Prefixes

and
Suffixes

A prefix is a word
part added to the
beginning of a
root word.
REPLAY

DISLIKE
NONRETURNABLE

A prefix changes
the meaning of a
word.

Prefixes We
Know

Examples

im- not

improper

in- not

incomplete

bi- two

bicycle

non- not

nonstop

dis- not or
opposite of

disagree

A suffix is a word
part added to the
end of a root
SINGER word. HAPPIER
HYPER

A suffix also
changes the
meaning of a
word.

Suffixes We
Know

Examples

-er one who

farmer

-or one who

actor

-less without

useless

-able, -ible can

be

buildable
reversible

What would you add to the word

like to show you do not like?

dislike

What would you add to the word to show you

paid for something before your got it?

prepaid

What would you add to the word take to

show you had your picture taken again?

retake

What would you add to the word judge to show

you did not judge someone correctly?

misjudge

What would you add to the word

happy to show you are not happy?

unhappy

What would you add to the word color

to show a picture is full of color?

colorful

What would you add to the word fit that means the
state of being fit? This turns the word into a noun.

fitness

What would you add to the word quick to show you

move in a quick manner? This turns the word into an
adverb.

quickly

What would you add to the word

sing to show a person who sings?

singer

What would you add to the word home

to show a person without a home?

homeless

A Real World Example

Your mother must run next door to visit a
sick neighbor. She leaves you this note.

When you become hungry you will find a snack in

the yellowish cabinet. (Which cabinet would you
look in?)

In the cabinet you may have the precooked

popcorn.
(Which popcorn may you have?)

You may add the unsalted peanuts to your popcorn.

(Which peanuts will you use?)

For a drink, choose the noncarbonated beverage.

(Which beverage will you pick?)

Pour your drink cup that is recyclable.

(Which cup will you choose?)

You may make your drink chocolaty.

(Which drink mix will you use?)

Enjoy your snack. I will be home soon.

Love,
Mom

Prefix

A prefix is a word
part added to the
______________
of the root word or
base word

Suffix

A suffix is a word
part added to the
______________
of the root word or
base word

Abstract

Nouns

Aspect, concept, idea, experience, state of being, trait, quality,

feeling, or other entity that cannot be experienced with the five
senses.

Abstracts nouns from

adjectives
Means:

quality

suffix

ness y ity, and sometimes

th o dom.
o
o
o
o
o
o
o

Tenderness (ternura)
Generosity (generosidad)
Depth (profundidad)
Freedom (libertad)
Ugliness (fealdad)
Absurdity (algo absurdo)
Martyrdom (martirio)

Abstracts nouns from

verbs
Means:

indicatestate,condition,orquality
suffix ment and ion.
o
o
o
o
o
o
o

Action (Accin)
Imagination (Imaginacin)
Collection (Coleccin)
Education (Educacin)
Achievement (Logro)
Improvement (Mejorar)
Fashion (Moda)

Abstracts nouns without

suffix.
o
o
o
o

Fear (miedo)
Luck (suerte)
Deceit (engao)
Speed (velocidad))

What is an adjective?
An

adjective is a word that describes

something.
Aredcar
(redis an adjective because it describes
the car. How is the car? Red)
Abigbook
(bigis an adjective because it describes
the book. How is the book? Big)

Compound adjectives
A

compound adjective is an adjective

that contains two or more words.
English-speaking country.
Hyphen

1.
2.
3.

noun

Hyphen between two or more words

before a noun
to act as a single idea (adjective) that
describes something.
I live in an English-speaking country.

Examples of compound adjectives are:

Our
I

office is in atwenty-storeybuilding.

have just finished reading a300-pagebook.

He

is awell-knownwriter.

An actor who is well known > Awell-knownactor

- A girl who is four years old > Afour-year-oldgirl
- A person who works hard > Ahard-workingperson
- A conference that lasts three hours > Athree-hourconference

Compound Adjectives with Numbers

ten-minute

Lets take a ten-minute break.

two-hour
She attended a two-hour seminar.
five-day
He went on a five-day trip.
Common Error: adding -S
Dont use -s at the end of compound adjectives
with numbers:
Lets take aten-minutesbreak.
Lets take aten-minutebreak.

Adjective / Adverb + Past

Participle
old-fashioned

We had lunch in an old-fashioned

restaurant with dcor from the 1950s.
densely-populated
This densely-populated area has the
highest crime rates in the country.
high-spirited= with a lot of energy
The students gave a high-spirited
musical performance.

Adjective / Adverb / Noun +

Present Participle (-ING)
good-looking=

attractive, beautiful,

handsome
Whos that good-looking guy over there?
never-ending
Learning a language seems to be a
never-ending process.
time-saving
These time-saving techniques will help
you work more efficiently.

When to use a hyphen?

Use

a hyphen when the compound

adjective comes BEFORE thenounit
modifies, but not when it comes
AFTER thenoun.
This is aworld-famousmuseum.
Thismuseumisworld famous.