Unit 2: Grammar lesson

English 101C

Prefixes & suffixes are grammatical “affixes.” We use them to change the meaning of a base word.

Prefixes are added before a base word.UN + HAPPY = UNHAPPY

Suffixes are added after a base word.HELP + FUL = HELPFUL

Prefixes and suffixes can be used at the same time. PRE + HISTORY + IC = PREHISTORIC

Prefix meaning examples Prefix meaning examples

Anti- against antisocial, antioxidant

Hyper- Over, more Hyperactive, hyperdrive

Co- with copilot, coworker

Non- Not, without Nonviolent, non-smoking

De- Off, away from

devalue, deactivate

Mis- Wrong or incorrect

Misinform, mistrust

Dis- not disappear, disregard

Pre-, pro- before Precede, project

En- Put into enclose, enrich

Sub- under Submarine, subatomic

Ex- Out of, former

Extract, ex-president

Trans- across Transmit, transverse

Il-, im-, in-, ir-

Not, without Illegal, immoral, inadequate, irregular

Un- not Unfinished, unhappy, unusual

Suffix meaning examples Suffix meaning examples

- acy state or quality

privacy, democracy

-ment condition of argument, refreshment

- al act or process of

refusal, disposal

-ness state of being

happiness, kindness

-ance, -ence state or quality of

maintenance, eminence

-sion, -tion state of being

transition, concession

-er, -or one who trainer, protector

-ship position held friendship, fellowship

-ism doctrine, belief

communism, consumerism

-ate become eradicate, agitate

- ist, one who chemist, typist

-en become enlighten, whiten

-ity, -ty quality of ability, cruelty

-ize become civilize, santize

suffix meaning examples suffix meaning examples

-able, -ible capable of being Edible, presentable

-ive Having the nature of

Creative, festive

-al pertaining to Regional, hormonal

-less without Endless, helplesss

-esque Reminiscent of Picturesque, romanesque

-y Characterized by

Lazy, sunny

-ful Notable for Beautiful, helpful

-il, ile Pertaining to, capable of

Civil, docile

-ic, -ical Pertaining to musical, mystic

-ous Full of nauseous, ludricrous

-ious, -ous Characterized by hilarious, heinous

-ose Full of verbose, glucose

-ish Having the quality of

girlish, foolish

-ly Having the attributes of

Quickly, lovely

1. Valerie is unable to attend the party2. The students were misinformed about their homework.3. The food disappeared from the table.4. The fireworks illuminated the sky.5. The veterinarian declawed the cats.6. When he drinks beer, he acts foolish.7. Tom ate some bad fish and felt nauseous.8. The loudness of the speakers hurt my ears.9. The line for the tickets seemed endless.10. I like going to festive parties.