A Short List of Prefixes: Suffix

A suffix is a group of letters placed after the root of a word.

PREFIX MEANING EXAMPLES For example, the word flavorless consists of the root word
"flavor" combined with the suffix "-less" [which means
de- from, down, decode, "without"]; the word "flavorless" means "having no flavor."
away reverse, decrease
opposite
A Short List of Suffixes:
dis- not, opposite, disagree,
reverse, away disappear
SUFFIX MEANING EXAMPLES
ex- out of, away exhale,
from, lacking, explosion -able able to, having the quality of comfortable,
former portable
il- not illegal, -al relating to annual, comical
illogical -er comparative bigger, stronger
im- not, without impossible, -est superlative strongest, tiniest
improper
-ful full of beautiful, grateful
in- not, without inaction,
-ible forming an adjective reversible, terrible
invisible
-ily forming an adverb eerily, happily,
mis- bad, wrong mislead,
lazily
misplace
-ing denoting an action, a material, acting, showing
non- not nonfiction, or a gerund
nonsense
-less without, not affected by friendless, tireless
pre- before prefix,
prehistory -ly forming an adjective clearly, hourly
pro- for, forward, proactive, -ness denoting a state or condition kindness,
before profess, wilderness
program -y full of, denoting a condition, or glory, messy,
re- again, back react, reappear a diminutive victory,
un- against, not, undo, unequal,
opposite unusual

Prefix and Suffix Activities and Worksheets

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
reverses the meaning of the disappear, disallow, disarm, disconnect,
dis-
verb discontinue
over- too much overbook, oversleep, overwork
reverses the meaning of the
un-
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
underfund, undersell, undervalue,
under- not enough
underdevelop

Exercise

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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

Exercise

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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

Exercise

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e.g. Suffix added to a verb (V), noun (N) or adjective (A) noun

Suffix Meaning Examples

-tion alteration, demonstration

action/instance of V-ing
-sion expansion, inclusion, admission
person who V-s advertiser, driver
-er
something used for V-ing computer, silencer

-ment action/instance of V-ing development, punishment, unemployment

-ant assistant, consultant
person who V-s
-ent student
-age action/result of V breakage, wastage, package
-al action/result of V denial, proposal, refusal, dismissal
-ence preference, dependence, interference
action/result of V
-ance attendance, acceptance, endurance
action/instance of V-ing bribery, robbery, misery
-ery/-ry
place of V-ing 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

Exercise

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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,

Exercise

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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

Exercise

Mixed

e.g. base with both prefix and suffix

Adjectives: uncomfortable, unavoidable, unimaginative, inactive, semi-circular

Nouns: disappointment, misinformation, reformulation

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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.