English Language and Usage: Vocabulary Acquisition

What is structural analysis?

The breaking down of a word into different components to determine its meaning.

What are prefixes?

Letter combinations at the beginning of a word that carries meaning.

What are suffixes?

Letter combinations at the end of a word that carries meaning.

What is a root?

The main part of a word.

What is an affix?

Morphemes that are added to words that create related but different words.

What is a derivational affix?

Affixes that form new words based on and related to the original words.

What is an inflectional affix?

Affixes that create different grammatical versions of the word, for example changing a word from singular to plural.

What is a prefix?

An affix added to the start of the word.

What is a suffix?

An affix added to the end of a word.

What is a circumfix?

A type of affix that adds morphemes to both the beginning and end of a word. Circumfixes involve both prefixes and suffixes.

What is an interfix?

A type of affix that is added to the middle of two words that are to be joined.

Bi-

Two

Mono-

One, Single

Poly-

Many

Semi-

Half, Partly

Uni-

One

A- (Negation)

Without, Lacking

In- (Negation)

Not, Opposing

Non- (Negation)

Not

Un- (Negation)

Not, Reverse of

A- (Time and Space)

In, On, Of, Up, To

Ab- (Time and Space)

From, Away, Off

Ad- (Time and Space)

To, Toward

Ante- (Time and Space)

Before, Previous

Anti- (Time and Space)

Against, Opposing

Cata- (Time and Space)

Down, Away, Thoroughly

Circum- (Time and Space)

Around

Com- (Time and Space)

With, Together, Very

Contra- (Time and Space)

Against, Opposing

De- (Time and Space)

From

Dia- (Time and Space)

Through, Across, Part

Dis- (Time and Space)

Away, Off, Down, Not

Epi- (Time and Space)

Upon

Ex- (Time and Space)

Out

Hypo- (Time and Space)

Under, Beneath

Inter- (Time and Space)

Among, Between

Intra- (Time and Space)

Within

Ob- (Time and Space)

Against, Opposing

Per- (Time and Space)

Through

Peri- (Time and Space)

Around

Post- (Time and Space)

After, Following

Pre- (Time and Space)

Before, Previous

Pro- (Time and Space)

Forward, In place of

Retro- (Time and Space)

Back, Backward

Sub- (Time and Space)

Under, Beneath

Super- (Time and Space)

Above, Extra

Trans- (Time and Space)

Across, Beyond, Over

Ultra- (Time and Space)

Beyond, Excessively

Belli-

War, Warlike

Bene-

Well, Good

Equi-

Equal

For-

Away, Off, From

Fore-

Previous

Homo-

Same, Equal

Hyper-

Excessive, Over

In-

In, Into

Magn-

Large

Mal-

Bad, Poorly, Not

Mis-

Bad, Poorly, Not

Mor-

Death

Neo-

New

Omni-

All, Everywhere

Ortho-

Right, Straight

Over-

Above

Pan-

All, Entire

Para-

Beside, Beyond

Phil-

Love, Like

Prim-

First, Early

Re-

Backward, Again

Sym-

With, Together

Vis-

To see

What are the functions of suffixes?

* To form a new word
* To change the tense of a word

In what ways may a suffix change the spelling of the root word?

* The root word is not changed when applying the following suffixes: -less, -ness, -ly, or -en (There is an exception to this)
* Exception: When -ness or -ly is added to a root word ending in "y", you must then change the "y" to "i"

\

-able/-ible

Adjective Suffix;

Capable of being

-esque

Adjective Suffix;

In the style of, Like

-ful

Adjective Suffix;

Filled with, Marked by

-ic

Adjective Suffix;

Make, Cause

-ish

Adjective Suffix;

Suggesting, Like

-less

Adjective Suffix;

Lacking, Without

-ous

Adjective Suffix;

Marked by, Given to

-acy

Noun Suffix;

State, Condition

-ance

Noun Suffix;

Act, Condition, Fact

-ard

Noun Suffix;

One that does excessively

-ation

Noun Suffix;

Action, State, Result

-dom

Noun Suffix;

State, Rank, Condition

-er/-or

Noun Suffix;

Office, Action

-ess

Noun Suffix;

Feminine

-hood

Noun Suffix;

State, Condition

-ion

Noun Suffix;

Action, Result, State

-ism

Noun Suffix;

Act, Manner, Doctrine

-ist

Noun Suffix;

Worker, Follower

-ity/-ty

Noun Suffix;

State, Quality, Condition

-ment

Noun Suffix;

Result, Action

-ness

Noun Suffix;

Quality, State

-ship

Noun Suffix;

Position

-sion/-tion

Noun Suffix;

State, Result

-th

Noun Suffix;

Act, State, Quality

-tude

Noun Suffix;

Quality, State, Result

-ate

Verb Suffix;

Having, Showing

-en

Verb Suffix;

Cause to be, Become