AFFIXATION
Affixation in English is the process of adding one, or more letters to a
word
a- in the beginning, called prefix, generally to change its meaning
b- in the end ,called suffix, generally to change its grammatical form.
PREFIXES
PREFIX MEANING EXAMPLE
a Not Atypical / asexual
ab Not Abnormal
ante Before Ante-natal clinic/ ante-Islamic period
anti Against Anti-social/ anti-terrorist
auto Self Auto-biography
bi Two Bilingual / bisexual
co With Co-existent / co-habitation
counter Against Counter-revolution / counter-balance
de Take away Dethrone / deforestation
dis Opposite / reverse Dislike / disagree / disconnect
ex Former Ex-husband / ex-president
extra More than/very Extra- ordinary
fore Before Foretell / forerunner
il Not Illegal / illogical
im Not Impossible / immoral
in Not Inactive / invalid
inter Between International / inter-school
ir Not Irrational / irregular
mid In the middle Mid-century / mid-fielder
mini Small Mini-bus / mini-skirt
mis Badly / wrongly Misunderstand / misuse
multi Many Multi national / multifunctional
non Not Non-living / non-violent
over More than normal Over-fed / oversleep
post After Post-war / post-surgical
pre Before Prepaid / pre-war
pro For Pro-American
re Again Reuse / rewrite
semi Half Semi-detached
sub Under / below Sub-marine / submerge
super Extremely Superman / supernatural
trans Across / through Transcontinental
ultra Beyond the limit Ultra-violet
un Not Unhappy / undo / unable
uni Single Uniform / unisex
SUFFIXES
SUFFIX FROM / INTO EXAMPLE
able Verb adj Readable / reusable
ible Verb adj Resistible
age Verb noun Storage / shortage
al Noun adj Occidental / experimental
ance Verb noun Performance
ancy Adj noun Pregnancy
ant Verb noun Immigrant
ation Verb noun Imagination / examination
ence Verb noun Residence / independence
ency Adj noun Frequency / efficiency
ent Verb noun Student / resident
ee Verb noun Trainee/ employee
en Adj verb Widen / deepen / whiten
er Verb noun Driver / teacher
ese Noun adj Japanese / Chinese
ess Verb noun Actress / waitress
ful Noun adj Colourful / useful / hopeful
hood Noun noun Adulthood / motherhood
ian Noun noun Historian / comedian
ical Noun adj Economical / political
ify Adj verb Simplify / purify
ish Noun adj Swedish / British
ist Noun noun Scientist / ecologist
ion Verb noun Connection / exhibition
ive Verb adj Active / imaginative
less Noun adj Homeless / hopeless
ly Adjadv Slowly / happily
ment Verb noun Advancement / arrangement
ship Noun noun Friendship / citizenship
ward Prep adj Backward /forward
wards Prep adv Upwards
wise Noun adv Clockwise
y Noun adj Sunny / foggy / windy
PRACTICE
Add the suitable prefixes to the following words to get their
antonyms.
... animate …satisfied …abled …convenient
…responsible …flexible …employed …suitable
…possible …polite …normal …imaginable
…legible …relevant …like(verb) …deniably
…legal …counted …like(adj) …order
…agree …literate …reversible …natural
…curable …adequate …freeze …connected
…interested …obey …successful …sexual
…known …moral …estimable …organized
…living …behave …wanted …composed
…believable …official …mobilize …pure
…modest …unite …acceptable ...safe
…violent …fair …approval …patient
…pleasant …dependent …judge …lucky
…regular …pronounce …expected …fortunately
…appear …inspiring …available …trust
…mature …mortal …do …security
…appropriate …registered … continue …capacity
…logical …developed …conformity …formation
…inhabited …solvent …expensive …ability
…smoker …able …perfect …equality
…correct …hydrate …forestation …justice
…covered …capable …fit …clean
...formal …honest …welcome …aware
…use …decided …just …evitable
…permeable …fertility …precise …regard
…attentive …armament …charge …accuracy
…throne …accessible …proper …digestion
…resident …conscious …compatible …continuous
…verbal …sense …agreeable …humanize