Word Formation: Prefixes and Suffixes

Word formation creates new words from existing ones using prefixes (beginning) and suffixes (ending). Prefixes (change meaning): un- (not): unhappy, unable, unfair. re- (again): rebuild, redo, rewrite. dis- (not/opposite): disagree, disappear, dishonest. mis- (wrong): misunderstand, mistake. pre- (before): predict, preview. over- (too much): overwork, overflow. under- (too little): underestimate, underpay. inter- (between): international, interact. Suffixes (change part of speech): -tion/-sion (noun): education, decision. -ment (noun): development, achievement. -ness (noun): happiness, kindness. -ful (adjective): beautiful, helpful. -less (adjective): helpless, useless. -able/-ible (adjective): possible, readable. -ly (adverb): quickly, slowly. -ize (verb): organize, realize. -ify (verb): simplify, clarify. Common roots: act (act, action, active, activity), dict (dictionary, predict, contradict), duct (conduct, produce, introduce), port (import, export, transport), struct (construct, instruct, destroy).