A root word is a word that can form the basis of new words by adding affixes Example:

(prefixes or suffixes). national - international

state - interstate
Prefixes and suffixes are not words by themselves, but they help in forming new
words. A word that is added before a root word to form a new word is called prefix. 5. Prefixes that mean "middle": The prefix "mid" usually
A word added at the end of a root word to form a new word is called a suffix. denotes being in the middle part or position.
Example:
Prefixes are words added before a root word to derive a newer meaning. Let us day - midday
explore the usage of prefixes in detail: night - midnight
week - midweek
1. Prefixes that derive antonyms/opposites: The prefixes "anti",
"de", "dis", "un", "in", "im", "ir" usually denote the opposite 6. Prefixes that mean "doing again": The prefix "re" usually
meaning of the root words. denotes repeating of an action.
Example: Example:
social - antisocial start - restart
lock - unlock do - redo
agree - disagree write - rewrite
motivate - demotivate
active - inactive 7. Prefixes that mean "too much": The prefix "over" usually
reversible - irreversible denotes too much or a lot of
possible - impossible
Example:
2. Prefixes that mean "cause to": The prefix "en" usually do - overdo
denotes the causing effect. load - overload
Example: 8. Prefixes that mean "under" and "above": The
able - enable (cause to able) prefix "sub" usually denotes under, and "super" denotes
joy - enjoy above
danger - endanger
Example:
3. Prefixes that mean "before to": The prefix "fore" usually text - subtext
denotes anything done before/earlier (denotes the verb). marine - submarine
market - supermarket
Example:
cast - forecast
9. Prefixes that mean "little or low": The prefix "under"
go - forego usually denotes lesser
Example:
4. Prefixes that mean "amongst": The prefix "inter" usually estimate - underestimate
denotes amongst others. age - underage
 Here is a list of commonly used prefixes: Example:
Prefix Meaning Examples walk - walked
type - typed
1. anti against antisocial
sing - singing
2. de, dis opposite, not dehydrate, disengage
3. en, em cause to enable 3. Suffixes that mean consequential: The suffixes "ate",
4. fore before forego "en", "ify", "ize" usually mean 'to become'.
5. in, im into, not immoral, inedible
Example:
6. in, im, ir not, opposite impossible complex - complicate
7. inter among international tight - tighten
8. mid middle midway straight - straighten
9. mis wrong misunderstanding
4. Suffixesthat mean the study of: The suffix "logy" usually
10. non not nonsense
denotes the field of study.
11. over too much overdose
12. pre before prehistoric Example:
13. re doing again restart biology
ecology
14. semi half semi-finals
Here is a list of commonly used suffixes:
15. sub under submerged, subtext
Suffix Meaning Example
16. super above supernatural s, es plural things, buses
17. trans across transnational, transport ed past tense obtained
18. un not, opposite unlock ing present tense training
19. under little underestimate ate to become hibernate
en to become enlighten
Suffixes are words attached at the end of root words to derive a newer meaning. Let ify to become notify
us explore the usage of some suffixes:
ize to become revolutionize
1. Suffixes that derive plurals: The suffix "s", ise to become advertise
"es" usually brings about the plural meaning. ly explain quality swiftly, slowly
acy state or quality supremacy
Example: ance state or quality acceptance
object - objects dom state of being in freedom, boredom
wish - wishes er, ian, ost, eer one who is teacher, engineer, technician
bottle - bottles ism belief Hinduism, Buddhism
ist one who is extremist, Buddhist
ity, ty
2. Suffixes thatquality
derive tenses: The suffix honesty,
"ed" usually is
responsibility
ment used for past tense.
condition of improvement
ness The suffix "ing"condition
usually is
of,used
state for presentsadness
tense.
ion, tion, sion state of being promotion, condensation