What Are Prefix And Suffix?
A prefix is a letter or a group of letters placed before a word to modify the word's original meaning. In the word 'Prefix', 'pre' stands for 'before'. Hence it remains attached before a word to change its original meaning. For example, in the word 'impatient’, ‘patient’ is the original word. The prefix is 'im'. Together they form the word impatient, which means the opposite of patient. Hence, a prefix modifies a word to make it mean the complete opposite of what it originally stood for. A suffix is a letter, or a group of letters joined at the end of a word to modify the way that word fits in a sentence grammatically. For example, in the word 'walked', the suffix is 'ed,' which, when added to the main word walk, changes the verb's tense from present indefinite to simple past tense.
New Word Creation With Prefix And Suffix
Through the use of prefixes and suffixes, a new word with a new meaning is created. Some prefixes are created from words we use very frequently in modern times. For example, electronic mail is converted to email where 'e' is the prefix, which modifies the main word 'mail.' The 'e' is a recently added prefix.
It is vital to understand what various prefixes mean since the prefix can help us understand the meanings of many words they may be used in. However, a prefix may have more than one meaning. Some words use only a particular meaning of the same prefix.
For example, the letters 'im' is a prefix that can mean two things- 'not' or 'into'. The word 'impersonal' means something that is not personal. Hence, 'im' here means 'not.' In the word 'import,' the prefix 'im' stands for 'into.'
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A single word may contain one prefix and one suffix. For example, in the word 'unwittingly', 'un' is the prefix, witting is the main word, and 'ly' is the suffix.
Prefixes Originating From Latin
Like many words in English, many prefixes have originated from Latin. Like all other prefixes, it is essential to know the meaning of the prefix to understand the meaning of the word.
For example- the prefix 'trans' has originated from Latin, and it is very versatile. It can mean across, over, beyond, like in the word transcontinental. It is also used in chemistry to denote distance, like in the word transition. It is also used to denote the sex of a person when the assigned sex does not match the sex they identify with, like in the word transgender.
Another prefix which has its roots in Latin is 'sub'. It can also be used to mean different things in different words. It can be used to mean under, below, secondary, or subordinate, like in words subjugate, submerge, etc. It is also used in chemistry and sciences like in the word subtract.
Prefixes Originating From Greek
Apart from Latin, many prefixes have originated from Greek. The prefixes that originate from Greek are generally used in sciences. For example, the prefix 'di' comes from Greek, and it means the double of something or two. It is used in the naming of various compound words in chemistry, like disulfide, dioxide, etc.
Another Greek originated prefix may be cited as the prefix 'hyper.' It is used to describe something abundant or exaggerated. It is also used in sciences, like, hyperbole, hyperactive, etc.
Solved Examples
Q1. What are the most commonly used Science and Grammatical Prefixes?
Ans. A table of the most commonly used prefixes in the sciences is given below.
Grammatical Prefixes
Did You Know?
Some specific prefixes are used for the metric system. They are used to describe a part of a number or the unit of a number in terms of its weight, size, mass, distance, etc.
FAQs on Understanding Prefixes and Suffixes
1. What is a prefix in English grammar?
A prefix is a letter or group of letters attached to the beginning of a base word (or root word) to form a new word or alter its meaning. For example, adding the prefix 're-' to the word 'view' creates the new word 'review', which means to view something again.
2. What is a suffix in English grammar?
A suffix is a letter or group of letters attached to the end of a base word (or root word) to form a new word or to change its grammatical function. For instance, adding the suffix '-ful' to the word 'beauty' creates the adjective 'beautiful'.
3. What is the main difference between a prefix and a suffix?
The primary difference lies in their placement and function. A prefix is added to the beginning of a word and typically changes its meaning (e.g., 'possible' becomes 'impossible'). A suffix is added to the end of a word and can change its meaning or, more commonly, its part of speech (e.g., the verb 'read' becomes the adjective 'readable').
4. How do prefixes change the meaning of a word?
Prefixes modify a word's meaning in several ways, often by introducing concepts like negation, repetition, or size. Here are some examples:
- Negation: Prefixes like 'un-', 'in-', 'im-', 'ir-', and 'dis-' create opposites. For example, 'un' + 'do' = 'undo'.
- Repetition: The prefix 're-' means 'again'. For example, 're' + 'write' = 'rewrite'.
- Size or Degree: Prefixes like 'super-', 'sub-', 'hyper-', and 'micro-' indicate scale. For example, 'super' + 'market' = 'supermarket'.
5. How do suffixes change a word's grammatical function?
Suffixes are powerful tools for changing a word's role in a sentence. They can turn a word from one part of speech into another. For example:
- Verb to Noun: Adding '-ation' to the verb 'inform' creates the noun 'information'.
- Noun to Adjective: Adding '-ous' to the noun 'danger' creates the adjective 'dangerous'.
- Adjective to Adverb: Adding '-ly' to the adjective 'quick' creates the adverb 'quickly'.
6. Why is understanding prefixes and suffixes important for students?
Understanding prefixes and suffixes is crucial because it significantly expands a student's vocabulary and reading comprehension. By recognizing these common word parts, a student can decode the meaning of unfamiliar words without needing a dictionary. This skill improves writing, speeds up reading, and enhances overall language proficiency.
7. Can a word have both a prefix and a suffix at the same time?
Yes, a word can certainly have both a prefix and a suffix attached to a single root word. For example, in the word 'unbelievably', the root word is 'believe'. It has the prefix 'un-' at the beginning and the suffixes '-able' and '-ly' at the end.
8. What are some common examples of prefixes?
Some of the most common prefixes found in the English language include:
- un- (not), as in 'unhappy'
- re- (again), as in 'reread'
- pre- (before), as in 'predict'
- dis- (not, opposite of), as in 'dislike'
- mis- (wrongly), as in 'misunderstand'
9. What are some common examples of suffixes?
Some of the most common suffixes indicate tense, plurality, or part of speech. Examples include:
- -s, -es (plural), as in 'dogs', 'boxes'
- -ed (past tense), as in 'walked'
- -ing (present participle), as in 'singing'
- -able, -ible (can be done), as in 'washable', 'edible'
- -ly (forms an adverb), as in 'slowly'
10. Are there any spelling rules to remember when adding a suffix?
Yes, there are several key spelling rules to follow when adding suffixes. The three most common rules are:
- Dropping the final 'e': When a root word ends in a silent 'e' and the suffix begins with a vowel, you usually drop the 'e'. For example, 'hope' + '-ing' becomes 'hoping'.
- Doubling the final consonant: For short words ending in a consonant-vowel-consonant pattern, you double the final consonant when adding a suffix that starts with a vowel. For example, 'run' + '-ing' becomes 'running'.
- Changing 'y' to 'i': When a root word ends in a consonant followed by 'y', you change the 'y' to 'i' before adding most suffixes. For example, 'happy' + '-ness' becomes 'happiness'.
