Prefixes and Suffixes

The main part of a word is called the root. A prefix is a group of letters added to the BEGINNING of a root to change its meaning, and a suffix is added to the END. Together, prefixes and suffixes let you build a huge family of words from a single root, like 'help' → 'helpful' → 'unhelpful' → 'unhelpfully'.

Let's start with prefixes. The prefix 'un-' means 'not': happy → unhappy, kind → unkind, fair → unfair. The prefix 're-' means 'again': write → rewrite, play → replay, build → rebuild. Each prefix carries its own meaning, which it passes on to every word it joins.

Now for suffixes, which are added to the end of a word and can change the word's job. Adding '-ness' turns an adjective into a noun: kind → kindness, dark → darkness, happy → happiness. Adding '-er' or '-est' changes how we compare things: fast → faster → fastest.

Other common suffixes include '-ful' (meaning full of: hope → hopeful), '-less' (without: care → careless), '-ly' (turning an adjective into an adverb: quick → quickly), and '-tion' (turning a verb into a noun: act → action, invent → invention). Spotting a suffix often tells you what job a word is doing in a sentence.

Be careful with spelling when you add a suffix. Words ending in '-y' often change the 'y' to 'i': happy → happiness, beauty → beautiful. And when a word ends in a silent 'e', you usually drop the 'e' before adding a suffix that starts with a vowel: hope → hoping, care → caring.