Prefixes and suffixes Here we will look at how prefixes and suffixes can help us to understand and spell words. Words are full of patterns and rules. Prefixes and suffixes help to create patterns in words. They can help us to understand and to spell words.

con = with/together; de = down; ob = in the way. Prefixes A prefix is a letter or group of letters that is fixed in front of the root of a word. The prefix changes the meaning of the word. con de ob construct destruct obstruct struct (build) Knowing what the prefixes mean can help our understanding of unfamiliar words. In this example, the prefixes are con = with/together; de = down; ob = in the way.

Antonym prefixes inaccurate impolite illegal unhelpful irregular The prefixes in, im, il, un, and ir all mean not. So by using these prefixes, the meaning of the words changes - to the opposite meaning. E.g. inaccurate means not accurate Look at these words. The prefixes are in red. inaccurate impolite illegal unhelpful irregular These are antonym prefixes. Antonym means ‘opposite’ and they make the original word into its opposite. Can you think of other prefixes which do the same? What is the effect of the prefix in each case?

Further work can easily be done here, looking for and explaining examples of the prefixes indicated.

Latin and Greek prefixes This is a good opportunity to do some dictionary work, looking for the roots and origins of classically based words. See how many words you can make with these prefixes. Try making a list of other classical prefixes.

Now list as many words as you can that use these prefixes.

Suffixes A suffix is a group of letters which is added to the end of a word, and which changes the meaning of the word. + er + ed + ing player played playing play Knowing how suffixes work can help our understanding of words and their spelling.

Suffixes for words ending in e Look at what happens when we add suffixes to a word ending in e (hope). With these two, the e is dropped before adding the suffix. + ed + ing + ful + less hoped hoping hopeful hopeless hope With these two, the e remains and the suffix is added. Can you work out the rule? Note: words ending in a soft ce or ge, usually keep the e before able and ous, e.g.knowledgeable, courageous If the suffix begins with a vowel, the e is usually dropped. If the suffix begins with a consonant, the e remains.

Suffixes for words ending in y Now look what happens when we add suffixes to words ending in consonant + y. Can you see what is happening? + er + ly + est + ness happier happily happiest happiness happy The y changes to an i and then the suffix is added So for words ending in consonant + y, the y changes to an i before the prefix is added. (With a vowel+y word, just add the suffix.)

Look what happens when we add full to a word. -ful suffixes Look what happens when we add full to a word. care waste help + full careful wasteful helpful full becomes ful Remember what happens with words ending in y. beauty plenty + full beautiful plentiful The y changes to i before adding ful.

cian, sion and tion suffixes Many words have endings like these. They make a shun sound. Here are some examples. optician dietician magician detention fiction action instruction collision extension fusion explosion These words end in tion, the most common of the ‘shun’ words. These words end in sion. The root word ends in d/de or s/se, e.g. collide. These cian endings usually indicate jobs/people.

Plenary Knowledge about prefixes and suffixes can help our understanding of words. Watch out, in particular, to words ending in e and y. They can be tricky! It can help our spelling too.