Prefixes

Inglés Profesional 2
Marco Antonio Meza Pérez Palma
 English words

Words can be broken into parts to help figure out their

meaning and origin:
subscription
prefix + root + suffix
• The root is the main part
• scrip = to write
• The prefix comes before the root
• sub = under
• The suffix comes after the root
• tion = act of
 abducted

ab + duct + ed
prefix + root + suffix
away from + to + verb: past tense
lead/pull
abducted means ”pulled or lead away from”
i.e. The general was abducted by masked gunmen.
 More than one root

• Roots can appear more than once and anywhere in the

word.
Word Meaning
geology earth study / study of the earth

Telegraph distance writing / writing that travels far

tricycle three wheels

asocial not being companionable / not wanting to

join others
 Prefixes and suffixes

Prefixes: Suffixes:
un- undo -ful joyful
re- refill -ly sadly
un for forward -ness kindness

Prefixes are at the beginning

of words.
pre- means before
fix means attach, repair
So, “prefix” means “attached
before.”
ly
Suffixes are at the end of
words.
suf- means after
fix means attach,
So, “suffix” means “attached
after.”

fortunate
 Roots and affixes
• Root
• is a set of letters that have meaning
• It is the basis of the word .
• Affixes
• Added to the root to create a new word.
• Before: prefix
• After: suffix
• Example:
• The Latin root -ject means “throw”
• So project can mean “to throw forward”

• A root can be at the front, middle or end of a word.

 Greek and Latin roots
Many words in the English language are based on Greek & Latin word roots.
(G) indicates that a root is Greek in origin, and (L) indicates that a root
is Latin.
1. Psych — (G) Mind 4. Vac — (L) Empty
Psychology (the study of the Vacuous (having an empty
mind) mind, not thinking)
2. Phil — (G) Love 5. Ver — (L) True
Cinephile (movie lover) Veritable (real, true, authentic)
3. Struc — (L) Build 6. Scrib/Scrip — (L) Write
Structure (parts or pieces Prescription (a written note
built into something complex) signed by a doctor which
provides instructions
for medicine or treatment)
 Examples
Prefixes Suffixes
Prefix Meaning Example Suffix Meaning Example
re- back, refill -ful Having careful
again -less Without, joyless
tri- three triplet missing
-ly In the hopefully
un- not undo
manner of

An example of a prefix is re- which means back/again

So recall means: call again
An example of suffix is –ful
So careful means with care
 Self assessment
Add a prefix to the following verbs to change the meaning to the opposite
Example: do → undo .
place → missplace .

1. wrap ______________ 6. understand ___________

2. use ____________ 7. fold ___________
3. agree ____________ 8. spell ___________
4. engage ____________ 9. connect ___________
5. behave ____________ 10. close ___________
 Self assessment
Complete each word with a prefix chosen from the list.
re- post- over- pre- super-
Example: He has to reconsider (consider) his decisión.
11. overcrowded
We hope the bus won’t be ________________(crowded).
12. reelected (elected) for a second time?
Do you think he will be ___________
13. postdoctoral (doctoral) work at Oxford after his Ph. D.
He did _______________
14. precaution (caution).
He installed an alarm as a _______________
15. The tourist guide promised the tourists that they would get a
refund
____________ (fund) if they did not like the trip.
postscript
16. He added a _________________ (script) at the end of the letter.
supersonic (sonic) plane flies from New York to Paris
17. That _______________
in two hours and forty minutes.
 Self assessment
Complete the meanings of these sentences by using the correct form
(noun or verb) of the words in parentheses.
arrival date? (arrive)
Example: Have they told you of their __________
negotiated with the hijackers for hours.
18. The police have ______________
(negotiate)
packaged
19. Have you ________________ the dried foodstuff yet? (package)
destination of the hi-jacked plane is still uncertain.
20. The ________________
(destine)