1. Affixes Created by Kathryn Reilly

2. Affix Background Affixes are attachments to other words. Think of words as building blocks. Some words only contain a single block. However, other words contain several blocks, or affixes, which have been added to the beginning, middle or end of the word.

3. Affix Background A single word may contain more than one affix. For example: Undesirable Un- is a prefix meaning not -able is a suffix meaning given to Undesirable means given to not being desired Sometimes a root word’s spelling may change to accommodate affixes. Un- desire -able

4. Prefixes and Suffixes Prefixes and suffixes are the most common affixes. A prefix adds an affix to the beginning of a root word. A suffix adds an affix after the end of a word. An affix’s meaning is always consistent; it never changes.

5. Affixes Example: Prefix Adding a prefix to a root word changes the meaning of the word. Root: sphere Prefix: hemi- New Word: hemisphere – Half of a sphere – The Earth has two hemispheres. hemi- sphere

6. Affixes Example: Suffix Adding a suffix to a root word changes the meaning of the word. Root: king Suffix: -dom New Word: kingdom – Place where a king rules – Kingdoms lost their popularity with the rise of democracy. king -dom

7. Common Affixes Common Prefixes A- Anti- De- Dis- Inter- Non- over- Super- Un- Common Suffixes -able -er -ful -ic -less -ment -ness ology

8. Less Common Affixes Although prefixes and suffixes are the most common affixes, there are several others! Interfix – connects two root words together to create a compound. Mother-in-law, speed-o-meter Duplifix – recreates part of the root word Itsy-bitsy

9. Affix Review Affixes may be added to root words. They may be added at the beginning, in the middle, or at the end. Prefixes and suffixes are the most common affix forms. More than one affix may be added to a root word. Learning common affixes may eliminate the need for a dictionary!