Prefix

A syllable or a word part added to the beginning of the word is called as prefix.
They never change the part of speech. A prefix has a meaning, but it is not a
word.
Examples of prefix: dis, un, re, co, bi, be pre, non, im, dis, mis, sub, super,
anti, over

Suffix
A suffix is a word part that is placed at the end of a base word. A suffix often
transforms a word into a new part of speech.
Suffixes that create a verb form: ate, ed, en, ing, ise, ize, yze

Vowel Suffixes vs. Consonant Suffixes

Distinguish between the two broad categories: vowel suffixes (those that begin with a vowel
letter) and consonant suffixes (those that begin with a consonant letter).
Vowel Suffixes -able, -ate, -ed, -er, -est, -ible, -ic, -ion, -ify, -ize, -ing, -ous, -y
Consonant Suffixes -dom, -ful, -less, -ly, -ment, -ness, -ry, -s, -ship, -sion, -tion, -ward, -
wise

Spelling Conventions with Suffixes

Forming new words with suffixes can often be tricky because, in many cases, the
spelling of the original root word must be altered to accommodate the
attachment of the suffix. However, even though such spelling changes can
sometimes seem erratic, they usually follow specific conventions that help us
determine how to form the new word.
 The Primary Rules
To learn more about these more complex primary rules, continue on to their
individual sections.

Rule 1: Add a consonant suffix directly to the base word.

Root +suffix Final word Root +suffix Final word
Mouth + fu mouthful Teach + er teacher
Pitch + er pitcher

Rule 2: If the base word ends in two consonants, just add the vowel suffix.
Root +suffix Final word Root +suffix Final word
Jump + ing jumping

Rule 3: Doubling Consonants with Vowel Suffixes

When a single-syllable word ends in a vowel + a consonant, we almost always double the
consonant when a vowel suffix is attached. If we don’t, it could end up looking as though
the root word had a silent E that’s been omitted. For example:

Root
✔ Correctly Suffixed Words ✖ Incorrectly Suffixed Words
Word
bared, baring
bar barred, barring
(looks like the root word is bare)
doted, doting
dot dotted, dotting
(looks like the root word is dote)
faten, fater, fatest, faty
fat fatten, fatter, fattest, fatty
(looks like the root word is fate)
hop hopped, hopper, hopping, hoppy hoped, hoper, hoping, hopy
 (looks like the root word is hope)
maden, mader, madest
mad madden, madder, maddest
(looks like the root word is made)
robed, rober, robing
rob robbed, robber, robbing
(looks like the root word is robe)
slimed, slimer, sliming
slim slimmed, slimmer, slimming
(looks like the root word is slime)

Rule 3: If the base word has 1 syllable, 1 short vowel, and 1 final consonant, double the
final consonant before adding the vowel suffix. or
When a word ends in a short vowel sound and a single consonant, you double the last
letter.
Root +suffix Final word Root +suffix Final word
Win + ing = winning Run + er runner
Fat + er fatter Flip + er flipper
Shop + ed shopped Swim + ing swimming

Rule 4: Words of more than 1 syllable ending in 1 vowel + 1 consonant when the stress is
on the last syllable double up the last letter.
Root +suffix Final word Root +suffix Final word
occur +ed occurred Begin + ing beginning

commit + ed committed forget forgettable

Rule 5: Doubling the consonant : When a word has more than one syllable and ends with the
letter “l” you will double the “l” when adding the suffix (Words of more than 1 syllable ending
in 1 vowel + L always double up the L before a vowel suffix)
Root + suffix Final word Root + suffix Final word
Cancel + ed cancelled Control + ed controlled
Propel + er propeller Compel + ing compelling
Fulfil + ment fulfilment

Rule 6: Dropping silent E with vowel suffixes: If the base word ends in a Silent E, drop the
E before adding the vowel suffix.
When a silent E appears at the end of a word, its most common purpose is to change the
pronunciation of vowels (as well as the consonants C or G) within the word. When a
vowel suffix is attached to a word with a silent E, it often (though not always) results in E
being omitted.
Root Word ✔ Correctly Suffixed Words ✖ Incorrectly Suffixed Words
bake baked, baker, baking bakeed, bakeer, bakeing
communicated,
communicateed, communicateer,
communicate communicating,
communicateing
communication
disposable, disposal,
dispose disposeable, disposeal, disposeing
disposing
fame famed, famous fameed, fameous
fine fined, finest, fining fineed, fineing, finey
ice iced, icing, icy iceed, iceing, icey
store storage, stored, storing storeage, storeed, storeing
use usage, used, user, using useage, useed, useer, useing

Rule 7: Keeping silent E with consonant suffixes

 keep the ‘e’ with consonant suffixes, unlike vowel suffixes, when a consonant suffix
is attached to a word ending in a silent E, we nearly always keep the E in the word.
 words ending in ‘ce’ or ‘ge’ keep the ‘e’ before ous and able
 The letter E in the final GE and DGE is retained to keep the pronunciation of G as [j]
before suffixes beginning with A or O.
 Final CE before A, O The letter E in the final CE is retained to keep the
pronunciation of C as [s] before suffixes beginning with A or O.
 Keep the ‘e’ when the word ends in ee or ye
 Keep the ‘e’ before ly
Root Word ✔ Correctly Suffixed Words ✖ Incorrectly Suffixed Words
bare barely, bareness, bares barly, barness, bars
care careful, careless, cares carful, carless, cars
completely, completeness,
complete completly, completness, complets
completes
home homeless, homely, homeward homless, homly, homward
like likely, likeness, likewise likly, likness, likwise
peace peaceful, peaceless peacful, peacless
state statehood, stateless, stately stathood, statless, statly
wake wakeful, wakeless, wakes wakful, wakless, waks
accurate Accurately accuratey
definite Definitely definitly
love
Lovely lovly

Agreeing, eyeing, seeing Agreing, eying, seing

Agree, eye. see

Hope, use, Hopeful, useful, wasteful Hopful, usful, wastful

waste
manage ['mænij] + able = manageable, knowledge + able = knowledgeable; judge + able =
judgeable; abridge + able = abridgable, abridgeable; courage ['kərij] + ous = courageous
[kə'reijəs];
advantage [əd'væntij] + ous = advantageous [,ædvən'teijəs].
notice ['noutis] + able = noticeable ['noutisəbl]; service ['sərvis] + able = serviceable
['sərvisəbl].

Rule 8: Change the y to i before vowel suffixes (except ing) and Change the y to i
before consonant suffixes and y remains if the word ends in a vowel + y

Root Root + Vowel Suffixes Root Root + Consonant Suffixes

Apply →appliance, applied, beauty
→beautify, beautiful
applies
Colony →colonial, colonies, contrary →contrarily, contrariness,
colonize contrariwise
Envy →enviable, envied, Eery
→eerily, eeriness
envious
Happy →happier, happiest Happy →happily, happiness
Luxury →luxuriant, luxuriate, Lively →likelihood, likeliness
 luxurious
Marry →marriage, married, Merry →merrily, merriment,
marries merriness
Pity →pitiable, pities Pity →pitiful, pitiless
Tidy trustworthy →trustworthily,
→tidied, tidier, tidiest
trustworthiness
Worry →worried, worrier, Weary →weariful, weariness,
worries wearisome
Silly + ness silliness Fly + ies Flies
Happy + ness happiness Lonely + ness Loneliness
Beauty + ful beautiful Baby + s Babies
Army + s Armies Duty + ful Dutiful
Carry + ed Carried Deny + ied Denied
Rely + iable Reliable Beauty + ful Beautiful
Angry + ily Angrily
y remains if the word ends in a vowel + y
employ Employer buy buyer
joy Joyful enjoy enjoying

Rule 9: Doubling the consonant when the final syllable is emphasized

When a multi-syllable word is vocally stressed on the final syllable, we almost always double
the final consonant before a vowel suffix; when the vocal stress is on a different syllable, we
generally don’t double the suffix. For Example,
Words of more than 1 syllable ending in 1 vowel + 1 consonant when the stress is on the last
syllable double up the last letter
Emphasis on final Emphasis on other
Suffixed Words Suffixed Words
syllable syllable
begin
beginner, beginning bick (/ˈbɪkeər/ r ) bickered, bickering
(/bɪˈgɪn/)
forget forgettable,
for (/ˈfɔfei rftɪt/) forfeited, forfeiting
(/fərˈgɛt/) forgetting
incur incurrable, incurred, in (/ɪter nˈtpre ɜrprət/ in inter terpre pret ted,
(/ɪnˈkɜr/) incurring t) in ing terpreter,
omit opened, opener,
omitted, omitting o (/pe ˈoʊnpən/)
(/oʊˈmɪt/) opening
transmittable,
transmit travel traveled, traveler,
transmitted,
(/trænzˈmɪt/) (/ˈtrævəl/) traveling
transmitting
occurr occurred

begin beginning

commit committed

forget forgettable

The Lesser Rules

These “lesser” rules apply to a much narrower range of words and have few or no
exceptions, so we’ll examine them in their entirety here
 Rule 10: Adding K to verbs ending in C
Most verbs do not end in a C after a vowel; they usually have a K at the end to
make the /k/ sound more definitive. A few do have a final C, though, so to avoid a
spelling that might indicate a “soft C” sound (/s/), we add a K before suffixes
beginning with E, I, or Y. For example:
Root Root +ed Root + er Root +ing
frolic frolicked, frolicker frolicking
mimic Mimicked mimicker mimicking
panic Panicked panicking
picnic Picnicked picnicker picnicking
traffic Trafficked trafficker trafficking
Note that we don’t do this when we attach consonant suffixes or vowel suffixes
that begin with A:
Root
frolic Frolics Frolicsome
mimic Mimical mimicry mimics
panic Panics
picnic Picnics
traffic Trafficable traffics

Rule 11: “-ic” + “-ly” = “-ically”

Almost all adjectives that end in “-ic” have a variant spelling that ends in “-ical,”
and vice versa. The two forms are often synonymous, with one form simply being
preferred over the other (though in some cases the two forms have similar but
distinct meanings).
However, when adding the suffix “-ly” to words ending in “-ic” to form adverbs,
we almost always change “-ic” to “ical” (even with words that don’t have an “-
ical” variant), thus yielding the ending “-ically.”

Root Root+ly Root Root+ly

academic academically acoustic acoustically
Basic basically democratic democratically
Drastic drastically enthusiastic enthusiastically
Genetic genetically historic historically
Ironic ironically majestic majestically
Organic organically poetic poetically
Realistic realistically specific specifically,
Tragic tragically

Rule 12: Change IE to Y before "-ing”

Very rarely, a verb will end in “-ie.” When this happens, we have to change the
vowel digraph to Y so that we can attach the present participle suffix “-ing
Verb (Root) Suffix – ed Suffix - s Suffix - ing
Boogie Boogied boogies boogying
Die Died dies Dying
Lie Lied lies Lying
tie Tied ties Tying
 Rule 13: Don’t change verbs ending in a vowel
There aren’t many verbs that end in a vowel other than Y or silent E. Many of
those that are used in English often originated from another language or are
abbreviated forms of longer, more technical terms that are now used as verbs.
Regardless of origin, when a verb ends in a vowel other than Y or E, we don’t
make any changes to the root spelling when adding a vowel suffix. For example:
Root Root +ed Root Root +ing
cameo Cameoed cameoing
conga Congaed congaing
disco Discoed discoing
echo Echoed echoing
halo Haloed haloing
henna Hennaed hennaing
safari Safaried safariing
ski Skied Skiing
taxi→ taxied, taxiing
veto Vetoed vetoing

PREFIXES AND WORD STRESS

Prefix
Most prefixes are unstressed. (Stresses on suffixes are less predictable.) When the
prefix is stressed, it is often a noun; when the prefix is unstressed, it is often a
verb.
To contrast stress and pronunciation on such noun-and-verb pairs, listen
Noun Verb
object Object Produce produce
Present Present
the contrast between nouns and verbs.

COMMON SUFFIXES
Primary stress is placed on the syllable before the following suffixes:

COMMON SUFFIXES
Primary stress is placed on the syllable before the following suffixes:
-ial artificial credential potential

Primary stress is placed on the syllable before the following suffixes.

-ial, -graphy, -ian, -ic, ical, -ience, -ient, -ify, -ily, -nal, -ion, -ional, -ious, -ious, -
eous, -uous
-ify, -logy.
Primary Stress is placed two syllables before these suffixes.
-ary, -graph, itude/-itute, -ise/ize
Primary Stress is placed on these suffixes.
-ee, -eer, -ese, ique, ette
Suffixes serve to mark past tense verbs and plural nouns. Suffixes also serve to
change word structure. For example:
creation: a noun creates: a verb creative: an adjective creatively: an adverb

Meanings Determined by Stress on the Suffix

Most suffixes change a word into either a noun, a verb, an adjective, or an adverb.
However, there are exceptions. Certain suffixes can denote either a noun or a
verb. The difference between them is made clear in the way they are stressed.
The noun is spoken with the suffix unstressed, and the verb is spoken with the
suffix stressed. Listen to these examples:
 THE SUFFIX -ed

The Suffix -ed forms past tense verbs and adjectives. For Example

Past tense verbs: The furnace heated the building.

Adjective: The apartment Pool is heated.

/k, kt/ back - backed p, pt rope - roped

/g, gd/ bag - bagged /b, bd/ robe – robed

f + suffix -s =/fs/ v + suffix -s =/vz/

 Suffix -ed

Suffix -ed is voiceless after f, and it is voiced after /v/.

f + suffix -ed=/ft/
v + suffix -ed =/vd/
laughed – loved lift - lived proofed – proved
X Pronunciation

/KS/ is the pronunciation when x ends a syllable, as in : lacks/lax

/gz/ is the pronunciation when x begins a stressed syllable , as in : exact example
 Suffix added to a verb (V), noun (N) or adjective (A)   noun
Noun suffixes ANCE, ENCE, ANCY, ANCY, DOM, HOOD, ION (TION), ISM, NESS, MENT, SHIP, Y
denote state or act of what is indicated by the
root of the word: absence, freedom, illness, citizenship, accusation, movement, delivery.
Noun suffixes ER, OR, EER, IST often denote a person performing an action or a person's
profession: buyer, professor, engineer, pianist.
Abstract nouns name ideas, feelings, and characteristics. These are things that cannot be
physically touched.
Examples: Monday, trip, happiness, bravery, freedom, name, date, time, thought
 State
Noun - Meaning Example Added to
Suffix Form Noun

-dom the condition or state kingdom, Dukedom, stardom, [NOUNS]

of, the rank of or the martyrdom, boredom, freedom [VERBS]
are ruled by, the group
of
-hood the state or quality of, parenthood, childhood, [NOUNS]
group of people of the neighbourhood, brotherhood,
type mentioned priesthood
-ship state of being, the ownership, friendship, citizenship, [NOUNS]
status or office of, skill professorship, musicianship,
or ability as, the group membership, internship, fellowship,
of
QUALITIES
-ity condition or quality of Stupidity, activity, nativity, reality, [ADJECTIVES]
complexity, creativity, security,
equality, curiosity, formality, flexibility,
ability
–ment the action or result of, , Measurement, abridgment, [VERBS]
state or condition of, banishment, accomplishment,
retirement, development, arrangement,
embarrassment, excitement,
amazement, disappointment,
parliament, argument, endorsement,
punishment
–ness the state or quality of Happiness, bitterness, goodness, [ADJECTIVES]
readiness, forgetfulness, darkness,
kindheartedness, heaviness, sadness,
rudeness, testiness, illness, loneliness,
madness, kindness, business
-ancy the state or quality of expectancy [VERBS]
–ance the action or state of appearance, significance, resistance, [ADJECTIVES],
elegance, importance, ignorance, [VERBS]
relevance, allowance, performance,
reliance
-cy the state or quality of, infancy, privacy, accuracy [ADJECTIVES],
the status or position of [NOUNS]
-ence the action or state of Difference, dependence, subsistence, [VERBS]
confidence, insistence, maintenance,
eminence, assurance
-th the action or process of long-> length, true-> truth, deep-> [ADJECTIVES],
depth, wide->width, dead->death, [VERBS]
strong->strength, grow->growth, warm-
>warmth, strength, overgrowth
ACTIVITIES or PROCESSES (Denote abstract notions or concepts, feelings and emotions.)
–age the action or result of, Wreckage, vintage, baggage, cartage, [NOUNS]
the state of condition damage, baggage, mileage, postage,
[VERBS]
of, a set or group of, an anchorage, breakage, marriage,
amount of, the cost of, shrinkage
a place where
-al act or process of, a refusal, arrival, burial, deferral, recital, [VERBS]
process or state of rebuttal, denial, survival, arrival, burial
–ery A type or place of work, Bakery, machinery, scenery, bravery, [ADJECTIVES]
the group or class of greenery, rivalry, cookery, archery, [NOUNS]
something, the state or delivery [VERBS]
character of, the art or
practice of, a place
where something is
made, grows, lives, etc.
-ing an activity, an act or drawing, playing, suffering, driving, [VERBS]
process, a product or
 result, The quality of meaning, swimming
material,
-ion the action or state of, A Decoration, suggestion, completion, [VERBS]
(also process, state, or result, excision, dictation, hesitation,
competition, confession, rebellion,
-ation,
Demonstration, menstruation,
-ition, registration, Alteration, complication,
-sion, reduction, population, complexion,
reduction, alteration, admission,
-tion, concession, transition, abbreviation,
-xion) expression

–ism A belief or condition, Judaism, organism, alcoholism, [ADJECTIVES],

the action or result of, parallelism. Americanism, colloquialism, [NOUNS]
the state or quality of, heroism, Buddhism, racism, alcoholism,
the teaching, system or criticism, journalism, Marxism,
movement of, unfair communism, narcissism, scepticism
treatment or hatred for
the reason mentioned,
a feature of language of
the type mentioned, a
medical condition or
disease, an act, theory,
belief or doctrine,
activity or ideology
-ure The action, process or failure, closure, departure, pleasure [VERBS]
result of
-y the action or process of inquiry [VERBS]
OCCUPATIONS
-ant Nouns describing Assistant, accountant, consultant, [VERBS]
professions or activities contestant, inhabitant, dependant,
participant
–ee Nouns describing Referee, employee, payee, conferee, [ADJECTIVES]
 professions or activities, refugee, absentee, trainee, attendee, [VERBS]
A person affected by an referee, grantee
action, A person
described as or
concerned with, Person
who receives or
experienced the action
-eer Nouns describing auctioneer, mountaineer [NOUNS]
professions or activities,
-ent Nouns describing Deterrent, correspondent, respondent [VERBS]
professions or activities
-er A person or thing that, Teacher, geographer, foreigner, doctor, [ADJECTIVES]
A person or thing that guarantor, foreigner, lexicographer, [NOUNS]
has the thing or quality Dubliner, lover, winner, computer, [VERBS]
mentioned. A person Protester, runner, publisher, driver
concerned with, A
person belonging to,
someone or something
participating in an
action
-ese from a place, a person Portuguese, Viennese, journalese, [NOUNS]
who lives in a country officialese
or city, the style or
language of
–ess female, Makes a Waitress, actress, hostess, hostess, [NOUNS]
feminine form waitress, lioness, tigress, goddess
-ette Female, small usherette, suffragette, kitchenette [NOUNS]
-ian Nouns describing Bostonian, Brazilian, Shakespearian, [NOUNS]
professions or activities, mathematician, physician, historian,
, from, typical of, a comedian, politician
specialist in, a person
who does something as
 a job or hobby
–ist Nouns describing Florist, chemist, dramatist, economist, [NOUNS]
professions or activities, Atheist, dentist, violinist, guitarist,
, a person who believes plagiarist
or practises something,
member of a profession
or business activity; a
person who uses a
thing, one who
performs, plays, or
operates, People
involves in politics,
believes and ideology
or person play musical
instrument
Or Nouns describing protector, narrator, actor, sailor, [VERBS]
professions or activities, conductor, commentator
, a person or thing that
does something as job
NEOCLASSICAL
-cide The act of killing, a suicide, genocide, regicide
person or thing that
kills
-ery behavioural condition Bravery, scenery, gallery
or location
Nursery
-acy state or quality accuracy, conspiracy, intimacy, privacy,
fallacy, delicacy,
-logy Study of technology, pathology
-ity, -ty Quality of, condition, flexibility, sensitivity, inactivity,
degree veracity, parity, serenity, cruelty, safety
 [ADJECTIVES] [NOUNS] -> VERBS
Verb suffixes ATE, EN, IZE, FY mean "to perform the act of, to make": confiscate, lengthen,
modernize, clarify. The adverbial suffix LY indicates that the action is performed in a certain
manner: slowly, seriously, periodically.
Suffix -Verb Meaning Example converted
-ate Become, to give the thing regulate, eradicate, enunciate, [ADJECTIVES]
or quality mentioned repudiate, activate, hyphenate, [NOUNS]
orchestrate
-en To make or become enlighten, awaken, strengthen, [ADJECTIVES]
blacken, sadden, deafen, harden,
sweeten, ripen
-ify, -fy To make or become terrify, satisfy, rectify, exemplify, [ADJECTIVES]
solidify, simplify, purify, beautify,

-ize, -ise* To become, make or make
like, to speak, think, act,
treat, etc. in the way
mentioned, to
place in
terrify [NOUNS]
civilize, humanize, socialize, [ADJECTIVES]
valorize, privatise, fossilize, [NOUNS]
modernise, generalize, criticize,
theorise, pasteurize, hospitalise

Suffix added to verbs or nouns   adjective

 Adjectives can also be formed from other adjectives, especially by the negative prefixes
(un-, in- and non-).
Adjectival suffixes ABLE, IBLE, ARY, ORY, FUL, IC, ISH, IVE, LESS, OUS denote features,
qualities or properties of someone or something: preferable, invisible, legendary, obligatory,
respectful, automatic, reddish, responsive, aimless, nervous
Suffix - Meaning Example Added to
Adjective form Adj
-able, -ible capable of being, that can or edible, presentable, [NOUNS]
must be (done), having the abominable, credible,
[VERBS]
quality of reasonable, taxable;
fashionable, comfortable,
changeable, eatable, washable,
horrible, sensible, accessible,
divisible

-ed having (the characteristics talented, bearded, diseased, [NOUNS]

of), that suffers or receives interested, bored, excited,
[VERBS]
some kind of feeling or embarrassed
effect
-ing that does or produces some interesting, embarrassing, [NOUNS]
kind of feeling or effect boring, amazing
[VERBS]
-ful notable for, full of, having
the qualities of, tending to
without, not doing, not
-less
affected by
-al pertaining to, connected
with
-ic, -ical pertaining to, connected
with, that performs the
action mentioned
-en made of, looking like
-ent that is or does something
-ant that is or does something
-ious, -ous characterized by, having the
nature or quality of
-ish having the quality of, from
the country mentioned,
[disapproving] having the
nature of, like, fairly,
approximately
-ive having the nature of,
tending to, having the
nature of
-y characterized by, full of,
having the quality of,
fanciful, resentful, woeful, [NOUNS]
doubtful, sorrowful, successful,
[VERBS]
peaceful, helpful, forgetful
homeless, hopeless, useless, [NOUNS]
treeless, hairless, meaningless,
hopeless, harmless, endless,
ageless, lawless, effortless
regional, grammatical, [NOUNS]
emotional, coastal, magical,
verbal, musical, national,
accidental, environmental
musical, mythic, [NOUNS]
domestic, chiastic, scenic, [VERBS]
economic, Arabic, horrific,
specific, classic, Islamic, poetic
wooden, golden, broken [NOUNS]
different, competent [VERBS]
significant, ignorant [VERBS]
nutritious, portentous, studious. [NOUNS]
poisonous, glorious, mysterious
fiendish, childish, snobbish, [ADJECTIVES]
British, childish, Spanish, [NOUNS]
yellowish, Turkish, Irish, Spanish,
childish
creative, punitive, divisive, [VERBS]
decisive, explosive, descriptive,
expressive
sleazy, hasty, greasy, nerdy, [NOUNS]
smelly. dusty, rainy, sunny,
 tending to angry, thirsty, silky, hairy
Most Rare
-esque reminiscent of, in the style picturesque, statuesque, [NOUNS]
of burlesque, dant esque
-ial typical of Dictatorial [NOUNS]
-ian from, typical of Belgian, Brazilian; [NOUNS]
Shakespearian, Canadian,
Malaysian, Peruvian
-like similar to, typical of child-like, shelllike, godlike [NOUNS]
-ly having the qualities of, friendly, cowardly, scholarly, [NOUNS]
intervals of daily, monthly, yearly
-ese Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese
-i Iraqi, Pakistani, Yemeni
-some A tendency to Quarrelsome

In American English, verbs end with -ize, versus British English, in which the
spelling changes to -ise.
American English: finalize, realize, emphasize, standardize
British English: finalise, realise, emphasise, standardise

Adverb
Suffix - Meaning Example Converted
Adverb
calmly, easily, quickly, happily, [ADJECTIVES]
In the way mentioned, at
-ly suddenly, luckily, beautifully,
intervals of [NOUNS]
hourly, daily
-ward(s) In the direction of downwards, homeward(s), [ADJECTIVES]
 upwards, eastward(s), [ADVERBS]
backward(s), outward(s), [NOUNS]
anti-clockwise, clockwise, [NOUNS]
In the manner or direction
-wise edgewise, clockwise, sidewise,
of
lengthwise

Need to know both the meaning of the root and the meaning of the suffix in order
to understand the whole word correctly.

The same suffix (or its homonyms) is used in the formation of words belonging to
different parts of speech.

The suffixes AL, ANT, ENT, ARY, ORY, IC, Y are used in the formation of nouns and
adjectives:
approval (n.), formal (adj.); lieutenant (n.), important (adj.); president (n.),
confident (adj.); secretary (n.), necessary (adj.);
laboratory (n.), preparatory (adj.); music (n.), basic (adj.); melody (n.), greedy (adj.

The suffix ATE is used in the formation of adjectives, nouns and verbs: obstinate
(adj.), doctorate (n.), calculate (v.).
The suffix LY is used in the formation of adjectives and adverbs: lovely (adj.),
nicely (adv.). The suffix EN is used in the formation of verbs and adjectives: widen
(v.), wooden (adj.)

Adding suffixes: General rules

Generally, when a suffix is added to a word ending in a consonant, the spelling of
the word and the suffix are not changed.

adopt – adoption;
cold – coldness;

Changes take place mostly in those cases where a suffix beginning with a vowel is
added to a word ending in E or Y, and in some cases of adding to GE, CE, C, DE, D,
T. Changes in pronunciation may also take place

Forming adverbs from adjectives

Rule 1: of Most of the times, an adverb is formed by adding ‘ly’ at the end to an
adjective.

Adjectives Adverbs Adjectives Adverbs

Beautiful beautifully Deep deeply
Polite politely Special Specially
cheap cheaply quick quickly
Slow slowly
Rule 2: Adjective ending with ‘_y’
The adjective word ending with ‘y’ needs to be converted to an adverb with the
help of suffix ‘_ily., i.e, replace the ‘y’ with ‘i’ and add ‘ly’.

Adjectives Adverbs Adjectives Adverbs

Crazy crazily Happy happily,
easy easily Angry angrily
Lucky luckily
Rule 3: Adjective ending with ‘_e’ or ‘_l’
Whenever adjectives ending with the letter ‘l’ or’ e’ are used, we can use the
letter ‘_ly’ as a suffix to convert it into an adverb (In some cases, the adjective
ends in ‘le’, ‘able’ or ‘ible ‘. In these cases, replace the ‘e’ with ‘y’)

Adjectives Adverbs Adjectives Adverbs

Nice nicely Polite politely
True truly Full fully
Probable probably Terrible terribly
Gentle gently
Rule 4: Adjective ending with ‘ic’,
An adjective ending with ‘ic’ has been concatenated with suffix ‘ally’ to form an
adverb.
Adjectives Adverbs Adjectives Adverbs
Economic: economically Realistic realistically
Enthusiastic: enthusiastically Basic basically
Tragic tragically Economic economically
Rule 5: Adjective ending with ‘_able’ or ‘_ible’ or ‘_le’
Adjectives ending with ‘_able’ or ‘_ible’ or ‘_le’ are converted into adverb by using
suffix as ‘_ly’.
Adjectives Adverbs Adjectives Adverbs
Regrettable regrettably Horrible horribly
Terrible terribly
Rule 6: Words used as both adjectives and adverbs
There are some words which are used in same for both Adjective and Adverb
forms.
Adjectives Adverbs Adjectives Adverbs
Daily Daily Early Early
Rule 7: Not all the words end in ‘_ly’ are adverbs.
Following are some words ending with ‘_ly’ are not adverbs but adjectives.
Example: Friendly, Merrily, Lovely, Lonely, etc.

Prefixes to form verbs prefix + verb   verb

Prefix Meaning Examples

restructure, revisit, reappear, rebuild,

re- again, or back
refinance

reverses the meaning of the disappear, disallow, disarm, disconnect,

dis-
verb discontinue

over- too much overbook, oversleep, overwork

reverses the meaning of the

un- unbend, uncouple, unfasten
verb

mis- badly or wrongly mislead, misinform, misidentify

out- more or better than others outperform, outbid

be- make or cause befriend, belittle

co- together co-exist, co-operate, co-own

de- do the opposite of devalue, deselect

fore- earlier, before foreclose, foresee

inter- between interact, intermix, interface

pre- before pre-expose, prejudge, pretest

sub- under/below subcontract, subdivide

trans- across, over transform, transcribe, transplant

underfund, undersell, undervalue,

under- not enough
underdevelop

prefix + noun   noun

Prefix Meaning Examples
anti- against anticlimax, antidote, antithesis
auto- self autobiography, automobile
bi- two bilingualism, biculturalism, bi-metalism
co- joint co-founder, co-owner, co-descendant
counter-argument, counter-example, counter-
counter- against
proposal
dis- the converse of discomfort, dislike
ex- former ex-chairman, ex-hunter
hyper- extreme hyperinflation, hypersurface
in- the converse of inattention, incoherence, incompatibility
in- inside inpatient,
inter- between interaction, inter-change, interference
kilo- thousand kilobyte
mal- bad malfunction, maltreatment, malnutrition
mega- million megabyte
mis- wrong misconduct, misdeed, mismanagement
mini- small mini-publication, mini-theory
mono- one monosyllable, monograph, monogamy
neo- new neo-colonialism, neo-impressionism
out- separate outbuilding,
poly- many polysyllable
pseudo- false pseudo-expert
re- again re-organisation, re-assessment, re-examination
semi- half semicircle, semi-darkness
sub- below subset, subdivision
super- more than, above superset, superimposition, superpowers
sur- over and above surtax
tele- distant telecommunications,
tri- three tripartism
ultra- beyond ultrasound
under- below, too little underpayment, under-development, undergraduate
vice- deputy vice-president
 i-vowel suffixes.
Many words contain suffixes beginning with -i-, especially in combination with
other suffixes, like -ious, ion, i-an, etc. In these cases, the main word stress shifts
to the syllable immediately preceding the i-vowel suffix. Sometimes the stressed
vowel before the i-vowel suffix may be shortened. Hyphenated form by
themselves (like ‘al- ‘) indicate a Latin/Greek word root, prefix, or suffix that does
not exist as a word by itself.

i-vowel Suffixes -ian , -iana, -ial, -iant, -iance, -iancy, -iate, -iary, -ien, -ient, -
ience, -iency, -ion, -ious

The stressed vowel in the preceding syllable is always stressed, and tends to be
long if the base ends in a single consonant (VC), except for the short í=[I]; if it is
followed by two consonants (VCC), it is short.
IVS = i-vowel suffix, V = vowel, C = consonant
The i-vowel suffixes can cause a change in the pronunciation of certain final
consonant of the root (base) word. These consonants are usually {t, d, s}, and
change to {$, %, &}.
 Also, e-vowel suffixes usually display similar stress and pronunciation patterns as
the i-vowel suffixes:
spontáneous, advantágeous, carbonáceous, crustacean

Neutral Suffixes
Neutral Suffixes: Neutral Suffixes do not affect the main stress, and don’t cause the
stress to shift when they are added. These include the grammatical (Weak) endings.
Most word-building suffixes in English are neutral suffixes/
 Grammatical -ed, -ing, -s, -es, -er, -est
Suffixes
Word-Building -able, -age, -al, -ary, -ate, -er, -or, -ful, -hood, -ible, -ice, -ile,-ish,-
Suffixes ism,-ist,-ize,-less, -ment, -most, -old, -ship, -some, -th, -ward, -
wise, -y

Prefix -
A syllable or a word part added to the beginning of the word is called as prefix. They never
change the part of speech.
Part of Speech
Affix Meaning Example
Used with
anti- against adjective Antisocial, antifreeze, antivirus,
anticlockwise, antibacterial
Auto- Autopilot, autograph,
autobiography
Bi- Biannual,
Co- Coexist, co-worker
dis- not, reverse, verb Disappear, dishonest, discontinue
absence, disadvantage, disagree, disobey,
separate, remove Disagree, disobedient,
en- to make, have, turns a noun into an Enrage
become adjective The dog is full of rage (full of
anger).
The enraged dog is barking (the
dog has been made angry).
Ex- expresident
Il- not adjective Illegal, illogical,
Im- not adjective Impolite, impossible, important
In- not adjective Incomplete, inactive, invisible,
incapable, Incomplete, informal,
inappropriate, interface, Indirect,
Inter- Interview, interstate,
ir- not adjective Irregular
The verb is regular (has a pattern).
The verb is irregular (does not have
a pattern).
Mis- wrong, bad verb Misread, misunderstand, mislead,
misbehave, misconduct
non- not noun / adjective Nonsense,
Ob- / op- against verb Oppose
I oppose violence (I do not agree
with violence).
over overcook
Post- Postgraduate,
Pre- before verb / adjective / noun Prepare, premature, preview,
preschool, prehistory
Pro- Proactive,
un- not verb / adjective Unhappy, untidy, unfair
re- again verb Redo, repay, rebuild, recycle,
rewrite, reappear, refresh, replace,
refill, Remove, reuse, relay
Self- self-respect,
Semi- semi-final
Sub- Subway, submerge, subcontinent,
subtitle, submarine
Super- Supermarket
Tri- Tricycle
Un- unpack

Type Prefix Meaning

Negative Un, in, im, il, ir not
Negative non Not connected with
Negative Mis, mal Bad, wrong
Negative Dis- Opposite feeling, opposite action
Negative Anti- against
Negative De- Reduce, reverse
Negative Under, too little
positive re Do again
positive Over Too much
size semi half, partly
size equi- equal equidistant
size mini- mini-

size micro- very small

size Macro- Macro, mega
mega-
location inter- between, among interface, interactive
location intra- within, inside of intranet
location super- over supersonic
location trans- across transmit, transfer
location ex- out exclude, extrinsic
location inter- between, among interface, interactive
location in- iinside include, intrinsic
location extra- beyond extraordinary
location sub- under subschema
location infra- below infra-red, infrastructure
location peri- around peripheral
Time and ante
before antecedent
Order pre
prefix

Time and
prime- first primary, primitive
Order
Time and
post- after
Order
Time and
retro- backward
Order
Numbers semi- half
Numbers mono- one
Numbers bi- two
Numbers tri- three
Numbers quad- four
Numbers penta- five
Numbers hex six
Numbers sept(em)- seven
Numbers oct- eight
Numbers dec ten
Numbers multi-
many

other pro
pro before, in advance
forward

other self
auto-

other co
co
con con
together, with