Package 3 - Prefixes and Affixes
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this section you should
✔ know the meanings of some common prefixes, suffixes and roots
✔ be able to infer the meaning of new words and enrich your vocabulary
✔ be able to organise your vocabulary study
Introduction
In the word, irregularity, ir- is a prefix, regular is a root and –ity is a (noun) suffix. It can be seen that affixes (i.e., prefix and suffix) can change the meaning of a word. It is important to learn roots and affixes since they often help you to work out the meaning of unfamiliar words while reading and also to determine parts of speech so that you are able to use these words correctly in speech or writing. Knowledge of roots and affixes can also give you a methodical technique for remembering new words by relating them to words you already know. With this technique, you can also organise words and learn them in groups, rather than individually.
Prefixes
Activity 1a Negative meaning formed with prefixes
Prefixes such as il-, im-, un-, dis-, in-, and ir- are often used to give adjectives a negative meaning. But it is not easy to master which prefix an adjective uses to form its opposite. It certainly helps if you are aware of the opposite, if there is any, of an adjective formed with a prefix the first time you try to learn the word. Type in the opposites of these words using an appropriate prefix.
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necessary unnecessary
Answer: unnecessary
legal illegal
Answer: illegal
organized disorganized
Answer: disorganized
impressed unimpressed
Answer: unimpressed
logical illogical
Answer: illogical
regular irregular
Answer: irregular
enthusiastic unenthusiastic
Answer: unenthusiastic
honest dishonest
Answer: dishonest
mature immature
Answer: immature
patient impatient
Answer: impatient
just unjust
Answer: unjust
grateful ungrateful
Answer: ungrateful
loyal disloyal
Answer: disloyal
legible illegible
Answer: illegible
edible inedible
Answer: inedible
literate illiterate
Answer: illiterate
replaceable irreplaceable
Answer: irreplaceable
reversible irreversible
Answer: irreversible
sincere insincere
Answer: insincere
agreeable disagreeable
Answer: disagreeable
Activity 1b More prefixes
There are many other prefixes used in English than those you practised in Activity 1a. The
following table contains some of them.
Suffixes
Activity 2a Common Suffixes
There are 11 groups of 3 words. The words in each group share a common suffix. Tybe the suffix for each group of words.
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1. involve enjoydiscouragee.g. ment
Answer: -ment (noun)
2. hostile scarceformality
Answer: -ity (noun)
3. mother adultpriesthood
Answer: -hood (noun)
4. tear dreadboastful
Answer: -ful (adjective)
5. cloud harmendless
Answer: -less (adjective)
6. simple purebeautyify
Answer: -ify (verb)
7. refuse arriveapproveal
Answer: -al (noun)
8. act saildirector
Answer: -or (noun)
9. order costleisurely
Answer: -ly (adjective)
10. bsent refugetrustee
Answer: -ee (noun)
11. drink recogniseforgiveable
Answer: -able (adjective)
Activity 2b. Other suffixes
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