GELN 102 English for Learning

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Unit 1
Analyzing Words

Prefixes and suffixes are sets of letters that are added to the beginning or the ending of
a root word. They are not words in their own right. Also, they cannot stand on their own or
are used alone in a sentence. If they are printed on their own they have a hyphen before or
after them.

1.1 Prefixes
Prefixes is an element added at the beginning of a word to adjust or qualify its

meaning (e.g. ex-, non-, re-) or (in some languages) as an inflection. They can be divided into
two groups: negative prefixes and change meaning prefixes.

1.1.1 Negative prefixes are the word adding before the root word: a noun, an
adjective, and verb, and they can change the meaning of word into opposite. Here are some
English negative prefixes:

Prefixes Meaning
dis- not
im- not
in- not
il- not
ir- not
mis- wrongly
mal- badly, bad
non- not
un- not , to reverse the action

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List of Negative Prefixes and Root Words

Prefixes Meaning Root- words New words New Meaning
dis- not not honest
honest dishonest not like
not agree
like dislike not possible
not proper
agree disagree not balance
not moral
im- not possible impossible
(always put
before the word proper improper
beginning with
‘m,p,b’) balance imbalance
in- not
(always put with moral immoral
verbs, adverb,
adjectives, nouns) correct incorrect not correct
il- not direct indirect not direct
(always put experience inexperience has no experience
before the word
beginning with legal illegal not in law
‘l’) liberal illiberal not free
literate illiterate unable to read and
write
ir- not logical illogical not reasonable
(always used wrongly regular irregular not regular
before the word relevant irrelevant not relevant
beginning with responsible irresponsible not responsible
‘r’
mis- understand misunderstand understand wrongly
(mostly put use misuse use in wrong way
before verbs or interpret misinterpret to interpret incorrectly
nouns) hear mishear to hear wrongly

mal- badly, bad function malfunction to function badly

formed malformed badly or imperfectly

formed

treat maltreat to treat (someone) in a

rough or cruel way

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Prefixes Meaning Root- words New words New Meaning
non- not no meaning or no
sense nonsense intelligible ideas
un- not, not fictional
(put before to reverse fiction nonfiction not Christian
mostly verbs, the action Christian non-Christian not see
adjectives) seen unseen not lock
lock unlock not true
true untrue

Exercise 1: Complete the sentences using a negative form of the word in brackets.

Example: Her marriage is in trouble and she is desperately _unhappy_ (happy).

1. The device automatically _____________ the ignition when the engine is switched
off. (connects)

2. It was _____________ that he should suffer so much. (fair)
3. You are protected instantly if a thief _____________ your credit card. (uses)
4. It is _____________ to ask too many questions. (polite)
5. He denied that his evidence about the telephone call was _____________.

(correct)
6. He had bad teeth, ____________ and discolored. (regular)
7. The fighting made a ____________ of peace pledges made in London last week.

(sense)
8. He said that he was not tortured or ____________ during his detention. (treat)
9. It’s _____________ to bring those things with you on a plane. (legal)
10. Critics attacked the youth and _____________ of his staff. (experience)

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1.1.2 Change meaning prefixes are a word comes before the root word and it can
change the meaning of the root word. The group of prefixes words has its own meaning and
each is different. Here are the common changing meaning prefixes.

List of Changing Meaning Prefixes and Root Words

Prefixes Meaning Root-words New words New Meaning
ab- not, normal abnormal not normal
anti- away, dicate abdicate resign from
auto- from negation abnegation denial
bi- against, aircraft antiaircraft fight aircraft
de- fight biotic antibiotic fight biotic
dote antidote against poison
ex- self, biography autobiography story of oneself
extra- by oneself graph autograph handwriting
homo- run auto-run run by itself
twice, weekly biweekly every two weeks
two cycle bicycle two wheel cycle
partisan bipartisan two parties
from, away, crease decrease to reduce
to do the flate deflate to flatten, collapse
opposite, tach detach not to do, not to
against connect
out of, clude exclude prevent from
from, wife ex-wife past wife
past president ex-president past president
special, ordinary extraordinary over-ordinary
additional, sensory extrasensory ability to percieve
outside charge extra-charge special charge
same graph homograph word like another
phone homophone sound like another
sexual homosexual two sexes in one

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Prefixes Meaning Root-words New words New Meaning
hyper- over critical hypercritical over critic
multi- many, much market hypermarket supermarket
active hyperactive excessively active
mono- one color multicolor many color
nano- billionth purpose multipurpose may purposes
national multinational many or various
pre- before nation
post- after type monotype one type
rail monorail one railroad
poly- many lingual monolingual one language
technology nanotechnology technology helps
pro- support, second something be very
re- before nanometer small
again, war one billionth of a
back arrange prewar meter
caution prearrange before war
war precaution arrange in advance
script postwar advanced warning
graduate postscript (P.S) after war
ป.ล after signing
clenic post graduate
technic polyclenic after getting degree
polytechnic
gamy various treatments
British poly-gamy many technical
claim pro-British subjects
mote proclaim many wives
view promote support British
form review make known before
fine reform raise to higher
refine see again
new change
polish again

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Prefixes Meaning Root-words New words New Meaning
semi- half annual semiannual half year
sub- under, circle semicircle half circle
super- after final semifinal before final round
over, above marine submarine under water ship
tele- way subway under ground way
far, long natural supernatural magical or over the
trans- power nature
across store superpower over power
tri- superstore supermarket
three scope telescope see far away
graph telegraph far away message
phone telephone hearing from far
away
part transport carry across
ship transship convey from ship
to ship
plant transplant remove and replant
elsewhere
angle triangle three angles
tricycle three wheels

Exercise 2: Circle the meaning of the underlined part.

1. transsexual a. across b. part c. send d.half
2. antiaircraft a. fight b. twice c. away d. out off
3. biweekly a. self b. two c. fight d. against
4. extracharge a. from b. special c. over d. around
5. preuniversity a. before b. outside c. past d. after
6. postcard a. same b. different c. after d. under
7. review a. many b. a lot of c. before d. again
8. polytechnic a. a few b. many c. away d. before
9. homophone a. past b. out off c. solve d. same
10. telegraph a. under b. after c. far d. from

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11.promote a.support b.cause c.before d. after
12. subside a.many b.half c. far, long d. under
13. multimedia a. many b. far c. one d. before
14. superpower a. fight b. over, above c. away d. many, much
15. monolingual a. one b. two c. three d. many, much
16. tripod a. one b. two c. three d. many, much
17. automatic a. before b. after c. against d. self
18. nanotechnology a. a few b. a lot of c. under d. billionth
19. decrease a. over b. support c. against d. fight
20. hyperactive a. far b. across c. over d. again

Exercise 3: Use the word bank to complete each sentence. The first one is done for you.

biweekly decrease uninterested
disabled rewrite unclear
ex-girlfriend extraordinary semi-final
precaution monotone submarine

1. Her handwriting was so messy, his teacher made him __rewrite____
his paper more neatly.

2. If you are confused or _______________ about any information, please ask me
questions after class.

3. Because we get paid _______________ I won’t get another paycheck until next week.
4. She acted _______________even though she was very curious about the handsome new

guy at school.
5. The teacher spoke with a _______________ voice. It made me feel bored.
6. She is my _______________. We broke up last year.
7. The robber _______________ the security alarm.
8. Steve Lewis won the first _______________. He was very glad and he wanted to win the

final round.
9. The _____________ fossils were found in coral reefs in the Pacific Ocean.
10. The number of young people out of work ______________ by 10% each year.
11. Could he not, just as a ______________, move to a place of safety?
12. We've made _______________ progress as a society in that regard.

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1.2 Suffixes

A suffix is a letter or a group of letters put the end of a word to form a new word or to
change the grammatical function of the original word. For example, the verb drive can be
made into the noun driver by adding the suffix -r; move can be made into the adjective
movable by adding the suffix -able. Suffixes can be classified into four group.

1. Adverb suffix
2. Adjective suffix
3. Verb suffix
4. Noun suffix

1.2.1 An adverb suffix is a letter attached at the end of an adjective. The adverb suffix
is normally ‘–ly’. When putting at the end of an adjective, it will function as an adverb.

Here are the sample of adverb suffixes.

Suffix Meaning Root-words New word
-ly (adj.) (adv.)
having the active actively
quality of
beautiful beautifully
deep deeply
direct directly
busy busily

easy easily
fearful fearfully
gentle gently
kind kindly

polite politely

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1.2.2 An adjective suffix is a letter attached at the end of a verb or a noun word.
There are many adjective suffixes in English. Note that when putting at the end of a verb or a
noun, it will function as adjective. Here are the samples of adjective suffixes.

Suffix Meaning Root-words New words
-al belong to (n., v.) (adj.)
(put after noun) nation (n.) national
like, being politics (n.) political
-ative/-itive practice (n.) practical
(put after verb) like, being nature (n.) natural
talk (v.) talkative
-ive able to, compete (v.) competitive
(put after verb) likely, create (v.) creative
possible conserve (v.) conservative
-able/-ible like, seem to be, impress (v.) impressive
(put after verb, in the manner of appreciate (v.) appreciative
noun) expense (v.) expensive
full of compete (v.) competitive
-like/-ly drink (v.) drinkable
(put after noun, without move (v.) movable
verb) vision (n.) visible
reason (n.) reasonable
-ful child (n.) childlike
(put after noun) woman (n.) womanlike
friend (n.) friendly*
-less love (n.) lovely*
(put after noun) care (v.) careful
hope (v.) hopeful
beauty (n.) beautiful
peace (n.) peaceful
care (v.) careless
use (v.) useless
home (n.) homeless
voice (n.) voiceless

* Note: They are adjective not adverb even ending with ‘ –ly’ Here are the same group of
adjective ending ‘-ly’: curly, homely, likely, lovely, silly, lively, ugly

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Suffix Meaning Root-words New words
-ous full of, like (n., v.) (adj.)
(put after noun) danger (v.) dangerous
present participle fame (v.) famous
-ing poison (n.) poisonous
(put after verb) past participle ridicule (n., v.) ridiculous
see (v.) seeing
-ed like, seem to be shoot (v.) shooting
(put after verb) watch (v.) watching
likely to, run (v.) running
-ic productive of hunt (v.) hunted
(put after noun) like, like to be want (v.) wanted
end (v.) ended
-some finish (v.) finished
(put after verb) hero (n.) heroic
romance (n.) romantic
-y poet (n.) poetic
(put after noun, optimize (v.) optimistic
verb) quarrel (v.) quarrelsome
tire (n., v.) tiresome
trouble (n., v.) troublesome
awe (n., v.) awesome
wind (n.) windy
rain (n.) rainy
cloud (n.) cloudy
ice (n.) icy

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1.2.3 A verb suffix is a set of letter attached at the end of an adjective. There are
several sets of word. When putting at the end of an adjective or a noun, it functions as verb.
Here are the sample of verb suffixes.

Suffix Meaning Root-words New words
(adj., n.) (v.)
-ize/-ise * cause to be, colony (n.) colonize (colonise)
(come after noun) change into critic (n.) criticize (criticise)
central (adj.) centralize (centralise)
-fy become, make
(come after noun pure (adj.) purify
and adjective) cause to be, beautiful (adj.) beautify
-yze/ -yse * change into, clear (adj.) clarify
(come after noun
and adjective) analysis (n.) analyze (analyse)

paralysis (n.) paralyze (paralyse)
catalysis (n.) catalyze (catalyse)

* AmE (American English ending with ‘–ize’ or ‘–yze’)
BrE (British English ending with ‘–ise’ or ‘–yse’)

1.2.4 A noun suffix is a set of letter attached at the end of a noun, a verb, or an
adjective. There are several sets of word. When putting after a noun, a verb, or an adjective, it
functions as noun. Here are the sample of noun suffixes.

Suffix Meaning Root-words New words
(n., v.) (n.)
-dom state of king (n.) kingdom
(come after authority of bore (v.) boredom
noun and adjective) free (v.) freedom
-er one who does
(come after verb) play (v.) player

-or one who does, sing (v.) singer
(come after verb one who acts of speak (v.) speaker
ending ‘t’)
visit (v.) visitor
sail (v.) sailor

wait (v.) proctor

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Suffix Meaning Root-words New words
(n., adj., v.) (n.)
-ist Buddhist
(put after noun) one who Buddha (n.) typist
pianist
-ism does, one who type (v.) Buddhism
(put after noun) Americanism
believes piano (n.) Communism
-hood childhood
(put after noun) -showing quality Buddha (n.) manhood
monkshood
-ness of membership American (adj., n.) laziness
(put after adjective) cleverness
Commune (n.) sadness
-ship friendship
(put after noun) status, range, child (n.) relationship
ownership
-tion condition of life man (n.) information
(put after verb) conformation
monks (n.) confirmation
-sion decision
(put after verb) state of, quality of lazy (adj.) confusion
confession
character of clever (adj.)

sad (adj.)

state of being, friend (n.)

status of relation (n.)

owner (n.)

forming, doing inform (v.)

condition of conform (v.)

confirm (v.)

forming, doing decide (v.)

condition of confuse (v.)

confess (v.)

In conclusion, prefixes are the sets or word put at the beginning of word and can
change the meaning of word. Meanwhile suffixes are added at the end of word and they can
alter the function or part of speech of the word.

Exercise 4: Find out the following words, whether verb (v.) adverb (adv.)

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adjective (adj.) or noun (n.). actively (adv.) action (n.)

Example: play (v.) useful (adj.)

1. fearful ( ) 2. hopeful ()

3. politeness ( ) 4. computerize ()

5. political ( ) 6. romantic ()

7. play ( ) 8. violinist ()

9. creative ( ) 10. appreciation ( )

11. beautiful ( ) 12. poisonous ()

13. thinker ( ) 14. friendly ()

15. determination ( ) 16. decide ()

17. careless ( ) 19. easily ()

19. drinkable ( ) 20. impression ()

Exercise 5: Cut the following words into parts. Three samples were done for you.

No words prefix root-words suffix

Example: -
ness
multicolor multi color al

happiness - happy

international inter nation

1 carelessly

2 happily

3 incompletely

4 abnormally

5 dissatisfaction

6 unfriendly

7 irregular

8 unhappiness

9 microcomputer

10 illegally

11 carefulness

12 understandable

13 irresponsible

14 misfortunate

15 telecommunicate

Exercise 6: Change functions of the following words.

No. words verb 14 adverb noun
Example:
colonize adjective
colony (n.) nationalize
nation (n.) colonial colonially colony
1 beauty (n.) national nationally nation
2 music (n.)
3 create (v.)
4 pure (adj.)
5 play (v.)
6 use (v.)
7 define(v)
8 defense (n.)
9 haunt (v.)
10 polite (adj.)
11. clear (adj)
12. notice (n)
13. succeed (v.)
14. final (adj.)
15. reluctance (n.)

Exercise 7: Using all you know about prefixes, suffixes, and roots, guess the meaning of each
of the underlined words from their context.

1. My ex-manager always appointed one person to supervise his workers.

a. invite b. pay

c. improve d. observe

2. Pilots must have perfect vision before they may obtain a license.

a. ability b. training

c. sight d. idea

3. Take this prescription to the drug store.

a. announcement b. diagram

c. written order d. result

4. It seemed incredible that people would still want to play football during a war.

a. very interesting b. quite exciting

c. much impressing d. unbelievable

5. Nobody wants to talk with him because he is an impolite man.

a. believable b. incredible

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c. rude d. polite

6. I’m sorry, but I misunderstood what you said.

a. incorrectly understand b. badly say

c. incorrectly communicate d. badly speak

7. The group meets on a regular basis, usually weekly or biweekly.

a. once a week b. twice a week

c. every week d. two weeks

8. This shopping bag is reusable. You should take it when you go shopping.

a. We cannot use it again. b. We won’t need to use it again.

c. We can use it again. d. We hardly use it.

9. Somehow the suitcase with my clothes was misplaced.

a. put wrongly b. placed correctly

c. happened wrongly d. laid incorrectly

10. We usually do not publish articles we don’t preview.
a. we usually read articles before publication

b. we do not read articles after publication
c. we read articles the day we public them

d. we do not read the article while publishing

11. 400,000 square kilometres of the Amazon basin have already been deforested.
a. all the tree there are cut down

b. all the tree there are still fertile
c. all the tree have been grown for many years

d. all the tree have been conserved around the Amazon basin

12. The local priest was imprisoned for 18 months on charges of anti-state agitation.

a. to get out from the prison
b. to run away from the prison

c. to be back in the prison before punishment
d. to be locked in the prison as for punishment

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References:
http://www.englishmedialab.com/Quizzes/advanced/prefixchoice.htm
http://grammar.about.com/od/words/a/comsuffixes.htm
http://www.migrant.net/migrant/publications/Reading/BeginningMiddleandEnd.pdf
http://pioneer.chula.ac.th/~pkanchan/pdf/vocal2.pdf
http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/words/prefixes-and-suffixes
http://usefulenglish.ru/writing/difficult-suffixes-of-verbs