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Affix
Phonetics:
əˈfɪks
Pronunciation:
Unleashing the Power of Affix in English Grammar
Comprehensive Definition, Description, Examples & RulesÂ
Definition of Affixes and Discussion of Their Role
Affixes play an important part in the development of words and the organisation of English grammar. As morphemes, they are the building blocks of new words and the mechanism by which current words’ meanings may be altered.
Affixes are bound morphemes that provide meaning to words only when combined with their base words. They play a crucial role in communication because they allow a wide variety of meanings to be conveyed with a small number of words. Words’ meanings, grammatical roles, and the indication of tense, number, and gender may all be altered by adding an affix. The English language would lose a lot of its power and nuance without affixes.
Explanation of the Various Forms of Affixes
Prefixes and suffixes are examples of affixes. Both prefixes and suffixes may be added to the beginning or end of a word. Both morphological and semantic affixes provide additional dimensions to their root words.
Many words begin with a prefix, such as “un-” (meaning “not” or “opposite of”), “dis-” (meaning “not” or “opposite of” or “reverse”), “re-” (meaning “again” or “back”), and “pre-” (meaning “before” or “in advance”). Prefixes provide meaning to many words, such as those having negative connotations or meanings, such as “unhappy,” “dislike,” “reconnect,” and “preheat.”
The suffixes “-ly” (meaning “in a particular way”), “-ness” (identifying a state or trait), “-able” (meaning “capable of”), and “-tion” (meaning “the act of”) are all examples of common suffixes. Suffixes may greatly enhance the meaning of a word, as in “happily,” “kindness,” “enjoyable,” and “conversation.”
Affixes, in a nutshell, are morphemes that may be attached to a root word in order to change its meaning or grammatical function. They help shape our language’s vocabulary and enable clearer, more concise communication.
Affixes List
Let’s examine some frequent affixes to help us better grasp the concept:
Prefixes:
- Un- (not or opposite of)
- Dis- (not, opposition, or inverse)
- Re- (once more or return)
- Pre- (before or ahead of time)
- Post- (after)
Suffixes:
- -ly (in a certain fashion)
- -ness (which denotes a characteristic or condition)
- -able (able to)Â
- -ment (the end outcome of any process or condition)
Affix Examples
Some common affixes are seen below in bold:Â
- Prefix “un-“: unhappy, unclear, unkind
- Prefix “dis-“: dislike, disagree, disappear
- Prefix “re-“: reconnect, redo, retake
- Prefix “pre-“: preheat, preview, prepay
- Suffix “-ly”: happily, slowly, quickly
- Suffix “-ness”: kindness, happiness, boldness
- Suffix “-able”: capable, enjoyable, reliable
- Suffix “-ment”: excitement, punishment, development
Types of Affixes
A] Prefixes
One of the two kinds of affixes—morphemes that may be added to a root word to form new words or change the meaning of an existing word—are prefixes. We will define prefixes, explain their uses, go through the rules for properly using them, and provide some instances of their use.
Definition and Role
To change the meaning of a root word, a morpheme called a prefix is attached to the beginning of the term. It might denote a distinct grammatical function or alter the original meaning of the root word. When added to the root word “happy,” the prefix “un-” forms the new word “unhappy,” which signifies the opposite of happy.
Guidelines for Prefix Use
When using prefixes, keep in mind these guidelines:
- A) In order to avoid modifying the spelling of the root word, the prefix should be added at the beginning of the term. Unhappy, for instance, is the result of prefixing “un-” to the word “happy,” not “uhnappy.”
- B) A hyphen is used to facilitate pronunciation when the root word begins with a vowel and the prefix concludes with a vowel. Alternate spellings include “pre-empt” for “preempt.”
- C) It is important to utilise the appropriate meaning of a prefix when it appears in a sentence. Taking “dis-” as an example, it might indicate “not,” “opposite of,” or “reverse.”
Prefixes and Examples of Use in Sentences
Examples of popular prefixes and how they are used in phrases are shown below:
a) Prefix “un” (which means “not” or “opposite of”)
- Unhappy (not happy)
- Unhealthy (not healthy)
- Unnecessary (not necessary)
b) Dis- (meaning “not,” “opposite of,” or “reverse”)
- Disagree (not agree)
- Dislike (not like)
- Disappear (opposite of appear)
c) Re- (which means “again” or “back”)
- Rebuild (build again)
- Reconnect (connect again)
- Rethink (think again)
d) Pre- (meaning “before” or “in advance”)
- Preheat (heat before use)
- Preview (view before others)
- Prepay (pay in advance)
e) Post- (meaning “after”)
- Postgraduate (study after graduation)
- Postpone (delay until after a particular time)
- Postmark (mark made after mailing)
B] Suffixes
Suffixes, like prefixes, are a special kind of affix. Morphemes are linguistic constructions that are appended to the end of a root word to alter its meaning or use. In this part, we’ll define suffixes, explain their uses, go through the rules for adding them to words, and provide some instances of popular suffixes and their meanings in context.
Suffixes are morphemes that are attached to the end of a root word to change its meaning or to show what role the word plays grammatically. Words like “readable” are derived from the core word “read,” and the suffix “-able,” which signifies “capable of being” or “suitable for,” is added to the end of the word.
Use of Suffixes
Using suffixes correctly requires adhering to a few guidelines.
- You should append the suffix to the end of the base word without altering the spelling of the latter. “happily” is the correct form of “happy” with “-ly,” not “happilly.”
- b) If the root word ends in a silent “e,” it is customary to omit it before adding the suffix. For instance, “hope” is shortened to “hopeful” rather than the more formal “hopeful-e.”
- c) The last consonant is often duplicated before adding the suffix if the root word ends in a consonant followed by a vowel and then another consonant. Just replace “run” with “running” and not “runing.”
A List of Frequent Suffixes, Explained with Examples
Common suffixes and how they are used in sentences are listed below.
a) -able/-ible (meaning “capable of being” or “suitable for”)
- Adaptable (capable of being adapted)
- Edible (suitable for eating)
- Incredible (not credible or believable)
b) -ful/-less (meaning “full of” or “without”)
- Beautiful (full of beauty)
- Careless (without care)
- Hopeful (full of hope)
- Homeless (without a home)
c) -ing (used to form present participles or gerunds)
- Running (present participle of “run”)
- Singing (present participle of “sing”)
- Swimming (gerund of “swim”)
d) -ness (used to form abstract nouns indicating a quality or state)
- Happiness (state of being happy)
- Kindness (quality of being kind)
- Sadness (state of being sad)
e) -ment (used to form nouns indicating an action or process)
- Adjustment (action of adjusting)
- Development (process of developing)
- Movement (act of moving)
C] Infixes
Infixes are a form of affix in the English language, albeit they are far less frequent than prefixes and suffixes. Morphemes are parts of speech used to alter the meaning of a word at its source. Here, we’ll define infixes, explain their uses, go through the rules for incorporating them into sentences, and provide some typical instances.
Inserting a morpheme called an infix into a root word may change that word’s meaning. Infixes, as opposed to prefixes and suffixes, do not alter the grammatical class of their parent words. Tagalog speakers add the infix “-um-” to the base word “bili” to get “bumili,” which meaning “to buy.”
Guidelines for Infix Use
The usage of infixes is rare in English. However, there are several restrictions on the use of infixes:
- a) An infix is a prefix or suffix added to a word at its onset or midpoint.
- b) The addition of an infix might alter the form of the root word.
- c) Since infixes are seldom used in English, students would be better served by focusing on prefixes and suffixes.
The Meanings of Some Frequent Infixes and How They Are Used in Sentences
Some frequent infixes and how they’re used in sentences are listed below.
a) -bloody- (meaning “intensity” or “emphasis”)
- Fan-bloody-tastic (fantastic with added emphasis or intensity)
- Abso-bloody-lutely (absolutely with added emphasis)
b) -frickin- (meaning “intensity” or “emphasis”)
- Un-frickin-believable (unbelievable with added emphasis or intensity)
- Fan-frickin-tastic (fantastic with added emphasis or intensity)
c) -fu- (meaning “negative or pejorative”)
- Fan-fu-tastic (terrible or awful)
- Un-fu-believable (unbelievable in a negative way)
Tagalog and Turkish, for example, employ infixes extensively within their syntax, making them more prevalent than in English.
D] Circumfixes
A circumfix is a compound affix consisting of a prefix and a suffix that are both added to the beginning and the end of a word. A circumfix cannot be used until both its prefix and its suffix are affixed to the beginning and ending of a word.
Words may have their meanings and grammar functions altered by adding a circumfix. In languages like German and Dutch, they are often employed to create new words by joining together prefixes and suffixes. In German, the term “verdienen” means “to earn,” but with the prefix “be-ge-” added to the beginning and end, the word is transformed into “be-verdienen,” which means “to deserve.”
Circumfix Usage Guidelines
The meaning of circumfixes vary with each language and use. While they are frequent and governed by established conventions in certain languages, they are largely absent from others.
Circumfixes are not part of normal English grammar and are typically seen as slang. However, they are still used in certain phrases.
Examples of Circumfixes
Circumfixes are seldom used in formal English and for the reasons already given. English does include a few circumfixes, albeit they are more common in slang and informal settings. Some instances are as follows:
The circumfix “Be- -en” is added to transitive verbs to show that an action is transforming the subject into a new condition. As an illustration:
- The delightful word “bewitched” comes from the prefix “be-” and the suffix “-witched.”
- The prefix “be-” and the suffix “-fuddled” combine to make the word “befuddled” (confused).
The prefix “un- -able” is added to the end of adjectives to signify incapability. As an illustration:
- The prefix “un-” plus the suffix “-able” create the word “unbreakable,” which means “not able to be broken.”
- The word “untouchable” derives from the prefix “un-” and the suffix “-touchable” to mean “not able to be touched.”
The circumfix “out- -ed” is used for verbs to signify that the action has been completed or the object has been removed. As an illustration:
- The word “outsmarted” comes from the prefix “out-” and the suffix “-smarted,” which means “to be defeated by someone who is more clever.”
- The verb “outnumber,” meaning “to have more people or things than someone else,” is derived from the prefix “out-” and the suffix “-numbered.”
It’s vital to remember that circumfixes are uncommon in standard English and should be used only in casual settings. Understanding the purpose and application of circumfixes, however, may help you make sense of the grammar of languages where they are used more often.
Common Affixes: A Reference for Expanding Your Word Knowledge
Affixes have an important role in the English language and may dramatically alter the meaning of words. They are used to create new words by attaching to the beginning (prefix), end (suffix), or the middle (infix) of an existing word (root).Â
1. Prefixes
Words may be altered by adding a prefix to their beginnings. A few examples of widespread English prefixes are as follows:
| Prefix | Meaning | Example word | Meaning of example word |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Un- |
Not |
Unhappy |
Not happy
|
|
Re- |
Again |
Rewind |
Wind again |
|
Dis-
|
Opposite of
|
Disagree |
Not agree
|
|
Pre-
|
Before |
Preview |
View before
|
|
Post-
|
After |
Postgraduate |
After graduation
|
2. Suffixes
Adding a suffix to the end of a word may alter its meaning. Some frequent English suffixes are as follows:
| Suffix | Meaning | Example word | Meaning of example word |
|---|---|---|---|
|
-ful
|
Full of
|
Beautiful |
Full of beauty |
|
-ness
|
State of being
|
Happiness |
State of being happy
|
|
-ly
|
In the manner of
|
Quickly |
In a quick manner
|
|
-able/-ible
|
Capable of being
|
Comfortable |
Capable of being comforted
|
|
-ness
|
State of being
|
Happiness |
State of being happy
|
3. Infixes
Infixes are uncommon in English because they are inserted to the midst of a word. Here’s an example:
| Infix | Meaning | Example word | Meaning of example word |
|---|---|---|---|
|
-a-
|
N/A
|
Fan-bloody-tastic
|
Fantastic |
4. Circumfixes
Circumfixes are much uncommon than infixes since they are added to both the beginning and the end of a word. Here’s an illustration:
| Circumfix | Meaning | Example word | Meaning of example word |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Un-/ -able
|
Can be undone
|
Unbeliev-able
|
Can be undone
|
The Effect of Common Prefixes and Suffixes on Word Meanings
Adding a common prefix to a word may completely alter its meaning. Putting the prefix “un-” in front of the word “happy” makes it imply “not happy.” The word lovely, which signifies “full of beauty,” is formed by adding the suffix “-ful” to the word “beauty.” Affixes enable the formation of novel words that may convey a wide variety of feelings and concepts.
Some frequent affixes and the words they modify are listed below.
- Unhappy: Not happy
- Reheat: Heat again
- Disagree: Not agree
- Comfortable: Capable of being comforted
- Happily: In a happy manner
- Joyful: Full of joy
- Powerful: Full of power
- Usefulness: State of being useful
- Impossible: Not possible
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Key Takeaways
- Affixes are essential elements in English grammar that can dramatically alter the meaning and structure of words.
- Affixes can be categorised into prefixes, which are added at the beginning of a word, and suffixes, which are added at the end.
- Prefixes can change the meaning of a word, create new words, or indicate negation or reversal.
- Suffixes can modify the grammatical function of a word, create different forms (such as nouns, verbs, or adjectives), or indicate plurality or tense.
- Understanding the rules of affixation, such as spelling changes or vowel shifts, is crucial for using affixes correctly.
Quiz
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Frequently Asked Questions
Prefixes and suffixes are examples of affixes. Both prefixes and suffixes may be added to the beginning or the end of a word.
An affix applied to the beginning of a word to alter its meaning or form a whole new word is called a prefix. The prefix “un-” means “not” or “opposite,” “re-” means “again,” and “pre-” means “before.”
Suffixes are affixes that are attached to the end of words in order to alter their meaning or to form whole new words. When added to the end of a word, the suffix “-able” indicates “capable of,” “-tion” indicates “an action or process,” and “-er” indicates “a person who performs a specific action or possesses a particular quality.”
Instead of or in contrast to; this is what the prefix “un-” indicates. Adding the prefix “un-” to the word “happy” changes its meaning to “unhappy,” which may indicate either “not happy” or “sad.”
Affixes add information to the end of a word, such as negation or tense, that alters the original meaning. The addition of the prefix “dis-” to the word “like” transforms the meaning to the antonym of “like,” creating the word “dislike.”
A word’s affixes may be found by dissecting it into its component parts and searching for prefixes and/or suffixes. Moreover, frequent affixes may be learned off by heart to facilitate recognition.
Affixes may modify a word’s grammatical function, hence the answer is yes. Examples include the transformation of the noun “act” into the verb “react” through the prefix “re-,” and the transformation of the adjective “happy” into the noun “happiness” via the suffix “-ness.”
