Affixes

Affixes are letters or groups of letters that are added to the beginning or end of a word to change its meaning or create a new word. There are two types of affixes: prefixes and suffixes.

1. Prefixes: A prefix is a group of letters that is added to the beginning of a word to change its meaning. For example, "un-" is a prefix that means "not" or "opposite of." Adding "un-" to the word "happy" creates the word "unhappy," which means "not happy."

Other examples of prefixes include "pre-" (meaning "before"), "re-" (meaning "again"), and "anti-" (meaning "against").

2. Suffixes: A suffix is a group of letters that is added to the end of a word to change its meaning or part of speech. For example, adding the suffix "-ful" to the word "joy" creates the word "joyful," which means "full of joy."

Other examples of suffixes include "-tion" (used to create a noun from a verb, as in "invention"), "-ly" (used to create an adverb, as in "quickly"), and "-able" (used to create an adjective, as in "comfortable").

Using affixes can help to create new words, change the meaning of existing words, or modify the part of speech of a word. However, it is important to use affixes correctly and understand their meanings in order to effectively communicate in writing.

Prefixes and Suffixes

Prefixes are a type of affix, which are added to the beginning of a word to change its meaning. Prefixes can be found in many words in the English language, and they are usually added to the beginning of the base word. Some common prefixes in English include:

1. Un-: meaning not or opposite of, e.g. unhappy, unclear, untidy

2. Dis-: meaning not, opposite of, or apart, e.g. disagree, disbelieve, disconnect

3. Re-: meaning again, back, or anew, e.g. return, redo, rebuild

4. Mis-: meaning wrong or bad, e.g. misunderstand, misbehave, mislead

5. Pre-: meaning before, e.g. preview, prehistoric, prepay

6. Post-: meaning after, e.g. postgraduate, postwar, postdate

7. Over-: meaning too much or above, e.g. overcook, overeat, overload

8. Under-: meaning too little or below, e.g. underpaid, underfed, underdeveloped

These are just a few examples of the many prefixes that exist in the English language. Prefixes can be used to create new words, change the meaning of existing words, and provide clarity and precision in communication.

A suffix is a word element that is added to the end of a word to change its meaning. For example:

• "-ful" is a suffix that means "full of" or "having the qualities of," as in "wonderful" or "grateful."

• "-able" is a suffix that means "capable of" or "able to be," as in "readable" or "lovable."

• "-tion" is a suffix that forms a noun meaning "the act of" or "the state of," as in "celebration" or "competition."

Here are some other common prefixes and suffixes:

Prefixes:

• "re-" means "again" or "back," as in "rewrite" or "recall."

• "dis-" means "not" or "opposite," as in "disagree" or "distrust."

• "in-" means "not" or "into," as in "invisible" or "inject."

Suffixes:

• "-er" is a suffix that forms a noun meaning "one who" or "something that," as in "teacher" or "computer."

• "-less" is a suffix that means "without" or "not having," as in "hopeless" or "speechless."

• "-ment" is a suffix that forms a noun meaning "the process of" or "the result of," as in "movement" or "enjoyment."

By understanding common prefixes and suffixes, you can often infer the meaning of unfamiliar words, which can be helpful for expanding your vocabulary and improving your reading comprehension.