Proper understanding Prefixes and suffixes in English grammar is much essential as they play great role in the formation of different words like adjective from noun, noun from verb, verb from adjective and adverbs from adjective. This is the only means to develop effective word power. At the larger level, prefixes and suffixes are classified as: negation, time, location, manner, noun forming, adjective forming, verb and adverb forming prefixes and suffixes. For better clarity, let’s explore in details.
- Happy + ness = happiness (forming noun)
- Real + ize = realize (forming verb)
- Danger + ous = dangerous (forming adjective)
- Quick + ly = quickly (forming adverb)
- Dis + satisfaction = dissatisfaction (negation)
- Sub + marine = submarine (location)
Major word formation processes
In process of evolution and development of any language, role of word formation processes can not be undermined. It plays great role in enriching vocabulary and especially meaningful communication.
As, word formation processes make available various newer words to use in language to make communication more meaningful. Here are some important word formation processes needs to be studied carefully.
Types of word formation processes in English grammar
- Derivational
- Compounding
- Converging
- Back formation
- Afixation
- Blending
- Clipping
- Borrowing
- Abbreviation
- Acronyme
What role do prefixes and suffixes play?
By forming words with prefixes and suffixes is a kind of word formation process. There are various word formation processes that I’m going to discuss in the later part of the this article.
Both prefixes and suffixes are called building blocks that modify the meanings and functions of root words. A suffix is a morpheme added to the end of a word, while a prefix is attached to the beginning. By employing these affixes, one can create new words.
Every language in this world is evolved and developed through the methods of formation of newer words, borrowing them or intermixing with existing one or all of them. After all, the quality as well as quantity of the words determine the effectivity of communication.
We know that the word formation process is a specific kind of maneuvering of addition of suffixes and prefixes. No doubt, suffixes and prefixes are a vital components of word formation process and have immense importance in this process. It plays constructive role in modification, expansion and development of language through formation of words.
Prefixes Vs suffixes
Prefixes and suffixes are the syllables or words added before or after the words respectively to form newer words and sometimes change the original meaning of the word. Such added words are called prefixes and suffixes.
What does prefixes mean?
Prefixes are certain group of words that are added before the word you want to modify or change the meaning. No changes have been made in the process of adding prefixes. Mis, mal, dis, un, post, pre, de, over, super, etc. are the examples of some well known prefixes. Here are some important prefixes:
1. Negative prefixes
Such prefixes are used to change the meaning of a word vto negative.
- Im: im + mature = immature,
- De: de + control = decontrol
2. Derogatory prefixes
To make sense of wrong or bad:
- Mis: mislead, mistake
- Mal: malnutrition, malfunction
3. Reversative prefixes:
To reverse the earlier action:
- Un: un + told = untold, unspoken,
- De: de+ genrtate = degenerate, decompose
- Dis: dis + like = dislike, Dismentle,
4. Prefixes of degree or size:
To mention degree or size of something:
- Sub: lower than = substandard
- Mini: small = miniplant
- Over: too much = oversmart
- Super : above all : superstar, superpower
5. Prefixes for place
Used to show the location or place, rank, and position.
- Sub: for position or rank = subordinate
- Inter: between two or more than two things = inter school, international
- Intra: inside one : intrastate
- Trans: beyond something : transnational
6. Prefixes of time
- Ex: previously or former: ex army man
- Fore: before = foretells
- Re: again: restart
Moreover, there are other types of prefixes like :
- Co, Vice, Auto
- Anti, Pro, Bi
- Multy, Poly
Suffixes: meaning and examples
Suffixes are certain words or group of words used to add at the end of the word you want to change the meaning and formation. While adding suffixes, you should consider spelling rules first.
1. Noun suffixes:
- Mother + hood = motherhood
- Friend + ship = friendship
2. Adjective suffixes:
- Colour + full = colourful
- Kind + ly = kindly
- Child + is = childish
- Gorge + ous = gorgeous
3. Verb suffixes:
- National + ize = Nationalize
- Sad + en = Sadden
4. Adverb suffixes :
By using ward, wise, ly, etc. following words can be formed.
- Forward, backwards
- Clockwise, gender-wise, area-wise
- Rapidly, cowardly.
Examples of word formation processes
1. Derivational process of word formation
Being one of the major word formation processes, derivational process includes changes in primary words. Basically, primary words are original words of a language and from which other words are formed. Newer words formed from these words are called as derived words. By making internal changes in the primary word-that is forming noun from a verb or forming adjective from noun like this:
- Advise = Advice
- Maintain = Maintenance
- Account = Accountable
- Economic = Economical
2. Compounding word formation processes
In this process, new word is formed by adding one primary word with another primary word to get newer one
- Black + Board =Blackboard
- Police + Man = Policeman
- Pick + Pocket = Pickpocket
- Home + Sick = Homesick
3. Affixation word formation processes
By using prefixes and suffixes to the primary word we can make new words using this word formation process.By adding syllables before or after the words word can be modified are changed their meanings from previous one.
- Trans + port = transport
- Engage + ment = engagement
- En + danger = endanger
- Un + fold = unfold
4. Conversion process
In this type of word formation process, same word is used for different grammatical form. Simply, we can use noun as a verb or verb as an adjective without making internal changes or adding some extra syllables.
- Noun = Verb
- Run = run
- Punch = punch
- Water = water
- Experience = experience
- Breakfast = breakfast
5. Back formation
Furthermore, this word formation process is similar to the conversion process. But, thereis slight difference between them. In back formation process, slightly change is done inside the primary word to make newer on.
Simply, verb is used as noun but by making slight internal change in the very form.
- Concept = conception
- perceive = perception
- Donate =donation
6. Blending word formation processes
In addition, another important processe of word formation in which one word is intermixed with another to form a new word.
- Web + seminar = webinar
- Motor + hotel = motel
- Hindi + English = Hinglish
- Medical +care = Medicare
- Work + alcoholic = Workaholic
- Europe +Asia = Eurasia
7. Clipping formation processes
Obviously, in this process a new word is formed by shortening the basic words. On the basis of clipping of the word, there are various sub types of clipping.
Rather than going deep, we are going to see just some examples of these sub-processes.
- Examination =exam
- Celebrities =celebs
- Photographs =photos
- Telephone =phone
- Rhinoceros =rhinos
Key highlights of prefixes and suffixes
- Prefixes and suffixes are syllables used before and after the words in the process of word formation
- They can change or modify meaning of the existing word.
- Spelling rules are applicable while adding suffixes.
- They are also used to enrich vocabulary.
If you carefully go through this article, you will be able to form newer words by using above rules.