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Prefix and Suffix

1) Affixes like prefixes and suffixes are commonly added to base words to form new words in academic English. Prefixes are added to the front of base words while suffixes are added to the end. 2) The most common prefixes used to form new verbs are re-, dis-, over-, un-, mis-, out- while the most common suffixes are -ise, -en, -ate, -(i)fy. The most common affix overall is -ise. 3) Common prefixes to form new nouns include co- and sub- while common suffixes are -tion, -ity, -er, -ness, -ism, -ment, -ant, -ship, -age,

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Marilyn Zhindon
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
52 views3 pages

Prefix and Suffix

1) Affixes like prefixes and suffixes are commonly added to base words to form new words in academic English. Prefixes are added to the front of base words while suffixes are added to the end. 2) The most common prefixes used to form new verbs are re-, dis-, over-, un-, mis-, out- while the most common suffixes are -ise, -en, -ate, -(i)fy. The most common affix overall is -ise. 3) Common prefixes to form new nouns include co- and sub- while common suffixes are -tion, -ity, -er, -ness, -ism, -ment, -ant, -ship, -age,

Uploaded by

Marilyn Zhindon
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Vocabulary building

Affixes and roots


Adding affixes to existing words (the base or root) to form new words is common in academic English. Prefixes are added to the front
of the base (like dislike), whereas suffixes are added to the end of the base (active activate). Prefixes usually do not change
the class of the base word, but suffixes usually do change the class of the word.
The most common prefixes used to form new verbs in academic English are: re-, dis-, over-, un-, mis-, out-. The most common suffixes
are: -ise, -en, -ate, -(i)fy. By far the most common affix in academic English is -ise.

Verbs
e.g. prefix + verb verb
Prefix Meaning Examples

re- again or back restructure, revisit, reappear, rebuild, refinance

dis- reverses the meaning of the verb disappear, disallow, disarm, disconnect, discontinue

over- too much overbook, oversleep, overwork

un- reverses the meaning of the verb unbend, uncouple, unfasten

mis- badly or wrongly mislead, misinform, misidentify

out- more or better than others outperform, outbid

be- make or cause befriend, belittle

co- together co-exist, co-operate, co-own

de- do the opposite of devalue, deselect

fore- earlier, before foreclose, foresee

inter- between interact, intermix, interface

pre- before pre-expose, prejudge, pretest

sub- under/below subcontract, subdivide

trans- across, over transform, transcribe, transplant

under- not enough underfund, undersell, undervalue, underdevelop

e.g. Suffix used to form verbs with the meaning "cause to be".
Suffix Example

-ise stabilise, characterise, symbolise, visualise, specialise

-ate differentiate, liquidate, pollinate, duplicate, fabricate

-fy classify, exemplify, simplify, justify

-en awaken, fasten, shorten, moisten


Nouns over and
sur- surtax
above
The most common prefixes used to form new nouns in
academic English are: co- and sub-. The most common tele- distant telecommunications,
suffixes are: -tion, -ity, -er, -ness, -ism, -ment, -ant, -ship,
-age, -ery. By far the most common noun affix in academic tri- three tripartism
English is -tion.
ultra- beyond ultrasound
e.g. prefix + noun noun
below, too underpayment, under-development,
Prefix Meaning Examples under-
little undergraduate
anti- against anticlimax, antidote, antithesis vice- deputy vice-president
auto- self autobiography, automobile

bilingualism, biculturalism, bi- e.g. Suffix added to a verb (V), noun (N) or adjective (A)
bi- two
metalism noun
co-founder, co-owner, co-
co- joint Suffix Meaning Examples
descendant

counter-argument, counter-example, -tion action/instance of alteration, demonstration


counter- against -sion V-ing expansion, inclusion, admission
counter-proposal

the converse person who V-s


dis- discomfort, dislike advertiser, driver
of -er something used
computer, silencer
for V-ing
ex- former ex-chairman, ex-hunter
action/instance of development, punishment,
-ment
hyper- extreme hyperinflation, hypersurface V-ing unemployment

the converse inattention, incoherence, -ant assistant, consultant


in- person who V-s
of incompatibility -ent student

in- inside inpatient, -age action/result of V breakage, wastage, package

interaction, inter-change, -al action/result of V denial, proposal, refusal, dismissal


inter- between
interference
preference, dependence,
kilo- thousand kilobyte -ence interference
action/result of V
-ance attendance, acceptance,
malfunction, maltreatment, endurance
mal- bad
malnutrition
action/instance of
bribery, robbery, misery
mega- million megabyte -ery/-ry V-ing
refinery, bakery
place of V-ing
misconduct, misdeed,
mis- wrong
mismanagement
Suffix Meaning Examples
mini- small mini-publication, mini-theory
person concerned with
monosyllable, monograph, -er astronomer, geographer
mono- one N
monogamy
Marxism, Maoism,
neo- new neo-colonialism, neo-impressionism -ism doctrine of N
Thatcherism
out- separate outbuilding, friendship, citizenship,
-ship state of being N
leadership
poly- many polysyllable
-age collection of N baggage, plumage
pseudo- false pseudo-expert

re-organisation, re-assessment, re-


re- again Suffix Meaning Examples
examination

semi- half semicircle, semi-darkness state or quality of ability, similarity, responsibility,


-ity
being A curiosity
sub- below subset, subdivision
state or quality of darkness, preparedness,
-ness
more than, superset, superimposition, being A consciousness
super-
above superpowers
state or quality of
-cy urgency, efficiency, frequency
being A

Adjectives
Many adjectives are formed from a base of a different class with a suffix (e.g. -less, -ous). Adjectives can also be formed from other
adjectives, especially by the negative prefixes (un-, in- and non-).
The most common suffixes are -al, -ent, -ive, -ous, -ful, -less.

e.g. Suffix added to verbs or nouns adjective

Suffix Example

-al central, political, national, optional, professional

-ent different, dependent, excellent

-ive attractive, effective, imaginative, repetitive

-ous continuous, dangerous, famous

-ful beautiful, peaceful, careful

-less endless, homeless, careless, thoughtless

-able drinkable, countable, avoidable,

e.g. negative + adjective adjective

Prefix Examples

un- unfortunate, uncomfortable, unjust

im-/in-/ir-/il- immature, impatient, improbable, inconvenient, irreplaceable, illegal

non- non-fiction, non-political, non-neutral

dis- disloyal, dissimilar, dishonest

Mixed
e.g. base with both prefix and suffix
Adjectives: uncomfortable, unavoidable, unimaginative, inactive, semi-circular
Nouns: disappointment, misinformation, reformulation

Word formation
Formal written English uses nouns more than verbs. For example, judgement rather than judge, development rather than develop,
admiration rather than admire.
There appeared to be evidence of differential treatment of children.
This is reflected in our admiration for people who have made something of their lives, sometimes against great odds, and in our
somewhat disappointed judgment of those who merely drift through life.
All airfields in the country would be nationalised, and the government would continue with the development of new aircraft as
recommended by the Brabazon Committee.
Associated with nominalisation is the occurrence of prepositional phrases, introduced by of:
judgment of those
treatment of children
development of new aircraft
-tion is the most common suffix used in this way. For example: alteration, resignation.
However others are: -ity ability, similarity, complexity; -ness blindness, darkness, preparedness; -ment development, encouragement;
-ship friendship; -age mileage; -ery robbery, bribery; -al arrival; -ance assistance, resemblance.

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