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The English language contains an enormous and ever-growing number of words. Enhancing your vocabulary by learning new words can seem overwhelming, but if you know the common prefixes and suffixes of English, you will understand many more words.
Mastering common prefixes and suffixes is like learning a code. Once you crack the code, you can not only spell words more correctly but also recognize and perhaps even define unfamiliar words.
A prefixA word part added to the beginning of a word to create a new meaning. is a word part added to the beginning of a word to create a new meaning. Study the common prefixes in Table 3.2 "Common Prefixes".
The main rule to remember when adding a prefix to a word is not to add letters or leave out any letters. See Table 3.2 "Common Prefixes" for examples of this rule.
Table 3.2 Common Prefixes
Prefix | Meaning | Example |
---|---|---|
dis | not, opposite of | dis + satisfied = dissatisfied |
mis | wrongly | mis + spell = misspell |
un | not | un + acceptable = unacceptable |
re | again | re + election = reelection |
inter | between | inter + related = interrelated |
pre | before | pre + pay = prepay |
non | not | non + sense = nonsense |
super | above | super + script = superscript |
sub | under | sub + merge = submerge |
anti | against, opposing | anti + bacterial = antibacterial |
Identify the five words with prefixes in the following paragraph, and write their meanings on a separate sheet of paper.
At first, I thought one of my fuzzy, orange socks disappeared in the dryer, but I could not find it in there. Because it was my favorite pair, nothing was going to prevent me from finding that sock. I looked all around my bedroom, under the bed, on top of the bed, and in my closet, but I still could not find it. I did not know that I would discover the answer just as I gave up my search. As I sat down on the couch in the family room, my Dad was reclining on his chair. I laughed when I saw that one of his feet was orange and the other blue! I forgot that he was color-blind. Next time he does laundry I will have to supervise him while he folds the socks so that he does not accidentally take one of mine!
Collaboration
Please share with a classmate and compare your answers.
Add the correct prefix to the word to complete each sentence. Write the word on your own sheet of paper.
A suffixA word part added to the end of a word to create a new meaning. is a word part added to the end of a word to create a new meaning. Study the suffix rules in the following boxes.
Rule 1
When adding the suffixes -ness and -ly to a word, the spelling of the word does not change.
Examples:
Exceptions to Rule 1
When the word ends in y, change the y to i before adding -ness and -ly.
Examples:
Rule 2
When the suffix begins with a vowel, drop the silent e in the root word.
Examples:
Exceptions to Rule 2
When the word ends in ce or ge, keep the silent e if the suffix begins with a or o.
Examples:
Rule 3
When the suffix begins with a consonant, keep the silent e in the original word.
Examples:
Exceptions to Rule 3
Examples:
Rule 4
When the word ends in a consonant plus y, change the y to i before any suffix not beginning with i.
Examples:
Rule 5
When the suffix begins with a vowel, double the final consonant only if (1) the word has only one syllable or is accented on the last syllable and (2) the word ends in a single vowel followed by a single consonant.
Examples:
On your own sheet of paper, write correctly the forms of the words with their suffixes.
Write a paragraph describing one of your life goals. Include five words with prefixes and five words with suffixes. Exchange papers with a classmate and circle the prefixes and suffixes in your classmate’s paper. Correct each prefix or suffix that is spelled incorrectly.