WORD FORMATION

Prefixes
Prefix Meaning/use Examples
un + verb/adjective negative/opposite unlock, unhappy
im + adjective opposite Immoral, impossible, impolite,
(before some words beginning with m or p) implactical
il + adjective beginning with L opposite Illegal, illitgerate
in + adjective opposite Independent, inexperienced,
(before a limited number of words) indirect, incorrect, inconvenient
ir + adjective beginning with r opposite Irregular, irresponsible
inter + adjective between intercontinental
dis + verb/noun negative/opposite Dislike, disappear, disbelief
mis + verb wrongly/badly Misunderstand, misbehave
re + verb do again Rewrite, rebuild
semi + noun/adjective half, partly Semi-circle, semi-literate
sub + noun/adjective under, less/lower, below Sub-conscious, sub-standart
ex + noun previous Ex-husband, ex-president
de + verb/noun opposite, remove, reduce Decentralize
co + verb/noun together Cooperation, co-worker
anti + noun/adjective against, opposite Antisocial, anti-European
post + noun/verb after Postgraduate
pre + noun/verb before Prearrangement, pre-
intermediate
multi + noun/adjective many Multicultural, multi-tasking
over + verb too much Overcrowded
under + verb not enough, too little Underrate, underpay
SUFFIXES
ment (verb + suffix = noun) noun Improvement, disagreement, judgement, unemployment
ion (verb + suffix = noun) noun Election, translation
tion (sion) (verb + suffix = noun) noun Information, solution, revision
ing (verb + suffix = noun) noun Spelling, reading
ness (adjective + suffix = noun) noun Happiness, weakness, whiteness
(i)ty (adjective + suffix = noun) noun Similarity, popularity
ee, er, or, ist (noun/verb + suffix = noun) noun Employee, employer, dancer, actor, artist
Describe people and their jobs
ism (noun + suffix = noun) noun capitalism
ance / ence (verb + suffix = noun) noun acceptance, absence
eer (noun + suffix = noun) noun Engineer, volunteer
hood (noun + suffix = noun) noun childhood, neighbourhood
ship (noun + suffix = noun) noun Friendship, relationship

ous (noun/verb + suffix = adjective) adjective Glamorous, famous

al (noun/verb + suffix = adjective) adjective Political, practical
y (noun/verb + suffix = adjective) adjective Foggy, sunny, rainy
ive (noun/verb + suffix = adjective) adjective Attractive, supportive
able (ible) (noun/verb + suffix = adjective) adjective Drinkable, comprehensible, likable
ful (noun/verb + suffix = adjective) adjective Helpful, thoughtful, beautiful
less - means ‘without’ (meaning of adjective) adjective Homeless, jobless
ic (noun/verb + suffix = adjective) adjective Historic, realistic

ly (adjective + suffix = adverb) adverb Fully, slowly, beautifully