Vocabulary Building with Suffixes and Prefixes

Vocabulary Building with Suffixes and Prefixes

Why Suffixes and Prefixes are Important

• Suffixes and prefixes make up a significant portion of the English language
• Understanding suffixes and prefixes can help decode unfamiliar words and expand vocabulary
• Many words share common prefixes and suffixes, making it easier to learn new words

How to Use Suffixes to Build Vocabulary

• Identify common suffixes (-able, -al, -ful, -less, -ly, -ment, -ness, -ship, -ty)
• Learn the meanings of each suffix
• Use suffixes to decode unfamiliar words and predict their meanings
• Examples:
  • -able: capable of being (e.g., comfortable, readable)
  • -ful: full of (e.g., hopeful, thankful)

How to Use Prefixes to Build Vocabulary

• Identify common prefixes (un-, re-, de-, anti-, non-, post-, pre-, sub-)
• Learn the meanings of each prefix
• Use prefixes to decode unfamiliar words and predict their meanings
• Examples:
  • un-: not or opposite of (e.g., unhappy, unbreakable)
  • re-: again or anew (e.g., rewrite, redo)

Tips for Building Vocabulary with Suffixes and Prefixes

• Learn prefixes and suffixes in context, rather than as isolated lists
• Practice using prefixes and suffixes to decode unfamiliar words
• Focus on common prefixes and suffixes first, and then move on to less common ones
• Use flashcards or online resources to aid in learning and reviewing prefixes and suffixes

Vocabulary Building with Suffixes and Prefixes

Importance of Suffixes and Prefixes

• Suffixes and prefixes make up a significant portion of the English language
• Understanding suffixes and prefixes helps decode unfamiliar words and expand vocabulary
• Many words share common prefixes and suffixes, making it easier to learn new words

Suffixes

Common Suffixes

• -able: capable of being (e.g., comfortable, readable)
• -al: relating to or characterized by (e.g., musical, logical)
• -ful: full of (e.g., hopeful, thankful)
• -less: without (e.g., hopeless, helpless)
• -ly: in a manner of (e.g., quickly, loudly)
• -ment: the act of (e.g., movement, assessment)
• -ness: state of being (e.g., happiness, kindness)
• -ship: state or condition of (e.g., friendship, leadership)
• -ty: quality or state of (e.g., reality, liberty)

Prefixes

Common Prefixes

• un-: not or opposite of (e.g., unhappy, unbreakable)
• re-: again or anew (e.g., rewrite, redo)
• de-: removal or reversal (e.g., defrost, deactivate)
• anti-: against or opposed to (e.g., antibiotic, anti-war)
• non-: not or without (e.g., nonstop, nonfiction)
• post-: after or following (e.g., postgame, postgraduate)
• pre-: before or prior to (e.g., pregame, prehistoric)
• sub-: under or below (e.g., submarine, subscript)

Tips for Building Vocabulary

• Learn prefixes and suffixes in context, rather than as isolated lists
• Practice using prefixes and suffixes to decode unfamiliar words
• Focus on common prefixes and suffixes first, and then move on to less common ones
• Use flashcards or online resources to aid in learning and reviewing prefixes and suffixes

Learn how to use suffixes and prefixes to decode unfamiliar words and expand your vocabulary. Identify common suffixes and prefixes to improve your language skills.