WORD FORMATION: prefixes and suffixes

(Exercises: Side&Wellman, pp.92-93, ex.2,4; Graver, pp.218-235, ex.244-262,281-285;

Matasek – English Advanced Vocabulary and Structure Practice)

1. Write numbers next to these suffixes according to which part of speech they usually indicate. A few belong in
more than one category: 1. adjective 2. noun 3. verb

- ist -hood -or -ese -ee -en -ision -some -ship -ise -ical -ify -ible - y -ant -ive -ness

2. Underline the words that do not contain the idea of ‘beneath’ or ‘less’.
undercut undergo understaffed underfoot undertaking underwrite

3. Underline the words that mean ‘not...’

unfaithful unpack inhospitable impractical impound inside

4. Underline the words that have no base form that exists by itself.
indirect inept untie infinity unprompted impromptu undying
undue unduly insipid

5. Make opposites for these words using one of the prefixes: mis-, dis-, ig-, un-
comfort comfortable noble interesting understanding provoking

6. Which of the following words have a –less and/ or – ful form? Some have both, some have only one.
use care worth point hope youth motion stress resent meaning

7. Explain the force of the prefixes in the words given. Give at least one other word formed with each prefix, and
write sentences illustrating their use.

1. omnibus 1. antipathy 1. monotony 1. obtrusive

2. perimeter 2. coherent 2. overcharge 2. connect
3. forgo 3. homophone 3. superintend 3. mislead
4. decipher 4. bicycle 4. retroactive 4. evict
5. forecast 5. multiply 5. maltreat 5. proceed
6. nonsense 6. ambidextrous 6. syndicate 6. benefactor
7. counterpart 7. automatic 7. transform 7. subtract
8. postpone 8. interfere 8. surplus 8. pseudo-Gothic
9. premature 9. circumference 9. uniform 9. hyperbole
10. semicircle 10. antecedent 10. outclass 10. contravene
8. Match a prefix with a word to make a new word. Then choose the appropriate meaning for the prefix from the list.
Example: 0 anti-theft/ against
(0 anti-) power (against)
1. inter- author not
2. super- hi-fi main
3. ex- normal too much
4. mini- city very big
5. ab- continental before
6. over- view previous
7. co- enemy between
8. arch- wife small
9. trans- spend together
10. pre- (theft) across

9. Complete the blanks with the corrected form of the base word given (1-6). the first (0) is given as an example.
(0) Understand (1) Impress (2) Relevant (3) Consult (4) Consider (5) Value (6) Worth

The Crusades
The medieval crusades, when western European knights and adventurers attempted to seize Jerusalem from the
hands of the Seljuk Turks, are widely misunderstood (0) by most people in the West, who think of them as
glamorous and heroic. True, the level of heroism was occasionally ........................(1), but in fact the crusaders
were ignorant and misguided. For example, they viewed the Byzantine Emperor, through whose lands they had to
travel, as an annoying........................(2), denying him even so much as a................. .........(3) role in the
proceedings. In reality, his long experience of Saracens had given him a not....................(4) knowledge of their
fighting methods and politics. His advice, had the crusaders chosen to follow it, would have been
absolutely....................... (5). Instead, they repeatedly dismissed it as ............................(6) with the result that,
despite initial success, the crusades eventually dwindled to ignominious failure.

10. Form the correct words out of their roots given in the brackets:
1. Completing the task seemed............................(ATTAIN) at first, but in the end, it turned out that it was much
easier than we had expected.
2. Mrs Stone is an..................................(EXPECT) mother. Her baby is due next month.
3. Jason is the most ..........................(TRUTH) person I know; he never tells lies.
4. It was a great ........................(LOSE) to our section when Mr Douglas, the most experienced programmer, had
to stay in hospital for two months.
5. I wonder which party is going to put forward Mr Coxton’s .......................(CANDIDATE) in the
next election.
6. The fireworks show was most ...........................(SPECTACLE). No wonder, then, it attracted so many people.
7. It wasn’t clear who of the neigbours showed so strong a determination as to........................... (NOTE) the
police of the argument the Browns had at home.
8. Mark’s been terribly busy this week. It’s .......................(DOUBT) whether he’ll want to attend our
performance tomorrow.
9. How could you have been so............................. (REAL) as to believe in Ronald’s childish stories about ghosts
in the cellar?
10. The low ..............................(ATTEND) at the concert was a result of the organizers’ carelessness about giving
it a more extensive publicity.
11. The whole new situation is more than...............................(ADVANTAGE) to all the investors. Definitely, it’s
a chance not to miss.
12. A sudden................. (GROW) in food prices will certainly bring about violent protesters from the population.
13. It’s ...............(USE) trying to reach the village on foot. The only possible way of getting there is by helicopter.
14. Mary has no experience in gardening; her knowledge about growing plants is all...............................(BOOK).
15. Some people claim that the microprocessor is the greatest.............................(INVENT) of the 20 th century.
16. Will the sports channel provide any......................................(COVER) of the approaching Tour de France?
17. It’s Frank’s..........................(OBSTINATE) that drives his parents crazy. They can’t even persuade him to
brush teeth in the morning.
18. Big loans on very.............................(FAVOUR) conditions are offered by the bank to those who make a
large-scale investment.
19. Due to a heavy storm the ...................................(DEPART) of the train was delayed.
20. .................................(OFFEND) such as mugging are quite common in the district. That’s at least what the
police reports say.

11. Make as many verbs as you can from the stems given by adding different prefixes.
 1. – tract 12. Give the abstract nouns of:
2. –pel 1. –tain 1. – pose
3. – fer 2. –mit 2. –scribe
4. –vert 3. –press 3. –sist
5. –cur 4. –nounce 4. –tend
6. –duce 5. –pound 5. –claim
7. –sume 6. –plete 6. –sent
7. –voke 7. –volve
wise suspicious brother
true elegant to grow
boy cheap false
long hero illiterate
patient to hate vain
to know rich brutal
strong stupid poor
shy to discover to oblige
young real secure
proud conservative coward
clean confident to conspire
jealous partner splendid
to believe perfect
independent anxious

13. Make adjectives from:

friend wood passion deceit
critic sceptic reason juice
accident gold logic spirit
child coward sheep hate
joy love shame vigour
fear sorrow dependence conceit
music anger presence height
trouble delight care snob
grace self vanity idea
woman sun silence salt

14. Give an adjective and noun related to each verb, and make sure that you know the meaning of each word,
e.g. receive (verb) – receptive (adjective) - reception, receipt (nouns)
compete analyse
deceive simplify
vary defend
compare conclude
explore apologize
explain appear
irritate distinguish
imitate remember
observe interpret
depend emphasize
attend continue
fail inform
sympathize persist
repeat explode