Affixes

Reading Comprehension and Translation

 It is a grammatical element, in the form of a group of letter that is added to the main part of
the word ( the root ) to create modified form of the word.
 It can be added to the beginning or end of a root word to modify its meaning.
 Examples ;
 Untouchable = un – touch – able
 Renewable = re – new – able
 Agreement = agree – ment
 Disqualification = dis – qualification
 Illegal = il – legal
 The two main types of affixes are prefixes and suffixes.
1. Prefix
Prefixes are attached to the beginning of a root word. They create a new word with a new meaning. Here’s a list
of common prefixes, along with their meaning and a sample sentence:
 anti- (against or opposite)
Do you think the ending of the latest Avengers movie was anticlimactic?
 dis- (lack of, apart, reversal, or not)
Her lack of French put her at a disadvantage throughout her travels.
 in- (not, in or on)
The new employee felt her two hours of training was inadequate.
 mis- (wrong or negation)
The ancient manual was full of misinformation.
 non- (not)
The worst part of a low-fat diet is nonfat milk.
 pre- (before or in front of)
Her grandmother’s world knowledge predates her mother’s.
 un- (not or reversal)
This tart pie is rather unsavory.
 de – ( reverse , undo )
deactivate, degrade, deformation
 il-/im-/in-/ir- ( not or without )
• predates her mother’s.
illegal, impermeable, injustice, irrational.
 over-( too much ) Her grandmother’s world
overreact, overcook, overacting •pre- (before or in front of)
 re – ( again )
redo, recall, rewrite, retouch, rebuild
 Prefixes and Hyphens
From time to time, you might see a hyphen ( - ) placed between a prefix and a root word. This is common when
the prefix ends in the same letter as the root word begins. For example, if a world leader has an anti-
immigration policy, you’ll generally want to place a hyphen between the prefix and the root word.
Next, hyphens are required when a prefix is about to join a proper noun. For example, if you’re taking a trans-
Atlantic flight from New York to Ireland, you’ll need a hyphen before the proper noun, “Atlantic.”
Finally, there are a four prefixes that almost always take a hyphen before joining their root word. This is one of
those tricky grammar rules you’ll have to commit to memory. Most style guides instruct writers on hyphen
usage. So, be sure to consult your teacher’s style guide when in doubt. In the meantime, try to err on the side of a
hyphen if you ever want to use the following prefixes:
 all- (the whole amount, quantity, or extent of)
Her knowledge of 15th-century Ireland was all-encompassing.
 cross- (to pass in a different direction, or intersect)
He refused to submit for cross-examination.
 ex- (former, out of)
She had a coffee meeting with her ex-business partner.
 self- (a person’s essential being that distinguishes them from others)
Hygge is the Danish practice of self-care.
Suffixes
 Suffixes are attached to the end of a root word. They, too, create a new word with a new
meaning. Review this list of common suffixes, along with their meanings and sample sentences:
 -able (able to, susceptible of, or given to)
How did we manage before portable laptops?
 -ible (able to be or relevant to)
When he mutters, his speech is incomprehensible.
 -er (more, relating to origin or designating role)
Since he’s a professional driver, it seems only fair that his Corvette is faster than my Mini
Cooper.
 -ful (full of)
I am grateful for my editor’s keen eye.
 -less (without)
Life without books is meaningless.
 -ment (action, result, or resulting state)
His poor choices resulted in a disenfranchisement from the community.
 -ly (in a specified manner)
They unsuccessfully planned an attack on innocent tourists.
Note :

 It’s important to note that you can add more than one
prefix or suffix to a word. You can see it in words above
like disenfranchisement and unsuccessfully. Other
examples include nonconformist, counter-
revolutionary, reorganization, and unquantifiable.
Other Affixes
 There’s another member of the affix family, but it’s kind of like the hidden secret. Have
you ever heard of an infix or tmesis? Infixes occur when an affix is inserted within a root
word. So, instead of popping up at the beginning or end, they appear within the root word.
 Truthfully, we don’t see a lot of them in formal writing. Are they made up words? Abso-
freakin-lutely. If you’re a fan of classic films, you might’ve watched My Fair Lady. In it,
Audrey Hepburn sings, “Sittin’ abso-bloomin’-lutely still.” In more recent times, Prince
William’s former nanny described his engagement to Kate Middleton as “fan-flaming-
tastic.”
 Think about the following questions:
1. What do I know about prefixes and suffixes?
2. How do I spot an affix while reading?
3. How can knowing affixes help me understand a word I don’t know?
 Exercise
1. Find the affixes in the following passage
Doctors of the ancient world combined folk tradition, observation and philosophy to treat illness. Scientific
medicine began in the 1600s, with the invention of the microscope and the discovery of microscopic bacteria, and
with developments in anatomical knowledge. Today doctors use antibiotics to kill harmful bacteria. Surgeons can
transplant organs, and scientists are uncovering the previously unknown secrets of the gene.

2. List the affixes that you have found in the above passage and make your own sentences using those affixes.
Exercise

 Complete the sentences below with the prefix chosen from the following list.
( re -, pre -, post-, super-, over-)
1. We hope the buss won’t be ______ crowded
2. Do you think the Major will be _____elected for a second time?
3. After he got a Ph.D in Chemistry, he did ____doctoral work at Oxford University.
4. He took ___cautions against bulgary by installing an alarm.
5. The tourist guide promise the tourist that they would get a ___fund if the did not like the trip.
6. He added a ___script at the end of the letter.
7. The ___sonic plane flies from New York to Paris in two hours and forty minutes.