra-

Latin roots e.g. port form rupt tract cept spect ject struc dict mit flex ped aud grad/gress voc/voke lit/litera cede/cess
tain/ten/tin cad/cas/cid mob/mot/mod

Derivational e.g. -ion (i.e. -sion/-tion) -ous -cious -tious -or -ess -ure/-ture -ent/-ence -ify -ity
suffixes

Some example Latin Morphemes

Latin Prefixes

Prefix Meaning/ Examples

function

non- not nonprofessional, nonemergency, non-existent

ex- of out, from ex-member, ex-wife

con- with connect, conclude, consensus

per- through, throughout pervade, perfect, perennial

mal- bad, wrongful malfunction, malpractice, malcontent

bi- twice bifocal, binary

co- together coproduce, cohabitate

di- twice dichromatic, diphthong

super- above supersede, superimpose, supernumerary

GREEK MORPHEMES
Graphemes from Greek influence k c ch f ph

chemical fan physics

i y z x

sit dysfunction zoo xylophone

ie igh y

pie high cycle

Silent letter Greek spellings rh (rhythm) ps (pseudo) pt (pterodactyl)

Greek Combining forms micro scope photo graph tele phon geo

therm bio meter ology

DERIVATIONAL SUFFIXES THAT INDICATE WORD TYPES

The derivational suffixes below are all derivational morphemes, and most indicate the word type (noun, adjective, verb,
adverb). Many change the root/base word into another word type (see examples below).
Some suffixes of nouns, adjectives, and verbs do not create a new word (e.g. -ing, -ed, -s, -es). These are called inflectional
morphemes, and they are a much smaller set of morphemes.

NOUNS (N) ADJECTIVES (Adj)

Suffix Examples Suffix Examples

-ion, -sion, -tion population -al natural

-acy accuracy -ful beautiful

-age image -ly friendly

-ance, -ence permanence -ic chronic

-hood childhood -ish childish

-ar, -or scholar, doctor -like childlike

-ism socialism -ous populous, numerous

-ist artist -y happy

-ment government -ate accurate

-ness happiness -able, -ible capable, terrible

-y beauty

-ity reality, capacity

VERBS (V) ADVERBS (Adv)

Suffix Examples Suffix Examples

-ify signify clarify -ly happily, readily,

mystify simplify beautifully
classify amplify
exemplify falsify
notify specify pacify
glorify purify qualify
unify fortify testify
identify terrify
diversify verify
horrify ratify

-ate populate

-ize realize

-en widen, lengthen