Word formation
Prefixes
Some words are formed by adding a PREFIX at the beginning of an existing word. Have a look at the list below and try to learn the most important prefixes in English
PREFIXES
| PREFIX | MEANING | EXAMPLE |
| DIS | opposite action | disagree, disconnect |
| FORE | the front, before | forehead, forecast |
| FULL | whole, greatest degree |
full-time, full- volume |
| HAND | by a person, with your hands |
handbrake, hand-made |
| ILL | done badly, |
ill-paid, ill-equipped |
| MIS | something done wrongly | misinform, misunderstand |
| OVER | too much |
overweight, overpaid |
| SELF | by oneself, |
self-service, selfish |
| UN | the opposite, not true | unlock, unable |
| UNDER | not enough, below |
underweight, underground |
Suffixes
And some other words are formed by adding a SUFFIX at the end.
SUFFIXES
| SUFFIX | MEANING |
EXAMPLE |
| DOM |
state or condition |
freedom, kingdom |
| ER | who performs an action | employer, worker (-OR) actor, sailor, |
| EE |
person to whom something is done | employee, trainee |
| EN | to form verbs from the root word | shorten, blacken |
| ESS | female | actress, waitress |
| FUL | with the quality of, | useful, hopeful |
| HOOD | to from abstract nouns from nouns | childhood, manhood |
| ISH | like something, rather - quite | foolish, babyish - tallish, redish |
| LESS | without | sugarless, homeless |
| LY | to form adverbs of manner | happily, legally |
| MATE | do the same activity, share |
classmate, flatmate |
| NESS | to form abstract nouns from adjectives |
happiness, sadness |
| Y | adjective from the root word | hairy, windy |
| SHIP |
abstract noun from noun | friendship |
| WARD(S), WISE | direction, way | eastwards, clockwise |
Further knowledge
Now, it's time to practice. Click here to do an easy activity to form adjectives. More exercises to improve your knowledge on forming adjectives by means of suffixes can be done not only by clicking here, but also here.
Practise the prefixes and suffixes
Practise the prefixes and suffixes
Can you guess the meaning?
| sportsmanship |
schoolmate | aggressiveness | fashionable |
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| boredom |
brotherhood |
lioness |
dictatorship |
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| brainless |
neighbourhood |
handful |
drinkable |
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| weakness |
stardom |
underwear |
oversleep |
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| misguide |
hand wash |
ill-educated |
foresee |
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| forelegs | full-speed |
full-page |
unofficial |
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| undressed |
undercooked |
undo |
disbelieve |
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| lovely | princess |
heartless |
thankful | |||
| motherhood | |
longish | |
citizenship | |
anticlockwise |