A letter or a group of letters can be added to the beginning or the end of a word. These are known as affixes, and they change the meaning of a word.
Here are some common prefixes and suffixes.
Prefix |
Meaning |
Example Word |
Dis- |
the opposite of |
disable (to make unable) |
Im- |
the opposite of |
impossible (hard to do) |
Mid- |
middle |
midnight(in the middle of the night) |
Pre- |
before |
precook (to cook before) |
Re- |
refill |
refill (to fill again) |
Un- |
not |
unable (not able to) |
Suffix |
Meaning |
Example Word |
-able |
causing |
laughable (funny) |
-ed |
past form of a verb |
burned (past form of “burn”) |
-en |
to become or made of |
lighten (to make something light) |
-er |
comparative; a person who does something |
bolder (more bold); hatter (one who makes hats) |
-est |
the most of something |
lightest (the most light) |
-ful |
filled with |
beautiful (full of beauty) |
-less |
without |
penniless (without penny) |
-ly |
in a way |
softly (in a soft way) |