Understanding Affixes: Prefixes and Suffixes

Affixes are small units of meaning added to base forms of words to change their grammatical function or meaning within a sentence. There are two main types of affixes we'll focus on: prefixes and suffixes. A prefix is placed before the word it modifies while a suffix comes after the word.

One common type of prefix is the negative prefix 'un', which is used to indicate the opposite meaning of the original word it is attached to. For example, if we have the verb 'to run', adding 'un-' gives us an entirely new verb with its own distinct meaning: 'To stop running'. This shows how affixes can completely change the meaning of a word by simply being added to it. Another common prefix is 'in-', which means into or within; for instance, when you see someone swimming in a pool, this indicates they are moving through the water.

As for suffixes, one of the most well-known examples is '-less', which removes the noun from the sentence. When something has been lost, i.e., taken away, it becomes 'less' because there isn't any more left. So, if your bag had $100 dollars in it and now only contains $80 due to some thievery, we could say it has become $20 less. Another commonly seen suffix is '-s', which often turns verbs into nouns. To illustrate this, consider the phrase 'He runs quickly'; here, the past tense of the action verb 'run' is converted into the present participle form ('running'), indicating continuous motion. Adding '-s' creates the abstract concept of speediness or agility. In summary, these few examples showcase how powerful affixes like prefixes and suffixes can make your communication much clearer and more precise.