Word Formation

Prefixes
1 THE FUNCTION OF PREFIXES

A prefix has a meaning of its own that changes the meaning of the word it is joined to. We can
use prefixes before different parts of speech. Note that the prefix often changes a noun into an
adjective or adverb:

underclothes underpayment
nouns
understatement understudy

adjectives underdeveloped underweight

& adverbs underrated underprivileged

undercut underestimate
verbs
understate undervalue

2 THE MEANING OF PREFIXES

Here are some of the most common meanings or functions of prefixes:

 The opposite, a negative or the reverse:

__happy, __lock, __decent, __possible, __legal, __relevant, ___appear, __stabilise, ___religious,

__normal, __political, _____revolution.

 Bad or wrong:

___spell, ___pronounce, ___practice, ___nutrition.

 Degree, size, quality:

_____human, ____standard, _____enemy, _____sensitive, _____cautious, ____cooked,

_____prepared, ____size.

 Attitude:

_____abortion, _____hunting.

 Numbers:

__sex, __ennial, ___partite, _____talented, ____glot, _____handed, _____logue, _____professional.

 Time:

____war, _____graduate, _____natal, _____fascist, _____cast, ___husband.

 Position, directions:

___come, ___goings, _____plants, ____African.

 With, along with, touching on:

___writer, _____workers, ____text

 Miscellaneous:

______artist, _____record, _____friend, _____power, _____able.

Many ‘ordinary’ words operate as prefixes:

____-blooded, _____-imposed, _____-advised, _____-behaved, ____-Channel, ____-heavy.

3 SAME PREFIX – DIFFERENT MEANINGS

Some prefixes can have more than one meaning:

 Before adjectives and adverbs, un- means ‘not’ (unaware, unconscious, unpaid, uncommonly).
Before verbs, un- means ‘to do the opposite’ (uncurl, unplug, unlock, unzip, undress).

 in- and im- can sometimes indicate ‘not’ (indecisive, infinite, infallible, impolite). They can also mean
‘in’, ‘into’, or ‘inside’ (indoors, imprison, implode, insight).

 De- can denote an opposite (depopulated, deindustrialised). It can also mean ‘to remove from’
(defrost, dethrone, detoxification). It can also mean ‘to make something less’ (devalue, demean,
demote).

PRACTICE

1. Read the text below and decide which answer (a, b, c or d) best fit each gap.

With natural disasters, it is usually impossible for any local community to be properly (1) _____.
Throughout the world, millions of people live under the (2) _____ threat of their homes being washed,
blown or swept away by the elements. They are well aware that at any moment they and their potential
(3) _____ victims will see all that they have lived for destroyed by hurricane, volcano, earthquake or
floods. Even with the (4) _____ advances of late in meteorological and seismological sciences, they know
that there are as yet no truly effective (5) _____ measures that can be taken.
Yes, there are, for example, (6) _____ flood warnings in operation sometimes, but they are not able to
stop the water coming any more than speed-limit signs can stop drivers speeding.

1 A forewarned B premeditated C anticipated D foreseen

2 A ultrasensitive B omnipresent C hyperactive D superfluous
3 A ultra B con C pan D fellow
4 A immemorial B undocumented C impractical D unprecedented
5 A pro B counter C anti D contra
6 A anti B contra C hyper D ultra
Suffixes
1 SUFFIXES FORMING NOUNS

A suffix changes the meaning of the word it is joined to by changing its part of speech: e.g. we
can add –ity to the adjective national to make the noun nationality. We often need to change
the spelling, for example, urgent becomes urgency.

Here are some examples of suffixes showing different kinds of people:

train__ train__ employ__ employ__ visit__ navigat__ burgl__ schol__ chem__ scient__ biolog___
journal___ assist___ defend___ oppon___ ag___ auction___ engine___ mountain___ crit__ com__
mechan__ patri__ idi__ profession__ gener__ vand__ musici__ electrici__ magici__ politici__
camera___ business______ spokes______

……………………………………………………………………………………………………..
1 Add the following to the appropriate group above. Someone who:

a prosecutes b applies c is nominated d gives blood

e flies airplanes f begs

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

2 SUFFIXES FOR VARIOUS PARTS OF SPEECH

Sometimes a suffix added to an adjective can produce a verb:

sweet sweet__ flat flat__ dark dark__

Sometimes suffixes will change an adjective to a verb and a noun:

simple simpl___ simplific_____

special special___ specialis_____

Sometimes suffixes can be added to a verb to make an adjective and a noun:

depend (in)depend___ (in)depend____

tolerate toler___ toler____

3 CHANGES TO STEMS

Some words change their stems when suffixes are added:

destroy __________ __________ __________

long __________ __________
clear __________ __________
4 SUFFIXES THAT HAVE MEANING

A few suffixes, particularly at the end of adjectives, have a clear meaning: e.g. –less always
indicate without:

meaningless homeless hopelessly useless remorselessly

Here are more examples:

childlike childproof watertight respectful trustworthy

understandable comprehensible

PRACTICE

1. This is a composition a student wrote before studying this unit. Her teacher has underlined all the
words where she has used the wrong – or no – suffix. Write in the correct form of the word.

The police were under the (0) impressive impression that they had a (1) waterproof case but they were
(2) hopeless wrong. Most of their (3) evident was deemed (4) inadmission and their star witness proved
to (5) cowardice to take the stand, explaining his (6) absence with a sick note from his psychiatric. The
defence built up the (8) defender as a (9) total (10) trusting, even (11) saint person, who wouldn’t hurt a
fly. Some old friends and accomplices were bussed in to (12) testimony and bear witness to (13) spotted
reputation he enjoyed in the (14) communal. After talk of his battle with (15) illiterate and stories of the
abuse he suffered in his (16) childishness, the verdict was (17) predicted. Visibly, (18) moving, the jury
spokesperson (19) tearful gulped ‘Not (20) guilt.’