PREFIX & SUFFIX



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
The most common prefixes used to form new nouns in academic English are: co- and sub-. The most common suffixes are: -tion, -ity, -er, -ness, -ism, -ment, -ant, -ship, -age, -ery. By far the most common noun affix in academic English is -tion.
e.g. prefix + noun noun
Prefix
Meaning
Examples
anti-
against
anticlimax, antidote, antithesis
auto-
self
autobiography, automobile
bi-
two
bilingualism, biculturalism, bi-metalism
co-
joint
co-founder, co-owner, co-descendant
counter-
against
counter-argument, counter-example, counter-proposal
dis-
the converse of
discomfort, dislike
ex-
former
ex-chairman, ex-hunter
hyper-
extreme
hyperinflation, hypersurface
in-
the converse of
inattention, incoherence, incompatibility
in-
inside
inpatient,
inter-
between
interaction, inter-change, interference
kilo-
thousand
kilobyte
mal-
bad
malfunction, maltreatment, malnutrition
mega-
million
megabyte
mis-
wrong
misconduct, misdeed, mismanagement
mini-
small
mini-publication, mini-theory
mono-
one
monosyllable, monograph, monogamy
neo-
new
neo-colonialism, neo-impressionism
out-
separate
outbuilding,
poly-
many
polysyllable
pseudo-
false
pseudo-expert
re-
again
re-organisation, re-assessment, re-examination
semi-
half
semicircle, semi-darkness
sub-
below
subset, subdivision
super-
more than, above
superset, superimposition, superpowers
sur-
over and above
surtax
tele-
distant
telecommunications,
tri-
three
tripartism
ultra-
beyond
ultrasound
under-
below, too little
underpayment, under-development, undergraduate
vice-
deputy
vice-president
e.g. Suffix added to a verb (V), noun (N) or adjective (A) noun
Suffix
Meaning
Examples
-tion
-sion
action/instance of V-ing
alteration, demonstration
expansion, inclusion, admission
-er
person who V-s
something used for V-ing
advertiser, driver,
computer, silencer
-ment
action/instance of V-ing
development, punishment, unemployment
-ant
-ent
person who V-s
assistant, consultant
student
-age
action/result of V
breakage, wastage, package
-al
action/result of V
denial, proposal, refusal, dismissal
-ence
-ance
action/result of V
preference, dependence, interference
attendance, acceptance, endurance
-ery/-ry
action/instance of V-ing
place of V-ing
bribery, robbery, misery
refinery, bakery

Suffix
Meaning
Examples
-er
person concerned with N
astronomer, geographer
-ism
doctrine of N
Marxism, Maoism, Thatcherism
-ship
state of being N
friendship, citizenship, leadership
-age
collection of N
baggage, plumage
 Suffix
Meaning
Examples
-ity
state or quality of being A
ability, similarity, responsibility, curiosity
-ness
state or quality of being A
darkness, preparedness, consciousness
-cy
state or quality of being A
urgency, efficiency, frequency
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
Suffix
Example
-al
central, political, national, optional, professional
-ful
beautiful, peaceful, careful
-ent
different, dependent, excellent
-less
endless, homeless, careless, thoughtless
-ive
attractive, effective, imaginative, repetitive
-able
drinkable, countable, avoidable,
-ous
continuous, dangerous, famous



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.

The Story of Ciderella

Lesson 1 (Introduction)

Lesson 2 (Verbs)

أخاك أخاك إن مَنْ لا أخا له === كَساعٍ إلى الهيجا بغير سلاح * Literal meaning: Your brother your brother for that who has no brother; is like a person rushing to battle without a weapon. * Metaphoric meaning: be good to your brothers/friends/family because you need them for support as much as they need you