AFFIXES AFFIXES
- Small word particles, usually only a few letters, - Small word particles, usually only a few letters,
added to a root word to change its meaning or added to a root word to change its meaning or
grammatical properties. grammatical properties.
ROOT WORD- most basic part of a word that carries the ROOT WORD- most basic part of a word that carries the
main meaning. It can stand alone or have affixes added to it to main meaning. It can stand alone or have affixes added to it to
create new words. create new words.
HAPPINESS/ HAPPILY/ UNHAPPY HAPPINESS/ HAPPILY/ UNHAPPY
root word – happy root word – happy
FOUR TYPES OF AFFIXES FOUR TYPES OF AFFIXES
1. Prefixes- Affixes added to the beginning of a root word. 1. Prefixes- Affixes added to the beginning of a root word.
Function: They usually change the meaning of the root word Function: They usually change the meaning of the root word
but generally do not alter its grammatical category. but generally do not alter its grammatical category.
EXAMPLES: EXAMPLES:
1. un- 3. un-
o Meaning: Not or opposite of o Meaning: Not or opposite of
o Example: Unhappy (not happy) o Example: Unhappy (not happy)
2. re- 4. re-
o Meaning: again or back o Meaning: again or back
o Example: Redo (do again) o Example: Redo (do again)
3. pre- 3. pre-
o Meaning: Before o Meaning: Before
o Example: Preview (view before) o Example: Preview (view before)
4. dis- 4. dis-
o Meaning: Not or opposite of o Meaning: Not or opposite of
o Example: Disagree (not agree) o Example: Disagree (not agree)
5. mis- 5. mis-
o Meaning: Wrong or badly o Meaning: Wrong or badly
o Example: Misunderstand (understand o Example: Misunderstand (understand
wrongly) wrongly)
6. in- 6. in-
o Meaning: Not o Meaning: Not
o Example: Incomplete (not complete) o Example: Incomplete (not complete)
7. im- 7. im-
o Meaning: Not (used before words starting o Meaning: Not (used before words starting
with 'm' or 'p') with 'm' or 'p')
o Example: Impossible (not possible) o Example: Impossible (not possible)
8. non- 8. non-
o Meaning: Not o Meaning: Not
o Example: Nonstop (without stopping) o Example: Nonstop (without stopping)
9. over- 9. over-
o Meaning: Too much or above o Meaning: Too much or above
o Example: Overeat (eat too much) o Example: Overeat (eat too much)
10. under- 10. under-
o Meaning: Not enough or below o Meaning: Not enough or below
o Example: Underestimate (estimate too low) o Example: Underestimate (estimate too low)
2. SUFFIXES- Affixes added to the end of a root word. 2. SUFFIXES- Affixes added to the end of a root word.
Function: They often change the grammatical category or Function: They often change the grammatical category or
tense of the root word, such as turning a noun into an tense of the root word, such as turning a noun into an
adjective or verb. adjective or verb.
EXAMPLES: EXAMPLES:
1. -ful 4. -ful
o Meaning: Full of o Meaning: Full of
o Example: Hopeful (full of hope) o Example: Hopeful (full of hope)
2. -less 5. -less
o Meaning: Without o Meaning: Without
o Example: Fearless (without fear) o Example: Fearless (without fear)
3. -ness 6. -ness
o Meaning: State or quality o Meaning: State or quality
o Example: Happiness (the state of being o Example: Happiness (the state of being
happy) happy)
o -ly o -ly
o Meaning: In a certain way (often turns o Meaning: In a certain way (often turns
adjectives into adverbs) adjectives into adverbs)
o Example: Quickly (in a quick manner) o Example: Quickly (in a quick manner)
5. -ment
o Meaning: Action or process
o Example: Improvement (the process of 5. -ment
improving) o Meaning: Action or process
o Example: Improvement (the process of
6. -tion / -sion improving)
o Meaning: The act or state of
o Example: Celebration (the act of 6. -tion / -sion
celebrating) o Meaning: The act or state of
Decision (the act of deciding) o Example: Celebration (the act of
7. -er / -or celebrating)
o Meaning: One who or something that Decision (the act of deciding)
performs an action 7. -er / -or
o Example: Teacher (one who teaches) o Meaning: One who or something that
Actor (one who acts) performs an action
8. -able / -ible o Example: Teacher (one who teaches)
o Meaning: Capable of being Actor (one who acts)
o Example: Lovable (capable of being loved) 8. -able / -ible
Edible (capable of being eaten) o Meaning: Capable of being
9. -ist o Example: Lovable (capable of being loved)
o Meaning: One who practices or is Edible (capable of being eaten)
concerned with 9. -ist
o Example: Artist (one who practices art) o Meaning: One who practices or is
10. -ous concerned with
o Meaning: Full of or having the qualities of o Example: Artist (one who practices art)
o Example: Dangerous (full of danger) 10. -ous
o Meaning: Full of or having the qualities of
3. INFIXES- a special type of affix that comes in the o Example: Dangerous (full of danger)
middle of a word.
3. INFIXES- a special type of affix that comes in the
However, the English language doesn’t use infixes. middle of a word.
Infixes are more common in other languages, including However, the English language doesn’t use infixes.
Greek, Austronesian languages like Tagalog, and
Indigenous American languages like Choctaw. Infixes are more common in other languages, including
Greek, Austronesian languages like Tagalog, and
4. CIRCUMFIXES- pairs of prefixes and suffixes always Indigenous American languages like Choctaw.
used together.
Examples: 4. CIRCUMFIXES- pairs of prefixes and suffixes always
used together.
1. enlighten Examples:
2. embolden
3. enlighten
4. embolden
