Prefixes
According to Dictionary.com, a prefix is "an affix placed before a word, base, or another prefix to modify a term's meaning...," (Dictionary.com first definition). This basically means that it is a part of a word, like un- and re- to change the meaning of the word that comes at the beginning of the word. For example the word changeable means that something can be modified, but when you add the prefix un- then the word's meaning completely changes. Changeable with the added un- means that something can not be modified. Below is a some common examples of prefixes along with a link to more common prefixes.
Here are some common examples: 1. appear + dis- = disappear to be visible + not = not visible 2. pilot + auto- = autopilot someone who flies a plane + self= self flying plane |
Roots
According to Dictionary.com a root is, "a morpheme that underlies an inflectional or derivational paradigm, as dance, the root in danced, dancer, or ten-, the root of Latin tendere “to stretch" (Dictionary.com Definition 12). This basically means that a root is a part of a word that is the base for words like it. I know that may seem very confusing, but hopefully a few examples can help.
Examples:
Geo- is the root of the word Geology. The root Geo- helps to give the word its meaning. Geo- means earth and -logy means the study of, so Geology is the study of the earth.
Graph- is the root of the word Graphic. The root Graph- also helps to give this word its meaning. Graph- means to draw or to write, so a graphic is a drawing or a writing.
See, you got the hang of it. Below is a link to website full of root words to help you if you still don't understand it.
Examples:
Geo- is the root of the word Geology. The root Geo- helps to give the word its meaning. Geo- means earth and -logy means the study of, so Geology is the study of the earth.
Graph- is the root of the word Graphic. The root Graph- also helps to give this word its meaning. Graph- means to draw or to write, so a graphic is a drawing or a writing.
See, you got the hang of it. Below is a link to website full of root words to help you if you still don't understand it.
Suffixes
According to Dictionary.com, a suffix is, "an affix that follows the element to which it is added, as -ly in kindly." (Dictionary. com first definition) To put it in easier words, a suffix is very similar to a prefix, a part of a word to change the meaning of the word that comes at the beginning of that word, except a suffix comes at the end of the word. Just in case that doesn't make sense, I will put in a few examples to help explain it more.
Examples:
The suffix ity- is the suffix for the word generosity. Ity- means quality and genero- means to be unselfish, so generosity means the quality of being unselfish.
The suffix -ment helps to make the work judgment. -Ment means the status of and Judge- have an your own idea about a certain topic, so judgment is the status of having your own idea about something.
If you are still a little confused then below I have a website full of suffixes to help you out.
Examples:
The suffix ity- is the suffix for the word generosity. Ity- means quality and genero- means to be unselfish, so generosity means the quality of being unselfish.
The suffix -ment helps to make the work judgment. -Ment means the status of and Judge- have an your own idea about a certain topic, so judgment is the status of having your own idea about something.
If you are still a little confused then below I have a website full of suffixes to help you out.