| PREFIXES |
|
Prefix is an element which is added before the Base Word. For example, in the word ‘preview’, ‘pre’ is a prefix and ‘view’ is the Base word. Every prefix has its own meaning and we can form many new words by adding prefixes to the words. This process of word formation is known as ‘Prefixation’. |
Important Prefixes:
| Prefixes | Meanings | Examples |
| Ambi | Two, double, both | Ambiguity, ambivert, ambivalent |
| Auto | Self | Autograph, autocorrect, autobiography |
| Anti | opposite | Anti-social, anti-war, anti-environment |
| Bio | Related to life | Biodiversity, biography, biopic |
| Bi | Two | Bilingual, bimonthly, biweekly |
| Pro | Supportive | Pro-war, proactive, pro-Indian |
| Co | With | Co-author, co-worker, co-wife |
| Counter | Against | Counter-attack, counter-argument |
| De | Remove | Defrost, deforest, de-tan |
| Dis | Showing negative | Discontinue, discontent, discomfort |
| Extra | Beyond | extra-marital, extra-curricular, extraordinary |
| Hyper | Exceeding the limit | Hypertension, hyperthyroidism |
| Inter | Between | Inter-college, inter-state, inter-city |
| Micro | Fine, small | Micro-economics, microscope, micro-organism |
| Mini | Short | Mini-bus, mini-skirt, minimize |
| Mis | Wrongly | Misuse, miscarriage, misspell, mispronounce |
| Mono | One | Monogamy, monotone, monolingual |
| Non | Showing negative | Non-cooperation, non-aided, non-qualified |
| Over | Too much | Over-state, over-eat, over-react, over-smart |
| Out | Excel | Outstanding, outdo, outlive |
| Post | After | Post-war, Post-Covid, post-test |
| Pre | Before | Pre-election, pre-test, pre-war |
| Re | Again | Re-read, re-write, re-unite |
| Semi | Half | Semi-circle, semi-final, semi-English |
| Sub | Under | Sub-inspector, sub-type, sub-category |
| Super | Above | Superheat, super-hit, super-flop |
| Tele | Remote | Telephone, telecommunication, telecast |
| Un | Showing negative | Unwanted, unbearable, unbelievable |
| Under | Too little | Underestimate, undervalue, under-state |
| Vice | Next in rank | Vice-principal, vice-president, vice-captain |
| Mal | Bad | Maltreat, malfunction, malnutrition |
| Tri | Three | Tri-Colour, triangle, trilingual |
| SUFFIXES |
| Suffix is an element which is added at the end of the Base Word. For example, in the word ‘wrongly’, ‘ly’ is a suffix and ‘wrong’ is the Base word. Every suffix has its own meaning and we can form many new words by adding suffixes to the words. This process of word formation is known as ‘Suffixation’. |
Important Suffixes:
| Suffixes | Meaning | Examples |
| -able/-ible | Having the quality of something | Admissible, acceptable, permissible, practicable |
| -al | Related to something | Logical, rational, seasonal |
| -an/-ian | Person associated with something | Musician, Indian, technician |
| -ant/-ent | Something or someone | Defendant, recipient, assistant |
| -ance/-ence | Action, or quality | Tolerance, patience, acceptance |
| -ar | Related to something | Tabular, circular, muscular |
| -cide | Killing | Homicide, patricide, matricide |
| -cy | Quality | Privacy, accuracy, urgency |
| -ee | Someone | Detainee, employee, payee |
| -en | Made up of/make | Earthen, wooden, lessen, blacken |
| -er/-or | Someone doing something | Examiner, carpenter, actor, collector |
| -ess | Feminine gender | Lioness, mistress, tigress |
| -free | Without | Tension-free, dust-free, tax-free |
| -ful | Having quality | Awful, wonderful, faithful |
| -gamy | Related to number of marriage | Monogamy, Polygamy |
| -hood | State or condition | Motherhood, boyhood, girlhood, manhood |
| -ic | Related to | Photogenic, psychic, photographic |
| -ify | Make | Nullify, fortify, qualify, magnify |
| -ion | Condition | Jurisdiction, connection, satisfaction |
| -ise/-ize | Make | Centralize, finalize, regularize |
| -ish | Belonging to or having the quality | British, blackish, Irish, yellowish |
| -ism | Belief in philosophy of | Pantheism, Marxism, secularism, romanticism |
| -ist | Person having faith in | Pantheist, Marxist, secularist, romanticist |
| -ity/-ty | Quality | Punctuality, regularity, honesty, amnesty |
| -less | Without | Shameless, jobless, reckless, clueless |
| -let | Small size | Piglet, droplet, pamphlet, booklet |
| -logy | Study of particular subject | Psychology, penology, morphology, phonology, philology |
| -ment | Act | Management, government, adjustment |
| -ness | Condition | Tenderness, carefulness, wellness |
| -ocracy | Government | Ochlocracy, democracy, bureaucracy |
| -ous | Quality | Treacherous, dangerous, venomous |
| -proof | Intact | Sound-proof, dust-proof, rust-proof, leak-proof |
| -ship | Position/skill | Scholarship, kingship, penmanship |
| -y | Full of | Cloudy, starry, rainy, windy |
| -ly | Manner of | Slowly, gently, mainly, broadly, madly |
| ACTIVITY SET 1 |
Add suitable prefixes (mal, re, mis, im, un, ill) and suffixes (-tion, -less, -ance –able, -ment, -al) to the words given below.
| Words | Prefix | Suffix |
| Represent | Misrepresent | Representation |
| Use | Reuse, misuse | Useless |
| Perfect | Imperfect | Perfection |
| Read | Re-read, Unread | Readable |
| Important | Unimportant | Importance |
| Settle | Unsettle | Settlement |
| Treat | Ill-treat | Treatment |
| Understand | Misunderstand | Understandable |
| Exam | Re-exam | Examination |
| Function | Malfunction | Functional |
| ACTIVITY SET 2 |
Add suitable prefixes (pre, hyper, de, over, dis, in) and suffixes (-ty, -cy, -ness, -tion, -free) to the words given below.
| Words | Prefix | Suffix |
| Determine | Predetermine | Determination |
| Sensitive | Hyper-sensitive | Sensitivity |
| Forest | Deforest | Forestation |
| Smart | Over-smart | Smartness |
| Satisfy | Dissatisfy | Satisfaction |
| Frost | Defrost | Frosty |
| Tension | Hyper-tension | Tension-free |
| Active | Inactive | Activity, Activeness |
| Historic | Pre-historic | Historicity |
| Colonial | De-colonial | Colonialization |
| ACTIVITY SET 3 |
Add suitable prefixes (super, re, auto, bi, mono, work) and suffixes (-ous, -ism, -er, -tion, -ist, -ly) to the words given below.
| Words | Prefix | Suffix |
| Suggest | Auto-suggest | Suggestion |
| Lingual | Bi-lingual | Linguist |
| View | Review | Viewer |
| Natural | Supernatural | Naturalism |
| Tone | Monotone | Toner |
| Week | Workweek | Weekly |
| Play | Replay | Player |
| Imagine | Re-imagine | Imagination |
| Form | Biform | Formation |
| Present | Represent | Presentation |
| ACTIVITY SET 4 |
Add suitable prefixes (un, semi, pro, extra, dis) and suffixes (-an, -less, -fy,-ment, -ar, -ness, -ous, -tion) to the words given below.
| Words | Prefix | Suffix |
| Dark | Semi-dark | Darkness |
| America | Pro-American | American |
| Count | Extra-count | Countless |
| Continue | Discontinue | Continuous |
| Agree | Disagree | Agreement |
| Solid | Semi-solid | Solidify |
| Active | Pro-active | Activeness |
| Sophisticate |
Unsophisticate | Sophistication |
| Circle | Semi-circle | Circular |
| Content | Discontent | Contentment |
| ACTIVITY SET 5 |
Add suitable prefixes (im, inter, post, un, ir, de, auto, mis, en) and suffixes (-al, -like, -ity, -ance, -ed, -tion) to the words given below.
| Words | Prefix | Suffix |
| Nation | Internation | National |
| War | Post-war | War-like |
| Regular | Irregular | Regularity |
| Permanent | Impermanent | Permanence |
| Match | Mismatch | Matched |
| Centralize | Decentralize | Centralization |
| Biography | Autobiography | Biographical |
| Parallel | Unparallel | Paralleled |
| Balance | Imbalance | Balanced |
| Tangle | Entangle | Tangled |
also see:
| ONLINE GRAMMAR QUIZZES with CERTIFICATES |
| ENGLISH GRAMMAR_1 |
| ENGLISH GRAMMAR_2 |
| GRAMMAR: SPOT THE ERROR |
| USEFUL EXPRESSIONS IN ENGLISH SPEAKING |
| WORD FORMATION PROCESSES |
| PHONETICS |
