WORD FORMATION

• Onderwijswetenschappen
• WO
• Studiejaar 2

Prefixes and Suffixes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPqxNqO8u-A

Prefixes

Suffixes

Negative Prefixes

The most common negative prefixes in English are in-, un-, non-, de-, dis-, a-, anti-, im-, il-, and ir-. 

Some root words can take more than one negative prefix, but the meaning of the word is then different, depending on the negative prefix used.

Make a negative out of POSSIBLE

On our (ARRIVE) we were greeted by the head of the department

Make a negative out of EXPECTED

Other "rules"

Often il + l (illegal) but not always (unlikely).

Often ir + r (irregular) but not always (unresponsive).

Usually -ful changes to -less (harmful/less) but not always (endful / endless).

If you can't remember, choose un - it's the most common negative prefix.

Suffixes

-Ness -ity

The suffixes -ness and -ity, both of which typically form abstract nouns from adjectives, roughly convey the meaning 'state, condition, quality of' (Marchand 1969:321, 334). ... As observed by Riddle, -ness tends to denote an embodied trait, whereas -ity tends to denote an abstract or concrete entity.

It was his (RESPONSIBLE)

A person with an (INFERIOR) complex is generally quite shy

Suffix -ful

a suffix meaning “full of,” “characterized by” (shameful; beautiful; careful; thoughtful); “tending to,” “able to” (wakeful; harmful); “as much as will fill” (spoonful).

It is amazing how (YOUTH) she looks at her age

aware

He was caught (AWARE) making faces at himself in the mirror

Sufix -ee

Person who does something

Being able to play football doesn't make you a good (REFER)

Train

I am a student teacher, otherwise known as a (TRAIN)

Suffix -ism

theory, act or belief

e.g. criticism, humanism, professionalism, patriotism

Suffix -ship

position held

e.g. worship, ownership, courtship, internship

(ABSENT) has been a main characteristic of the recent elections

The university gives five (FELLOW) a year

Now that they live abroad they visit their parents (YEAR)

On Sundays the church is full of (WORSHIP)