► Prefixes

anti- = against (anti-crime) WORD FORMATION

bi- = two (bilingual)
co- = with (co-exist) ○ Nous formed from verbs
counter- = in the opposite direction (counterattack) -age marry - marriage
ex- = previous, former (ex-wife) -al survive – survival
inter- = between (international) -ance appear – appearance
mis- = done wrongly or badly (miscomprehend) -ation alter-alteration
mono- = one (monosyllable) -ence exist – existence
multi- = many (multicoloured) -ion subtract – subtraction
non- = not (non-profit) -ment arrange – arrangement
out- = more, better (outrun) -sion admit – admission (verbs ending in-d/t)
over- = (done) to a great extent (overdressed) -sis hypnotise – hypnosis
post- =after (post doctoral) -tion compete – competition
pre- = before (pre-junior) -ure expose – exposure
pro- =in favour of (pro-life) -y injure – injury
re- = again (redecorate) ○ Nous formed from adjectives
semi- = half (semi-circular) -ance extravagant - extravagance
sub- = under, less (subtitle) -cy secret - secrecy
super- = big, more (superstar) -ence silent - silence
trans- =(travel) from one side, group, etc, to -ion complete - completion
another (transcontinental) -iness happy - happiness
tri- = three (triathlon) -ness light - lightness
under- = not enough (understaffed) -ity complex - complexity
uni- = one (unisex) -ty loyal - loyalty
○ Prefixes used to express opposite meanings: -y honest – honesty
de- deflate, deforestation
dis- disobey, disrespect ○ Adjectives formed from nouns
in- inactive, inappropriate -ous mountain – mountainous
BUT il- (before l) illiterate -al accident - accidental
im- (before b, m, p) imbalance, immature, -ic drama - dramatic
impolite -ical alphabet - alphabetical
ir- (before r) irresponsible -ish girl - girlish
BUT unrealistic, unresolved -ive effect - effective
non- non-racist, non-smoker -ful care - careful
un- unlock, unpleasant -less hope - hopeless
-ant importance - important
○ Some prefixes are added to words to form verb -able comfort - comfortable
en- compass – encompass -y spice - spicy
BUT em- (before b, m, p) body - embody -ly month - monthly

► Suffixes ○ Adjectives formed from nouns

-able reason – reasonable
○ Nouns referring to people -ible defend – defensible (verbs ending in-d/t)
• Verb + -er/-or/-ar -ive create – creative
(hunt – hunter, beg – beggar, investigate – -ate consider – considerate
investigator) -ent depend - dependent
• noun/verb/adjective + -ist
(violin – violinist, escape – escapist, instrumental ○ Verbs formed from adjectives
- instrumentalist) -en loose – loosen
• verb + -ant/-ent -ise general – generalise
(contest – contestant, study – student)
• noun + -an/-ian
(republic – republican, music – musician) ○ Verbs formed from nouns
• verb + -ee (passive meaning) (train – trainee) -en strength - strengthen