Prefixes and Suffixes in English: Meaning, Rules, Examples and Exercises
Introduction
Have you ever wondered how many new English words you can learn by adding a few letters to a word?
For example:
Happy → Unhappy
Kind → Kindness
Teach → Teacher
Care → Careful
Agree → Disagree
In these examples, we add letters to existing words to form new words. These letters are called prefixes and suffixes.
Learning prefixes and suffixes is an easy and effective way to improve your English vocabulary, spelling, reading, and writing skills.
In this article, you will learn the meaning of prefixes and suffixes, their types, useful examples, important rules, and exercises with answers.
1. What Is a Prefix?
A prefix is a letter or a group of letters added to the beginning of a word to form a new word.
A prefix often changes the meaning of the original word.
Examples of Prefixes
Original Word
Prefix
New Word
Happy
Un-
Unhappy
Agree
Dis-
Disagree
Possible
Im-
Impossible
Write
Re-
Rewrite
National
Inter-
International
View
Pre-
Preview
Understand
Mis-
Misunderstand
Cook
Over-
Overcook
War
Anti-
Antiwar
Connect
Dis-
Disconnect
Remember: A prefix is added before a word.
For example:
Un + happy = Unhappy
Re + write = Rewrite
Dis + agree = Disagree
2. Common Prefixes in English with Examples
Different prefixes have different meanings. Let us learn some common prefixes with examples.
A. Prefixes That Mean "Not" or "Opposite"
These prefixes are often used to express a negative meaning.
Prefix
Meaning
Examples
Un-
Not; opposite of
Unhappy, unfair, unsafe
Dis-
Not; opposite of; reversal
Disagree, dishonest, disconnect
In-
Not
Incorrect, inactive, incomplete
Im-
Not
Impossible, impolite, impatient
Il-
Not
Illegal, illogical
Ir-
Not
Irregular, irresponsible, irrelevant
Non-
Not; absence of
Non-violent, non-fiction, non-stop
Examples in sentences:
It is unfair to punish an innocent person.
This answer is incorrect.
Smoking is not allowed in this non-smoking area.
It is impossible to finish this work in one minute.
We should not be dishonest with others.
Note: The choice of prefix depends on the word. For example, we say impossible, illegal, and irregular, not unpossible, inlegal, or inregular.
B. Prefixes That Mean "Again" or "Before"
Prefix
Meaning
Examples
Re-
Again; back
Rewrite, reread, rebuild
Pre-
Before
Preview, prepay, preschool
Fore-
Before; in advance
Foresee, forecast, forewarn
Examples in sentences:
Please rewrite this paragraph.
I will reread the lesson before the examination.
We watched a preview of the film.
The weather forecast predicts rain.
You should prepare for the examination in advance.
C. Prefixes That Mean "Too Much" or "Not Enough"
Prefix
Meaning
Examples
Over-
Too much; excessively
Overeat, overwork, overcook
Under-
Too little; insufficiently
Underpaid, underestimate, undercook
Super-
Above; beyond; very
Superhuman, superstar, superfast
Examples in sentences:
Do not overeat if you want to stay healthy.
Some workers are underpaid.
Do not underestimate your abilities.
The superhero performed a superhuman task.
D. Prefixes That Show Place, Time or Relationship
Prefix
Meaning
Examples
Inter-
Between; among
International, interact, interschool
Trans-
Across; beyond
Transport, transplant, transcontinental
Sub-
Under; below
Submarine, subway, subtitle
Super-
Above; beyond
Superstructure, superhuman
Mid-
Middle
Midnight, midday, midterm
Post-
After
Postwar, postgraduate, postnatal
Ex-
Former
Ex-president, ex-student
Examples in sentences:
India participates in international sports events.
We should interact politely with others.
A submarine travels underwater.
We had lunch at midday.
She is a postgraduate student.
E. Other Useful Prefixes
Prefix
Meaning
Examples
Mis-
Wrongly; badly
Misunderstand, misbehave, misplace
Anti-
Against
Antisocial, antiwar, antibacterial
Auto-
Self
Autobiography, automatic, automobile
Bi-
Two
Bicycle, bilingual, bimonthly
Tri-
Three
Triangle, tricycle, tripod
Mono-
One; single
Monologue, monorail, monochrome
Multi-
Many
Multicoloured, multinational, multimedia
Co-
Together; jointly
Cooperate, co-worker, co-author
De-
Removal; reversal
Deactivate, defrost, decentralise
Examples in sentences:
Never misbehave with your teachers.
A bilingual person can use two languages.
A triangle has three sides.
We should cooperate with one another.
Please deactivate the device before cleaning it.
3. What Is a Suffix?
A suffix is a letter or a group of letters added to the end of a word to form a new word.
A suffix can change the meaning or grammatical function of a word. For example, it can change a verb into a noun or an adjective into an adverb.
Examples of Suffixes
Original Word
Suffix
New Word
Kind
-ness
Kindness
Teach
-er
Teacher
Care
-ful
Careful
Quick
-ly
Quickly
Happy
-ness
Happiness
Develop
-ment
Development
Beauty
-ful
Beautiful
Act
-ion
Action
Child
-hood
Childhood
Use
-less
Useless
Remember: A suffix is added after a word.
For example:
Kind + ness = Kindness
Teach + er = Teacher
Quick + ly = Quickly
4. Common Suffixes in English with Examples
A. Suffixes That Form Nouns
Nouns name people, places, things, qualities, or ideas.
Suffix
Examples
-er
Teacher, writer, farmer
-or
Actor, director, inventor
-ness
Kindness, happiness, darkness
-ment
Development, enjoyment, movement
-tion
Education, action, information
-sion
Decision, discussion, television
-ity
Ability, activity, equality
-ship
Friendship, leadership, membership
-hood
Childhood, adulthood, neighbourhood
-ist
Artist, scientist, pianist
-ance
Importance, attendance, assistance
-ence
Difference, confidence, existence
Examples in sentences:
My teacher explains English grammar clearly.
Kindness is a great human quality.
Education plays an important role in our lives.
Her decision was correct.
Friendship makes our lives happier.
The scientist conducted an experiment.
B. Suffixes That Form Adjectives
Adjectives describe nouns or pronouns.
Suffix
Examples
-ful
Beautiful, helpful, careful
-less
Careless, hopeless, useless
-able
Readable, comfortable, washable
-ible
Possible, visible, flexible
-al
Natural, personal, national
-ous
Dangerous, famous, courageous
-ive
Active, creative, attractive
-ic
Scientific, historic, energetic
-y
Rainy, cloudy, healthy
-ish
Childish, foolish, selfish
Examples in sentences:
She is a helpful girl.
This bag is washable.
We should eat healthy food.
The road is dangerous.
He is a creative student.
It was a rainy day.
C. Suffixes That Form Adverbs
Adverbs can describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.
Suffix
Examples
-ly
Slowly, quickly, carefully
-ward
Forward, backward, upward
-wise
Clockwise, lengthwise, otherwise
Examples in sentences:
The tortoise walked slowly.
She answered the question correctly.
Please drive carefully.
The child looked upward.
Turn the handle clockwise.
Note: Not every word ending in -ly is an adverb. For example, friendly and lovely are usually adjectives.
D. Suffixes That Form Verbs
Verbs describe actions, events, or states.
Suffix
Examples
-ise / -ize
Realise, organise, modernise
-ify
Beautify, simplify, classify
-en
Widen, shorten, strengthen
-ate
Activate, educate, motivate
Examples in sentences:
We should organise our books properly.
Please simplify this difficult question.
Exercise can strengthen your muscles.
The teacher motivated the students.
We must educate every child.
Spelling note: Both -ise and -ize spellings are used in English, depending on the variety and style followed. British English commonly uses organise, while American English commonly uses organize.
5. Difference Between Prefixes and Suffixes
Prefixes and suffixes both help us form new words, but they are added in different places.
Prefix
Suffix
Added to the beginning of a word
Added to the end of a word
Often changes the meaning
May change the meaning or grammatical function
Happy → Unhappy
Kind → Kindness
Write → Rewrite
Teach → Teacher
Agree → Disagree
Quick → Quickly
Possible → Impossible
Care → Careful
Use → Misuse
Develop → Development
Easy way to remember:
Prefix = Before the word
Suffix = After the word
6. How Prefixes and Suffixes Change Word Meanings
Let us understand how adding a prefix or suffix can change a word.
Example 1: Happy
Happy: Feeling pleased.
Unhappy: Not happy.
Happiness: The state of being happy.
Example 2: Care
Care: Attention or concern.
Careful: Taking care to avoid mistakes or danger.
Careless: Not giving enough attention.
Carefully: In a careful manner.
Carelessness: The quality of not being careful.
Example 3: Use
Use: To do something with a purpose.
Useful: Helpful or practical.
Useless: Not useful.
Reuse: To use again.
Misuse: To use incorrectly or improperly.
Example 4: Agree
Agree: To have the same opinion.
Disagree: To have a different opinion.
Agreement: A situation in which people agree.
These examples show that a single root word can help us learn several related words.
7. Important Spelling Rules for Prefixes and Suffixes
When adding prefixes and suffixes, we sometimes need to change the spelling of a word.
Rule 1: Most Prefixes Are Added Without Changing the Original Word
Examples:
Un + happy = Unhappy
Re + write = Rewrite
Dis + agree = Disagree
Mis + understand = Misunderstand
Rule 2: Change the Final "y" to "i" Before Some Suffixes
When a word ends in a consonant followed by y, the y often changes to i before a suffix such as -ness or -ly.
Examples:
Happy → Happiness
Easy → Easily
Lazy → Laziness
Busy → Busily
Important exception: Before -ing, the y usually remains unchanged.
Example:
Study → Studying
Rule 3: Drop the Final "e" Before Some Suffixes
When a word ends in a silent e, we often drop it before adding a suffix beginning with a vowel.
Examples:
Make → Making
Write → Writing
Hope → Hoping
Create → Creating
However, the final e is retained in some words.
Examples:
Care → Careful
Safe → Safety
Rule 4: Double the Final Consonant in Some Words
Some short words double their final consonant before a suffix beginning with a vowel.
Examples:
Run → Running
Sit → Sitting
Big → Bigger
Hot → Hottest
This rule depends on the word's spelling and pronunciation, so it does not apply to every word.
Rule 5: Some Words Change More Than Their Endings
Some word forms require additional spelling changes.
Examples:
Decide → Decision
Explain → Explanation
Strong → Strength
Long → Length
These forms are best learned through reading, writing, and practice.
8. A List of 50 Useful Words Formed with Prefixes and Suffixes
Learn these words to improve your English vocabulary.
No.
Root Word
New Word
Prefix or Suffix
1
Happy
Unhappy
Prefix
2
Agree
Disagree
Prefix
3
Possible
Impossible
Prefix
4
Correct
Incorrect
Prefix
5
Legal
Illegal
Prefix
6
Regular
Irregular
Prefix
7
Write
Rewrite
Prefix
8
Read
Reread
Prefix
9
Understand
Misunderstand
Prefix
10
Behave
Misbehave
Prefix
11
Cook
Overcook
Prefix
12
Estimate
Underestimate
Prefix
13
National
International
Prefix
14
War
Antiwar
Prefix
15
Pay
Prepay
Prefix
16
Kind
Kindness
Suffix
17
Happy
Happiness
Suffix
18
Dark
Darkness
Suffix
19
Teach
Teacher
Suffix
20
Farm
Farmer
Suffix
21
Act
Actor
Suffix
22
Develop
Development
Suffix
23
Move
Movement
Suffix
24
Enjoy
Enjoyment
Suffix
25
Educate
Education
Suffix
26
Decide
Decision
Suffix
27
Friend
Friendship
Suffix
28
Child
Childhood
Suffix
29
Care
Careful
Suffix
30
Help
Helpful
Suffix
31
Hope
Hopeless
Suffix
32
Use
Useless
Suffix
33
Beauty
Beautiful
Suffix
34
Danger
Dangerous
Suffix
35
Fame
Famous
Suffix
36
Quick
Quickly
Suffix
37
Slow
Slowly
Suffix
38
Careful
Carefully
Suffix
39
Happy
Happily
Suffix
40
Easy
Easily
Suffix
41
Modern
Modernise
Suffix
42
Simple
Simplify
Suffix
43
Strength
Strengthen
Suffix
44
Wide
Widen
Suffix
45
Short
Shorten
Suffix
46
Active
Inactive
Prefix
47
Honest
Dishonest
Prefix
48
Complete
Incomplete
Prefix
49
Comfort
Comfortable
Suffix
50
Read
Readable
Suffix
Vocabulary tip: Try to make one sentence using each new word. This will help you remember its meaning and usage.
9. Exercises on Prefixes and Suffixes
Now it is time to practise what you have learned. Read each question carefully and write your answers before checking the answer key.
Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks with Suitable Prefixes
Add a suitable prefix to complete each word.
___happy (not happy)
___agree (have a different opinion)
___possible (not possible)
___correct (not correct)
___write (write again)
___understand (understand wrongly)
___regular (not regular)
___legal (against the law)
___cook (cook too much)
___national (between or among nations)
Exercise 2: Fill in the Blanks with Suitable Suffixes
Add a suitable suffix to form a new word.
Kind + ___ = Kindness
Teach + ___ = Teacher
Care + ___ = Careful
Quick + ___ = Quickly
Develop + ___ = Development
Happy + ___ = Happiness
Beauty + ___ = Beautiful
Danger + ___ = Dangerous
Friend + ___ = Friendship
Read + ___ = Readable
Exercise 3: Make New Words
Form new words using the instructions given in brackets.
Happy (add a prefix meaning "not")
Agree (add a prefix meaning "not" or "opposite")
Write (add a prefix meaning "again")
Kind (add a suffix to form a noun)
Care (add a suffix to form an adjective meaning "taking care")
Quick (add a suffix to form an adverb)
Develop (add a suffix to form a noun)
Use (add a suffix meaning "without value or purpose")
Teach (add a suffix to name a person who teaches)
Simple (add a suffix to form a verb meaning "make simple")
Exercise 4: Identify the Prefix or Suffix
Identify the prefix or suffix in each word.
Unhappy
Disagree
Teacher
Careful
Rewrite
Kindness
Impossible
Slowly
Misbehave
Development
Exercise 5: Choose the Correct Answer
1. Which word contains a prefix?
a) Kindness
b) Unhappy
c) Teacher
d) Quickly
2. Which suffix forms a noun from the adjective "kind"?
a) -ly
b) -ful
c) -ness
d) -less
3. What does the prefix "re-" usually mean?
a) Not
b) Again
c) Under
d) Against
4. Which word means "not possible"?
a) Impossible
b) Possible
c) Possibility
d) Possibly
5. Which word contains a suffix that forms an adverb?
a) Rewrite
b) Unfair
c) Slowly
d) Disagree
6. Which word means "without care"?
a) Careful
b) Carefully
c) Careless
d) Carefulness
7. Which prefix means "wrongly"?
a) Re-
b) Mis-
c) Pre-
d) Inter-
8. Which word is a noun formed with a suffix?
a) Quickly
b) Unhappy
c) Kindness
d) Rewrite
9. Which word contains the prefix "inter-"?
a) International
b) Unhappy
c) Careful
d) Teacher
10. Which word is formed by adding a suffix to "teach"?
a) Reteach
b) Teacher
c) Misunderstand
d) Disagree
10. Answer Key
Exercise 1: Prefixes
Unhappy
Disagree
Impossible
Incorrect
Rewrite
Misunderstand
Irregular
Illegal
Overcook
International
Exercise 2: Suffixes
-ness
-er
-ful
-ly
-ment
-ness
-ful
-ous
-ship
-able
Exercise 3: Make New Words
Unhappy
Disagree
Rewrite
Kindness
Careful
Quickly
Development
Useless
Teacher
Simplify
Exercise 4: Identify the Prefix or Suffix
Unhappy — Prefix: un-
Disagree — Prefix: dis-
Teacher — Suffix: -er
Careful — Suffix: -ful
Rewrite — Prefix: re-
Kindness — Suffix: -ness
Impossible — Prefix: im-
Slowly — Suffix: -ly
Misbehave — Prefix: mis-
Development — Suffix: -ment
Exercise 5: Multiple-Choice Answers
b) Unhappy
c) -ness
b) Again
a) Impossible
c) Slowly
c) Careless
b) Mis-
c) Kindness
a) International
b) Teacher
11. Tips to Learn Prefixes and Suffixes Easily
Follow these simple tips to improve your vocabulary.
Learn a few word parts every day. Start with common prefixes such as un-, re-, and dis-.
Make word families. For example: help, helpful, helpless, helplessness.
Read English books and articles. Look for unfamiliar words and identify their prefixes and suffixes.
Use a dictionary. Check the meaning and pronunciation of new words.
Write your own sentences. Practise using each new word correctly.
Revise regularly. Review the words you learned earlier.
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