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Suffix & Affix
Suffix & Affix
Adverb-forming suffixes:
- Ly : formally, calmly, easily
- ward/wards: homeward, afterwards,
backwards
- wise/ways : clockwise, otherwise, sideways
- Fold : twofold, threefold
B) Prefixation
- a prefix usually changes or concretizes the lexical meaning of a
word and only rarely parts of speech, e. g. write – rewrite,
smoker – non-smoker
- Prefixes are sometimes used to form new verb: circle – encircle,
large – enlarge etc.
Negation or opposition:
un-: unable, unfair, unpack, unzip
dis-: disagreeable, dislike
a-: amoral, atypical
in-: informal, inexperience
im-: (before b, m, p) impossible, immoral
il-: (before l) illegal, illogical
ir-: (before r) irregular, irrational
non-: nonsmoker, non-scientific
de-: decode, defrost, devalue
Repetition, making it
possible:
re-: reread, rebuild, reunited
en-/em-: enrich, enlarge, embitter
Degree, measure or size:
super-: supersonic, superhuman
semi-: semi-final, semidetached
hyper-: hyperactive, hypersensitive
ultra-: ultrahigh, ultraviolet
over-: overtime, overpopulated
Attitude, collaboration,
membership:
anti-: antisocial, antiwar, antifreeze
counter-: counter-offensive, counter-revolution
pro-: pro-English, pro-vice-chancellor
Pejoration:
mis-: misinform, mislead, misuse
pseudo-: pseudo-scientific, pseudo-intellectual
2 Compounding is one of
the principal, most productive,
and the oldest way of creating
words
Nouns –in English
motorway, breakfast, skinhead
Adjectives – snow-white, hard-working
Verbs – daydream, broadcast
Adverbs – downstairs, sometimes, today
Pronouns – somebody, anyone, myself
Prepositions – into, without, within
Conjunctions – whenever, however
3 Conversion is the process of gaining
new words in a different part of speech
without adding any derivative elements
face – to face
answer – to answer
clean - to clean
THE END
Source:
Kvetko, P: Essentials of Modern English Lexicology, Bratislava
2001, pg. 35 - 45