This document defines and provides examples of prefixes and suffixes. It explains that prefixes are added to the beginning of root words to modify their meaning, while suffixes are added to the end. Some common prefixes discussed include un-, de-, dis-, and non-, along with their meanings of not, reverse, removal, and without. Suffixes change the grammatical function or meaning of words, and examples are provided such as -er, -ness, -ion, and -ment. The document serves to illustrate how affixes can be used to modify root words and effectively change or add to their definitions.

1. BS English 3rd Semester
Superior Group of Colleges
Mian Channu
Prepared By:
Muhammad Aqeel Hayder
M.Phil (English Literature) BZU
HOD BS English

2. An affix is a set of letters generally added to the
beginning or end of a root word to modify its
meaning. The root is the portion of the word
that remains when all prefixes and suffixes
have been removed. Typically, they can stand
alone. In the word untouchable, “touch” is the
root.

3. The two main types of affixes are prefixes and
suffixes.
In the “untouchable” example above, “un-” is the
prefix and “-able” is the suffix. For another
example, let’s examine the root word reserve.
Thanks to affixes, it can be transformed
into unreserved by the prefix “un-” or
even unreservedly by the suffixes “-ed” and “-ly.”

4. Prefixes are attached to the beginning of a root word.
They create a new word with a new meaning.
Prefixes are a syllable, or group of syllables, added to
the beginning of a word to alter its meaning. Prefixes
help to add complexity to the English language and
make it possible to create new words that are easily
understood by speakers everywhere.

5. For example, consider the prefix de-. This prefix
means to undo something and is usually attached
to a verb. Thus, you can take the verb activate,
which means to put something to use, and change
it to deactivate, which means to take something
out of use.
Likewise, adding de- to other verbs reverses their
original meaning, as in decompose and devalue.

6. Several prefixes serve to make the new word mean the opposite, or nearly the
opposite, of the original meaning of the base word.
a-/an-
Meaning: without, lacking
Examples: amoral, Anabaptist, anonymous
anti-
Meaning: against, opposing
Examples: antidote, antipathy, antibiotic
contra-
Meaning: against, opposing
Examples: contradict, contraindicated, contrarian

7. de-
Meaning: reverse, undo
Examples: deactivate, degrade, de-icer
dis-
Meaning: removal, apart from
Examples: disagree, disapprove, disconnect
il-/im-/in-/ir-
Meaning: not, without
Examples: illegal, impermeable, injustice, irreversible
non-
Meaning: not, without
Examples: nonexistent, nonfiction, non-negotiable,
un-
Meaning: not, opposite
Examples: unkind, unresponsive, unruly

8. Suffixes are attached to the end of a root word.
They, too, create a new word with a new meaning.
It’s important to note that you can add more than
one prefix or suffix to a word. You can see it in
words above
like disenfranchisement and unsuccessfully. Other
examples include nonconformist, counter-
revolutionary, reorganization,
and unquantifiable.

9. Like prefixes, there are many suffixes used in the
English language to create a rich vocabulary.
These suffixes change the meaning or
grammatical function of a base word or root
word. For example, by adding the suffixes -er
and -est to the adjective fond, you create
the comparative fonder and
the superlative, fondest.

10. -eer
Meaning: engaged in something, associated with something
Examples: auctioneer, volunteer, engineer, profiteer
-er
Meaning: someone who performs an action
Examples: helper, teacher, preacher, dancer
-ion
Meaning: the action or process of
Examples: celebration, opinion, decision, revision
-ity
Meaning: the state or condition of
Examples: probability, equality, abnormality, civility
-ment
Meaning: the action or result of
Examples: movement, retirement, abandonment, establishment
-ness
Meaning: a state or quality
Examples: fondness, awareness, kindness, darkness
-or
Meaning: a person who is something
Examples: distributor, investigator, translator, conductor

11. -sion
Meaning: state or being
Examples: depression, confusion, tension, compulsion
-ship
Meaning: position held
Examples: worship, ownership, courtship, internship
-th
Meaning: state or quality
Examples: strength, labyrinth, depth, warmth