Prefixes and Suffixes Quiz: Master Common Ones

Study Notes

Common Prefixes

Prefixes are small units added before a word to change its meaning. They can change the part of speech of a word, such as turning a verb into an adverb. Here are some common prefixes with their meanings:

Prefix	Meaning	Example Word	Function
Ab-	Away from, off, opposite	Absent	Adjacent words may share meaning or spelling
De-	Opposite, inverse, reverse	Decrease	Can express contradiction or reversal
Dis-	Contrary to, oppositely	Dissolve	Can suggest failure or negation
En-	In	Enter	May indicate beginning or making something a unit
Im-	Not +	Imply	Can negate the following word or mean "in"
In-	Within or not out +	Indoor	Can have several meanings depending on the context
Mis-	Wrong, incorrect	Mistake	Can negate or alter the word it is attached to
Non-	Un	Nonsense	Can negate the meaning of the word following it
Pre-	Before, prior to	Preview	Can indicate an action's start or its position
Sub-	Under, beneath	Submerge	Can express subordination or hierarchy
Sup-	Above	Superior	Can indicate elevation or superiority
Un-	Opposite, not	Unhappy	Can negate the meaning of the word following it
Ura-	Tail	Urn	Can indicate a tail-like position or direction
Ultra-	Beyond, more than	Ultimate	Can express excessiveness or superiority
Under-	Below	Undershirt	Can suggest lack or deficiency
Up-	Above	Uplift	Can indicate elevation or upward direction
With-	Together, at the same time	Withdraw	Can imply togetherness or association

These prefixes often follow certain rules when they attach to words, such as adding -e to words ending in consonants, and changing vowels within the word. It's essential to understand these rules to accurately apply the correct prefix to words.

Common Suffixes

Suffixes are smaller units added after a word to modify its meaning. Just like prefixes, suffixes can change the part of speech of a word. Some common suffixes and their meanings include:

Suffix	Meaning	Example Word	Function
-able	Capable of being	Available	Generally make the base verb transitive by indicating an object
-age	State, condition	Village	Can form nouns denoting actions or qualities
-al	Relating to, characterized by, having the nature of	Coronal	Form adjectives describing the subject or its quality
-ance	Performance, action	Advantage	Often serve as a noun replacing the infinitive phrase "to be... ing"
-ant	Performing	Participant	Make verbs active; they show that someone performs the action denoted by the base verb
-ary	Characterized by	Tertiary	Can create adjectives conveying a state, characteristic, or quality
-ful	Having the property of	Beautiful	Create adjectives expressing the degree, amount, or result of the action
-hood	State or quality of	Childhood	Replace the noun word "state"
-ism	Condition or act of	Optimism	Can denote a belief, practice, or system
-less	Without	Hopeless	Modify the preceding noun, generally indicate absence or lack
-ment	Action	Investment	Creates nouns from verbs and indicates the result or effect of an action
-ship	Relationship	Friendship	Can signify a relationship between two things or individuals
-ster	Female person performing	Hostess	Often used to describe female performers and professionals
-tion	Process, act, result	Education	Typically denotes a process, act, or result of an action or event

Like prefixes, suffixes also follow specific rules when they attach to words. For example, they may require changes in the letter 'e' or the addition of silent letters to maintain proper pronunciation.

Description

Learn about common prefixes and suffixes used in the English language, along with their meanings and functions. Understand how prefixes and suffixes can change the part of speech of a word and modify its meaning. Explore rules for attaching prefixes and suffixes to words for accurate usage.