Middle School Suffixes/Prefixes
Definitions:
Morpheme: The smallest meaningful unit in the grammar of language.
Word Families: Groups of words that are similar in form.
Root: The fundamental part of a word upon which other letters can be added to form new words; base word.
Suffix: A word part that is added to the end of a root word, changing its meaning.
Prefix: A group of letters added to the beginning of a word, changing its meaning.
Suffix Lessons
|
Suffix |
Meaning |
Example |
|
able, ible |
able, can do |
capable, agreeable, visible |
|
al, ial |
relating to, having characteristics of |
gradual, manual, natural |
|
ate |
cause, make |
liquidate, segregate |
|
ed |
past-tense verbs |
caged, chimed, scrammed |
|
er, or |
person connected with |
gardener, builder, teacher advisor, inventor, survivor |
|
en |
made of |
quicken, brazen, glisten |
|
er |
comparative |
happier, littler, prettier |
|
est |
comparative |
straightest, happiest, earliest |
|
ful |
full of |
useful, careful, respectful |
|
ic |
having characteristics of |
artistic, scientific, sympathetic |
|
ing |
verb form/present participle |
blocking, fainting, flying |
|
Ion, sion, tion, ation, ition |
act of, state of, result of, process |
contagion, infection, aversion |
|
ish |
origin, nature, resembling |
foolish, Spanish, lavish |
|
Ity, ty |
state of |
agility, humidity, necessity |
|
less |
without |
useless, careless, thoughtless |
|
ly |
characteristic of, like |
clearly, fearlessly |
|
ive, ative, itive |
causing |
festive, abusive, conclusive |
|
ment |
action or process |
advertisement, amazement, improvement |
|
ness |
state of, condition of |
happiness, goodness, illness |
|
ous, ious, eous |
possessing the qualities of |
gaseous, industrious, furious |
|
s, es |
plural |
caves, pies, globes batches, circuses, sketches |
|
y |
characterized by |
thirsty, crazy, itchy |
Prefix Lessons
|
Prefix |
Meaning |
Example |
|
anti |
against |
antisocial, antigravity, antibacterial |
|
de |
opposite of |
defang, defrost, decompose |
|
dis |
not, opposite of |
disconnect, discomfort, disintegrate |
|
en, em |
cause to |
enable, enlighten, enrage embarrass, embedded, embrace |
|
fore |
before |
foregone, foreshadow, forethought |
|
mis |
wrongly |
miscalculate, misunderstood, misdiagnose |
|
in, im |
in or into |
income, inland, indwelling implode, immigrate, impoverished |
|
in, im, ir, il |
not |
inappropriate, impossible, irresistible, illegible |
|
inter |
between, among |
interchange, international, intercollegiate |
|
mid |
middle |
midday, midnight, midwinter |
|
non |
not |
nonadjustable, nonacademic, noncommittal |
|
over |
too much |
overcrowded, oversized, overpowering |
|
pre |
before |
prearrange, prequalify, premeasure |
|
re |
again |
rearrange, replenish, refigure |
|
semi |
half |
semiweekly, semiskilled, semidangerous |
|
sub |
(under) |
substandard, subterranean, subconscious |
|
super |
above |
superabundant, supernatural, superabsorbent |
|
trans |
across |
transplant, transatlantic, transcontinental |
|
un |
not, opposite of |
unmistakable, uneventful, undamaged |
|
under |
too little |
underestimate, underdeveloped, underachieve |