Affixes

1. Affixes Commonly Used Prefixes and Suffixes

2. Nonrefundable • Non- • Not • Negates a word • Shows exclusion from a group Nonexistent Nonfiction

3. transport • Trans- • Across, beyond, through • Transoceanic • Trans-Siberian

4. overboard • Over- • Above a position • Too much • to excess • Overhang • Overthrow • overseer

5. antifreeze • Anti- • Against • Opposite of • Antibody • Antisocial

6. interstate • Inter- • Between, among • In the midst of • NOTE: do not confuse with intra (within) Interdependent international

7. Midday • Mid- • A middle point • A middle part or position • Mid-century • Mid-Victorian

8. Underneath • Under- • Indicates a place below or beneath • Underemployed • underground

9. subfloor • Sub- • Under • Below • Beneath • Subterranean • Subeditor

10. Compile • Com- or con- • With; in association with • Together • Conjoined • combine

11. Ex-wife • Ex- • Out of • From • exterritorial • Exo- • Outer • Outside • exoskeleton

12. illogical • Il- • Variation of in- (not) • Not • Illiterate

13. Temptation • -tion • Indicates state or condition • Used to form abstract nouns • Elation • Elevation

14. Projector • -or • A person or thing that does what is expressed by a verb • This suffix makes a word a noun • Variant of –er • Tractor • Sensor • Descriptor

15. creation • -ion • -ation, -ition, -tion • Indicates a process or a state • Condition • Prediction • elevation

16. civility • -ity • Used to form abstract nouns expressing a condition or quality of being • Jollity • Technicality

17. punishment • -ment • Forms nouns indicating state, condition, or quality • Forms nouns showing the product of an action • Enjoyment • Management

18. poetic • -ic • Forms adjectives or nouns from other parts of speech • Having some characteristic of • In the style of • Critic • allergic

19. dietician • -ian -an -ean • Forms adjectives or nouns • Belonging to or relating to • Resembling or following • A person who specializes or is expert in Politician Christian Elizabethan

20. typist • -ist • Forms nouns • A person who performs or practices a certain action • Columnist • Socialist • novelist

21. covetous • -ous; -eous; -ious • Being full of or having a sense of • Characterized by • Having the quality of • Forms adjectives • Ferocious • Dangerous • spacious

22. hindrance • -ance; -ence • Forms nouns often from verbs or adjectives to show a quality • Resemblance • Grievance • assonance • Brilliance

23. corrective • -ive • A suffix of adjectives expressing tendency, condition, or connection • Destructive • Passive • supportive

24. tiresome • -some • Forms adjectives • Characterized by • Tending to • A collective suffix used with numerals (nouns) • Quarrelsome • Burdensome • twosome

25. Let’s Play Some Bingo to Practice • Randomly, fill in your Bingo board by writing one affix in each square. • Cover that affix when the meaning applies or when you can complete a word by using it

26. Jacob found Kylee’s words weari_____ because she nagged him constantly about taking her to the movie. • This suffix means tending to; it forms adjectives.

27. This suffix indicates a state or condition and is used to form nouns. • The attract___ of her looks was a distract____ to the boys.

28. This prefix means “not.” It negates a word. • This book is based on the actual sinking of the Titanic and is an excellent example of _____fiction that uses primary sources like interviews with survivors.

29. As well as con-, this prefix means with, together, and in association with. It is used in compound words before the letters b, p, and m. • When you make a ____parison, you show the association of ideas through similarities.

30. Used to form abstract nouns expressing state or condition • The artist’s creat____ developed as a young child when his mother gave him a paintbrush and an palette.

31. This prefix means under, below, or beneath. • The ____terranean life was crawling with slugs, worms, and various microorganisms.

32. This suffix pertains to having some characteristic, and it turns a word into an adjective. • The poet___ devices that Langston Hughes used provide sensory images that paint pictures in the mind of the reader.

33. This prefix means against and the opposite of. • Most teenagers are quite outgoing, but Elvira is not; she could be considered ____social.

34. This prefix is a variation of in-. • It means not. • The reports on the Benghanzi attacks do not make sense; in fact, some would say that the government report is ___logical.

35. This prefix indicates a middle point, a middle part, or middle position. • Because he was being rude, Mrs. Autrey stopped the student from speaking ____sentence.

36. This suffix forms adjectives and nouns and means relating to or resembling; it indicates a person who specializes or is an expert in a field. • The optic___ did a wonderful job fitting my new glasses.

37. Throw that man a life preserver; he just fell _____board. • This prefix means above in place of position, too much, and to excess.

38. This suffix forms nouns and indicates a person who performs or practices an action. • The ventriloqu___, who is no “dummy,” can even speak in a British accent with his lips pursed.

39. This prefix means between, among, or in the midst of. • Their hands _____laced as they braced themselves for the downward spiral of the rollercoaster.

40. This suffix creates adjectives and expresses a tendency, condition, or connection. • While it may taste harmless, caffeine in soft drinks has an addict____ quality and stimulates the nervous system.

41. This suffix forms nouns from verbs or adjectives and shows a quality of someone or something. • The school’s perform____ at the parade won them first place honors.

42. This prefix means out of or from. • To kill the pesky termites completely, we must call an ___terminator.

43. This suffix forms nouns and indicates a state, condition, or quality of a product or action. • The excite______ of the crowd when the winning goal soared past the goalie could be heard throughout the town.

44. This suffix is used to form abstract nouns. • It indicates an act of or the state or condition of. • You should apply to college; it’s as easy as completing this applica_____.

45. This prefix indicates a place below or beneath. • Life in a submarine might be lonely, but at least the sailors who are commissioned to them have a chance of experiencing a wonderful _____sea adventure.

46. This prefix means across, beyond, or through. • Before it sank, the Titanic was sailing on its maiden _____oceanic voyage.

47. This suffix creates a noun from a verb and indicates a person or thing that does what is expressed by that verb. • A leader who dictates is often referred to as a dictat_____, just as a person who abbreviates is referred to an abbreviat__.

48. This suffix forms adjectives. It means having the quality of or being full. • After being stung by a bee, the swelling of my arm was instantan_______. • The caut_____ performer was careful not to look down as he walked the tightrope. • Some might consider tightrope walking a hazard_______ profession.