Part 1: prefixes Prefixes: Negative & positive
Size
Location
Time & order
Number
un-
semi-
inter-
pre-
mono-
non-
mini-
super-
ante-
bi-
in-
micro-
trans-
fore-
hex-
dis-
ex-
post-
oct-
re-
extraperi-
Study these tables. Try and find additional examples using your dictionary:
1. Negative and positive prefixes: Negative:
Positive:
Prefix
Meaning
Examples
un-
not
unmagnetized
in-
not
incomplete
im-
not
impossible
il-
not
illegal
ir-
not
irregular, irrelevant
non-
not connected with
non-programmable
mis-
bad, wrong
misdirect
mal-
bad, wrong
malfunction
dis-
opposite feeling
disagree
dis-
opposite action
disconnect
anti-
against
antiglare, antistatic
de-
reduce, reverse
demagnetize, decode
under-
too little
underestimate
re-
do again
reorganize
over-
too much
overload
2. Prefixes of size: Prefix
Meaning
Examples
semi-
half, partly
semiconductor
equi-
equal
equidistant
mini-
small
minicomputer
micro-
very small
microcomputer, microscopic
macro-
large, great
macroeconomics
mega-
large, great
megabyte
3. Prefixes of location: Prefix
Meaning
Examples
inter-
between, among
interface, interactive
multi-
super-
over
supersonic
trans-
across
transmit, transfer
ex-
out
exclude, extrinsic
extra-
beyond
extraordinary
sub-
under
subschema, subtraction
infra-
below
infra-red
peri-
around
peripheral, periscope
4. Prefixes of time and order: Prefix
Meaning
Examples
ante-
before
antecedent
pre-
before
prefix, preceding, precedent
prime-
first
primary, primitive
post-
after
postdated, post-natal
retro-
backward
retrograde, retroactive
5. Prefixes of numbers: Prefix
Meaning
Examples
semi-
half
semicircle
mono-
one
monochromatic
bi-
two
binary
tri-
three
triangle
quad-
four
quadruple
penta-
five
pentagon
hex-
six
hexadecimal
sept(em)-
seven
September
oct-
eight
octal
dec-
ten
decimal
multi-
many
multiplexor, multicoloured
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6. Other prefixes: Prefix
Meaning
Examples
pro-
before, in advance, forward
programme, progress, procreation
auto-
self
automatic
co-
together with
co-ordinate, co-operate
con-
together with
connect
Part 2: suffixes We have already seen how prefixes can change the meaning of a word. Let us now consider some suffixes, their usual meanings, and how they change the meanings of English words:
Suffixes Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Adverbs
-ance
-ize
-able
-ly
-ence
-ate
-ible
-or
-fy
-less
-er
-en
-ic
-ist
-ify
-ical -ish -ive
Study these tables. Try and find additional examples using your dictionary:
1. Noun-forming suffixes: Suffix
Meaning
Examples
-ance
state
performance
-ence
quality of
independence
-er, -or
a person who a thing which
programmer, operator, biographer compiler, accumulator, processor, calculator
-ist, -yst
a person who
analyst, typist
-ian
pertaining to
electrician
-tion, -ation
the act of
compilation
-ness
condition of
readiness, cleanliness, happiness
-ion
action/state
conversion
-ing
activity
multiplexing
-ment
state, action
measurement, requirement
-ity
state, quality
electricity
-ism
condition/state
magnetism
-dom
domain/condition
freedom
-ship
condition/state
relationship, partnership
2. Verb-forming suffixes: Suffix
Meaning
Examples
-ize/-ise -ate -ify -en
computerize to make
automate, activate, calculate simplify harden, widen, lengthen, shorten
3. Adverb-forming suffix:
Suffix -ly
Meaning
Examples
in the manner of
electronically, logically, comparably, slowly, quickly, automatically, carefully
4. Adjective-forming suffixes: Suffix
Meaning
-al
computational, logical
-ar -ic
Examples circular, rectangular, cellular, regular
having the quality of
-ical
magnetic, automatic electrical
-able
comparable
-ble
capable of being
divisible
-ous
like, full of
dangerous, insiduous, miraculous
-ful
characterized by
helpful, careful
-less
without
careless, meaningless
-ish
like
yellowish
-ed -ive
having the quality of
computed, processed interactive
