Understanding Affixes: Prefixes and Suffixes
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Questions and Answers

What is the function of the negative prefix 'un-'?

  • To change a noun into a verb
  • To show the opposite meaning of the original word (correct)
  • To indicate the past tense of a verb
  • To make a word sound more formal
  • In the sentence 'He had a tireless work ethic', what does the term 'tireless' mean?

  • Skillful and efficient
  • Tired and exhausted
  • Without a tire
  • Full of enthusiasm (correct)
  • How does the suffix '-less' change the word 'care' in the phrase 'careless mistake'?

  • It adds extra care to the mistake
  • It makes the mistake seem more caring
  • It makes the mistake full of care
  • It takes away care from the mistake (correct)
  • What effect does adding the prefix 'un-' have on the word 'comfortable'?

    <p>Makes it less comfortable</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which word best describes someone who is 'careful'?

    <p><strong>Careful</strong></p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary function of adding the suffix '-less' to 'limit' in 'limitless possibilities'?

    <p>To expand the possibilities infinitely</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary function of a prefix in a word?

    <p>Modify the grammatical function of the word</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the word 'singer', what does the suffix '-er' indicate?

    <p>Person who performs an action</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does a suffix typically contribute to a word's meaning?

    <p>By indicating tense, number, or case</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main purpose of suffixes like '-ly' in English?

    <p>To form adverbs</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which part of a word is typically modified by a prefix?

    <p>The root word or morpheme</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What effect does the prefix 'intra-' have on a word like 'mural'?

    <p>Suggests something happening inside or within</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    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.

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    Description

    Learn about the two main types of affixes, prefixes, and suffixes, and how they can completely change the meaning of a word by being added to it. Explore examples like the negative prefix 'un-' and the suffix '-less' to see how affixes alter the grammatical function and meaning of words within sentences.

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