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System of Affixation in English
In English, fixing a group of letters to a word to change its meaning, number, state or form is known as the System of Affixation.
| Base word | Affixation | Word |
| determined | pre + determined | predetermined |
| play | play + er | player |
| weekly | bi + weekly | biweekly |
| follow | follow + ing | following |
There are two primary types of affixation:
1. Prefix
A prefix is a small group of letters which are affixed at the beginning of the word.
They perform the following functions:
| amoral | without morals |
| injected | put into |
| congenital | present from birth |
| hypodermic | under the skin |
| circumnavigate | to sail around |
| antechamber | a chamber before another |
| thermometer | heat measuring instrument |
| macrocosm | big world or universe |
| polyglot | someone who speaks many languages |
Types of Prefixes:
1. Negative Prefixes
| Prefix | Meaning | Usage |
| un- | not | uncomfortable, unbearable, unforgivable |
| in- | not | incomplete, indecisive, independent |
| dis- | opposite of | disinterested, disproportionate, displeasure |
| ir- | not | irresponsive, irresponsible, irrevocable |
| il- | not | illogical, illegitimate, illegible |
| im- | not | improbable, impossible, impenetrable |
Prefixes of Size
| Prefix | Meaning | Usage |
| semi- | half | semicircle, semiconductor |
| equi- | equal | equidistant, equivalent, |
| micro- | small, tiny | microscope, microorganism, |
Suffix
A suffix is a group of letters which are fixed to the end of a root word or a base word. They perform the following functions:
Change the part of speech of the word
| meaning (n) | meaningful (adj) |
| beautiful (adj) | beautifully (adv) |
| subject (n) | subjecting (v) |
Indicate whether the number is singular or plural
| girl (singular noun) | girls (plural noun) |
| stratum (singular noun) | strata (plural noun) |
| lifts (singular verb) | lift (plural verb) |
Indicate the tense of the verb
| hopped (past) | hostess (feminine) |
| steal (past) | stewardess (feminine) |
Types of Suffixes
Noun Suffixes
| Suffix | Usage | Example |
| -al | state | refusal, betrayal, perusal |
| -ance, -ence | quality or state | militancy, performance |
| -tion | condition | condition, relation |
| -ice | condition | malice, novice, justice |
| -er/-or | doer | painter, trainer, actor |
| -graph | record | telegraph, phonograph, polygraph |
| -ism | belief | Hinduism, communism, fascism |
Suffixes of Verbs
| Suffix | Usage | Example |
| -able | to make | enable, disable |
| -ate | Latin origin verbs | recreate, abate |
| -ed | simple past or participle form | killed, toyed |
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