Prefixes, Suffixes & Roots Notes
Prefixes:
Prefixes are groups of letters that are added to the front of words to make new words with different meanings.
"Im-" and "in-" mean "not." So something that's impossible is not possible, and someone who's inconsistent is not consistent.
"Non-" also means "not." A nonfiction book is not fictional- that is, it's a true story. A nonviolent protest is not violent.
"Mis-" means "wrong, bad, or badly." If you misspell a word, you spell it wrong. And if you misbehave, you behave badly.
"En-" means "in or into." To endanger someone is to put that person in danger. And to entrap someone is to draw a person into a trap.
"Pre-" means "before or earlier." A pregame show takes place before the game, and a prehistoric event took place before people began recording history.
Suffixes:
Suffixes are a lot like prefixes, but they are added to the end of a word.
"-y" is a suffix that can be used to make adjectives. Does anyone you know display greed? Then that person is greedy. And are you ready to go to sleep? Then you must be sleepy.
"-ly" and "-ily" are suffixes that are often used to make adverbs. Take the adjective "quick", add "-ily", and you get the adverb "quickly". In the same way, "easy" becomes "easily."
"-ful" is a suffix meaning "full of." A thoughtful person is full of thoughts, and a playful baby is full of play.
Prefixes are groups of letters that are added to the front of words to make new words with different meanings.
"Im-" and "in-" mean "not." So something that's impossible is not possible, and someone who's inconsistent is not consistent.
"Non-" also means "not." A nonfiction book is not fictional- that is, it's a true story. A nonviolent protest is not violent.
"Mis-" means "wrong, bad, or badly." If you misspell a word, you spell it wrong. And if you misbehave, you behave badly.
"En-" means "in or into." To endanger someone is to put that person in danger. And to entrap someone is to draw a person into a trap.
"Pre-" means "before or earlier." A pregame show takes place before the game, and a prehistoric event took place before people began recording history.
Suffixes:
Suffixes are a lot like prefixes, but they are added to the end of a word.
"-y" is a suffix that can be used to make adjectives. Does anyone you know display greed? Then that person is greedy. And are you ready to go to sleep? Then you must be sleepy.
"-ly" and "-ily" are suffixes that are often used to make adverbs. Take the adjective "quick", add "-ily", and you get the adverb "quickly". In the same way, "easy" becomes "easily."
"-ful" is a suffix meaning "full of." A thoughtful person is full of thoughts, and a playful baby is full of play.