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