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| Suffixes and prefixes |
Word Formation
When you are reading, you will come across unfamiliar words. It is often possible to guess the
meanings of these words if you understand the way words are generally formed in English.
Learning the use and meaning of words in English can be made easier, and even enjoyable, if
you understand something about the way in which many English words are formed.
An English word can be divided into three parts:
Prefix
Stem
Suffix.
Prefix
Pre-means ‘before’ and therefore, is what comes before the stem.
Example
Consider as an example, the prefix de-(meaning ‘reduce’ or ‘reverse’) in a word like demagnetize
(‘to deprive of magnetism’).
Suffix
A suffix is what is attached to the end of the stem.
Example
Consider as an example the suffix -er (meaning (‘someone who’) in programmer (‘the person
who programs’).
Both prefixes and suffixes are referred to as affixes.
Stem
The stem of a word is its basic form, the fundamental element which is common to all the other
forms of the word. A prefix is a form which is fixed to the beginning of a stem; a suffix is a form
which is fixed to the end of a stem.
Example
Stem = measure
Suffix= measurable
Prefix =immeasurable
A prefix usually changes the meaning of a word while a suffix usually changes its part of speech.
E.g. the suffix -able changes verbs into adjectives (breakable, enjoyable). The prefix im- changes
the meaning to the opposite: measurable means capable of being measured.
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| Suffixes and prefixes |
By learning only a few prefixes and suffixes, you will be able to recognise or guess the meaning
of hundreds of English words.
The English language makes frequent use of this method of word formation. Notice the
numerous words formed on the stem act.
Prefix+ act act+ suffix prefix+ act +suffix
re+act act+ion re+act+ion
enact active enactment
reenact actively reenactment
interact actionless reactor
transact actable reactive
activity reactivate
activate reactivation
activation interaction
actor transaction
actress inactive
inaction
AFFIXES
PREFIXES (STEM) SUFFIXES
Both prefixes and suffixes are referred to as Affixes
Suffixes and their meanings :
Let us now consider some suffixes and their usual meanings.
Suffixes
Nouns Verbs Adjectives Adverb
-ance -ize -able -ly
-ence -ate -ible
-or -fy -less
-er -en -ic
-ist -ify -ical
-ness -ish
Study these tables and try to find additional examples. Use your dictionary if necessary.
Noun-forming suffixes:
Suffix Meaning Examples
-ance state performance
ence quality of independence
-er, -or a person who programmer, operator
a thing which compiler, accumulator
-ation the act of execution
-tion
-ist a person who analyst, typist
-yst
-ness condition of cleanliness
-ion action/state conversion
-ing activity multiplexing
-ment state, action measurement
-ity state, quality electricity
-ian pertaining to electrician
-ism condition/state magnetism
-dom domain/condition freedom
-ship condition/state relationship, partnership
-ary binary
Verb-forming suffixes:
Suffix Meaning Examples
-ize computerize
ate automate, activate, calculate
-fy to make simplify
-en harden, widen
Adverb-forming suffixes:
Suffix Meaning Examples
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-ar have the quality of circular
-ic magnetic, automatic
-ical electrical
-able capable of being comparable
-ible divisible
-ous like, full of dangerous
-ious religious
-ful characterized by helpful
-less without careless
-ish like yellowish
-ed having computed, punched
-ive quality of interactive
-ing to make or do programming, coding
processing, multiplexing
-ly in the manner of electronically, logically
comparably, helpfully
Adjective-forming suffixes:
Suffix Meaning Examples
-al computational, logical.
Locating Base Words
It is sometimes difficult to locate base word, because their spellings frequently change when
suffixes are added to them.
1. If a base word ends in e, the e may be dropped when a suffix is added to it.
Mature +it y=maturity
2. If a base word ends in y, the y may be changed to i ,when a suffix is added to it:
harmony +ous=harmonious
3. Base words may undergo other spelling changes when suffixes are added to them:
reclaim+ation=reclamation (the I in reclaim is dropped
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