English Grammar, Affixes Worksheet

The affix is added to the root of a word and causes a change in the meaning of that word. If an affix is added before a word, it is called a prefix and if it is added to the end, it is called a suffix. Suffixes can sometimes be separated by a hyphen.

Examples of affixes are given below:

• Inaccurate  ⇒  in- is the prefix here.
• Walking      ⇒  ing- is the suffix here
• Disobey      ⇒  dis- is the prefix here.
• Clearly        ⇒    ly- is the suffix here

The prefixes ‘dis-, in-, re-‘, and ‘un-‘ are the most commonly used prefixes.

The suffixes ‘-es, -ed, -ly’, and ‘-ing’ are the most commonly used suffixes.

∗ The prefixes that come before an adjective and give that adjective a negative meaning are as follows:

• un-                      ⇒   uncomfortable
• im-/in-/ir-/il-      ⇒   impossible,  independent,  irresponsible, illegal
• non-                    ⇒   non-fat
• dis-                   ⇒   disorganized

∗ The suffixes that form a noun when added to a noun, verb or adjective are as follows:

• -tion/-sion    ⇒   information, suspension
• -er                  ⇒   consumer
• -ment            ⇒   employment
• -al                ⇒   denial
• -ence/ance  ⇒   importance
• -ity                 ⇒   sanity
• –ness            ⇒   selfishness
• -cy                ⇒   infancy
• -ship             ⇒  friendship

∗ The suffixes that form an adjective by being added to a noun or verb, and derive an adjective from a noun or verb are as follows:

• -al        ⇒ political
• -ent    ⇒ convenient
• -ive      ⇒  informative
• -ous    ⇒ delicious
• -ful      ⇒ beautiful
• -less     ⇒  careless
• -able    ⇒  comfortable

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