Prefixes and Suffixes
One of the key to enriching vocabulary is to read and to look for the meaning of unfamiliar terms in the dictionary.
There are many ways of determining the meaning of such a word in a sentence. These are through figuring the contextual clues , looking up the word in the dictionary, or by breaking up the components of the words itself which is the prefix, suffix and the root, or the word base.
Prefixes
Prefixs are added to the beginning of a word to make a new word, eg mis+take. Some common prefixes are 'mis', 'dis', 're', 'for', 'anti', 'ante', 'sub', 'un' and 'in'. New words are made by placing a prefix in front of a word. It is helpful to know the meanings of prefixes. Prefix 're' means again,therefore reappear means to appear again.
Common prefix meanings
pre - before
mis - bad(ly)
sub - under
inter - between
semi - half
The following prefixes of 'im', 'ir', 'il', 'in' and 'un' can be added to the beginning of words to make them into a negative.
Examples
im + possible = impossible
ir + responsible = irresponsible
il + legal = illegal
in + active = inactive
un + happy = unhappy
Suffixes
Letters added to the end of a main word are called suffixes. Common suffixes are: 'ed', 'ful', 'ly', 'ing', 'able', 'ance', 'ence', 'ness'.
Example
harm + less = harmless
When 'full' is added to a word you drop the final 'l'. If you add 'ly' to any word ending with 'ful' you keep the existing 'l'.
Example
hand + full = handful
rest + full = restful
restful + ly = restfully