Word Building and Vocabulary Instruction
for EFL and ESL Learners
(As taken from Module 5 of the TEFL for Target Learner Groups Course)
A Near-Comprehensive List of
PREFIXES AND SUFFIXES
With meanings, denotations, examples and language of origin
If you have taught English to Asian
students, you have learned that Asian languages generally do not have
prefixes or suffixes (which enable useful word-building), and you also
have learned that when we native speakers use them they often just
cause confusion and make our students self-conscious about what they
consider to be their "poor vocabulary".
Indeed, they are in a very real
sense correct about having a poor vocabulary, because just knowing the
"root word" in English is not enough to master effective expression,
given that 25-30 other words may have sprung into existence through the
process of building from that one word.
As an example of how this impacts
on Asian learners of English, you have probably seen than a class of
intermediate level students generally know the basic root words, such
as "desire" (though they usually don't pronounce it correctly, which is
another topic for discussion later on). However, if you wish to discuss
the "undesirability" of some action (this word consisting of one prefix
and two different suffixes joined together), your students will almost
certainly be lost and confused.
Why would you not want to help
them overcome this problem? Certainly, there are numerous prefixes and
suffixes to be found in every single English conversational development
lesson. Why not help them with any meanings these might have, and how
these may have changed the functions as well as the words of the
sentences they are part of?
To answer our own question, we at
TEXT-AND-TALK Academy fully realize that English native speakers often
use the language so well in practice themselves that they have never
taken the opportunity to learn and review the elements of our language
which, while second nature to us in application, are a total mystery to
foreigners who must learn it. Thus, people who begin EFL or ESL
teaching careers often do not realize which aspects of our language
they need to bone up on in order to be good teachers.
But there is also a second answer
to the above question, and that is that information needed by EFL and
ESL teachers often is simply not available in a form that is usable for
them, given that their busy lives do not allow them to do a lot of
study and research on their own.
Prefix and suffix information is
a case in point. Compilations of these can be found, and, with a bit
more patience and diligence, a number of meanings for prefixes can be
found also. But how useful are these? In order to comprehend fully how
prefixes and suffixes (collectively called "affixes") impact on
word-building, it is necessary to distinguish the usages between these
two, and to fully comprehend how suffixes actually rearrange the whole
language at times!
To the best of our knowledge,
Module 5 of our TEFL for Target Learner Groups Course is the
only source for comprehensive information on this topic in the world,
unless resource materials have been greatly updated in recent times. We are not boasting. Indeed, there is nothing at
all difficult for English native speakers to learn regarding prefixes
and suffixes – but learn they must, if they are to do an effective
teaching job for Asian learners!
We trust that the following excerpt from our Module 5 will be useful to you in your career, or if you plan on just starting a career now, that you will consider doing our own TEFL course, as what is contained in it is, in many more ways than this, unique in presentation and, we believe, value.
PREFIXES.
| Prefix | or | Meaning | Examples | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A- | - | on, in | abed, aboard, ashore, ajar, asleep | English |
| A- | - | out, from | arise, awake, alight | English |
| A- | An | without, not | atheist, apathy, anarchy | Greek |
| Ab- | A-, Abs- | from, away | abuse, avert, abstract | Latin |
| Ad- | Ac-, Af-Ag-, An- | to | adjoin, accord, affect, aggrieve, | Latin |
| Ap-, Ar-, | As-, | allege, announce, appoint, | ||
| At-, A- | arrest, assign, attach, avail | |||
| Ambi- | Amb-, Am- | on both sides, around | ambiguous, ambition, amputate | Latin |
| Amphi- | around, on both sides | amphitheatre, amphibious | Greek | |
| Ana- | - | up, back | anachronism, analysis | Greek |
| Ante- | Anti-, An- | before | antedate, anticipate, ancestor | Latin |
| Anti- | Ant- | against | antipathy, antagonist | Greek |
| Apo- | Ap- | from | apostate, apology | Greek |
| Arch- | Archi- | chief | archbishop, archangel, architect | Greek |
| Auto- | - | self | autocrat, autobiography, autograph | Greek |
| Be- | - | by | beside, betimes, besmear, bedaub | English |
| Bene- | - | well | benediction, benefactor, benefit | Latin |
| Bis- | Bi-, Bin- | twice, two | biscuit, bisect, binocular | Latin |
| Cata- | - | down | cataract, catastrophe, catalogue | Greek |
| Circum- | Circu- | around | circumnavigate, circumference | Latin |
| Con- | Col-, Com-, Cor- | with, together | contend, collect, combine, correct | Latin |
| Contra- | Counter- | against | contradict, counteract, counterfeit | Latin |
| De- | - | down | descend, dethrone, depose | Latin |
| Di- | - | twice | dilemma | Greek |
| Dia- | - | through | diagonal, diameter | Greek |
| Dis- | Dif-, Di- | apart | disjoin, differ, divide | Latin |
| Demi- | - | half | demigod | Latin |
| Dys- | - | badly | dyspepsia, dysentery | Greek |
| En- | Em- | in | encyclopaedia, emblem | Greek |
| Epi- | - | upon | epilogue, epitaph | Greek |
| Eu- | - | well | eulogy, euphony, eugenics | Greek |
| Ex- | Ef-, E- | out of | extract, effect, educe | Latin |
| Ex- | Ec- | out of | exodus, eccentric | Greek |
| Gain- | - | against | gainsay | Latin |
| Hemi- | - | half | hemisphere | Greek |
| Homo- | Hom- | like | homogeneous, homonym | Greek |
| Hyper- | - | over, beyond | hyperbole, hypercritical | Greek |
| Hypo- | - | under | hypothesis, hypocrite | Greek |
| In- | - | in | income, inland, inlay | English |
| In- | Il-, Im-, Ir-, | in, into | invade, illustrate, immerse, | Latin |
| En-, | Em- | irrigate, enact, embrace | ||
| In- | Il-, Im-, Ir- | not | insecure, illegal, imprudent, irregular | Latin |
| Inter- | Entro-, Inter- | among, within | intervene, introduce, entertain | Latin |
| Male- | Mal- | ill, badly | malevolent, malcontent | Latin |
| Meta- | Met- | implying | metaphor, metonymy | Greek |
| Mis- | - | wrong, wrongly | misdeed, mislead, misjudge | English |
| Mono- | - | alone, single | monoplane, monopoly | Greek |
| Non- | - | not, nonsense | (joins before a hyphen) | Latin |
| Ob- | Oc-, Of- | in the way of, against | object, occupy, offend | Latin |
| Over- | - | above, beyond | overflow, overcharge | English |
| Pan- | - | all | panacea, panorama, pantheism | Greek |
| Per- | Pel- | through | pervade, pellucid | Latin |
| Peri- | - | round | period, perimeter, periscope | Greek |
| Philo- | Phil- | love | philosophy, philanthropy | Greek |
| Post- | - | after | postscript, postdate, postpone | Latin |
| Preter- | - | beyond | preternatural | Latin |
| Pro- | Por-, Pur- | for | pronoun, portray, pursue | Latin |
| Pro- | - | before | prophesy, programme | Greek |
| Re- | - | back, again | reclaim, refund, renew, return | Latin |
| Retro- | - | backwards | retrospect, retrograde | Latin |
| Se- | Sed- | apart | secede, separate, seduce, sedition | Latin |
| Semi- | - | half | semicircle, semicolon | Latin |
| Sine- | - | without | sinecure | Latin |
| Sub- | Suc-, Suf-, Sug-, Sum-, Sup-, Sur-, Sus- | under | subdue, succeed, suffer, suggest, summon, support, surmount, sustain | Latin |
| Syn- | Sym-, Syl-, Sy- | with, together | synonym, sympathy, syllable, system | Greek |
| To- | - | this | today, tonight, tomorrow | English |
| Trans- | Tra-, Tres- | across | transmit, traverse, trespass | Latin |
| Un- | - | not | untrue, unkind, unholy | English |
| Un- | - | reverse (an action) | untie, undo, unfold | English |
| Under- | - | beneath, below | undersell, undercharge, undergo | English |
| Vice- | - | in the place of | viceroy, vice-president | Latin |
| With- | - | against, back | withdraw, withhold, withstand | English |
SUFFIXES.
SUFFIXES USED TO FORM NOUNS:
| Suffix | or | Denoting | Examples | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| -age | - | state, action, result | bondage, marriage, breakage | Latin |
| -ain | -an, en, -on | agent or doer | chieftain, artisan, citizen, surgeon | Latin |
| -ance | -ence | state, action, result | abundance, excellence | Latin |
| -ar | -er, -eer, -ier, -ary | agent or doer | scholar, preacher, engineer, financier, missionary | Latin |
| -ary | -ery, -ry | place | library, nunnery, treasury | Latin |
| -ate | -ee, -ey, -y | agent or doer | advocate, trustee, attorney, deputy | Latin |
| -cule | -ule, -cel, -el, -le | diminutive | animalcule, globule, parcel, damsel, chapel, circle | Latin |
| -cy | - | state, action, result | fancy, accuracy, bankruptcy | Latin |
| -dom | - | state, action, result | freedom, martyrdom, wisdom | English |
| -e | -y | state, event, | catastrophe, monarchy, study, philosophy | Greek |
| -el | -le | diminutive | satchel, kernel, girdle, handle | English |
| -en | - | diminutive | maiden, kitten, chicken | English |
| -er | -ar, -or-, -yer | agent or doer | painter, beggar, sailor, lawyer | English |
| -et | - | diminutive | owlet, lancet, trumpet | Latin |
| -ette | - | diminutive | cigarette, coquette | Latin |
| -hood | -head | state, action, result | manhood, childhood, godhead | English |
| -ic | -ique | person, thing | cynic, phonetic | Greek |
| -ice | -ise | state, action, result | service, cowardice, exercise | Latin |
| -ie | - | diminutive | dearie, birdie, lassie | English |
| -ion | - | state, action, result | action, opinion, union | Latin |
| -isk | - | thing | asterisk, obelisk | Greek |
| -ism | -asm | state | patriotism, enthusiasm | Greek |
| -ist | - | practitioner | artist, chemist | Greek |
| -kin | - | diminutive | lambkin, napkin | English |
| -let | - | diminutive | leaflet, piglet | English |
| -ling | - | diminutive | duckling, darling, weakling | English |
| -lock | -ledge | state, action, result | wedlock, knowledge | English |
| -ment | - | state, action, result | punishment, judgement | Latin |
| -mony | - | state, action, result | parsimony, matrimony | Latin |
| -ock | - | diminutive | hillock, bullock | English |
| -or | -our, -eur, -er | agent or doer | emperor, saviour, amateur, interpreter | Latin |
| -ship | - | state, action, result | hardship, friendship, lordship | English |
| -sis | -sy | state or activity | crisis, analysis, heresy, poesy | Greek |
| -ster | - | agent or doer | youngster, spinster, songster | English |
| -ter | -ther | agent or doer | daughter, father | English |
| -ter | -tre | place | cloister, theatre | Latin |
| -th | - | state, action, result | health, stealth, wealth, growth | English |
| -ty | - | state, action, result | cruelty, frailty, credulity | Latin |
| -ure | - | state, action, result | pleasure, forfeiture, verdure | Latin |
| -y | - | state, action, result | misery, victory | Latin |
SUFFIXES
SUFFIXES USED TO FORM ADJECTIVES:
| Suffix | or | Denoting | Meaning | Examples | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| -al | - | - | - | national, legal, regal, mortal | Latin |
| -an | -ane | - | - | human, humane, mundane | Latin |
| -ar | - | - | - | familiar, regular | Latin |
| -ary | - | - | - | customary, contrary, necessary | Latin |
| -ate | - | - | - | fortunate, temperate, obstinate | Latin |
| -ble | -ible, -able | - | - | feeble, sensible, laughable | Latin |
| -ed | - | - | having | gifted, talented, learned | English |
| -en | - | - | made of | wooden, golden, woollen | English |
| -esque | - | - | - | picturesque, grotesque | Latin |
| -ful | - | - | full of | hopeful, fruitful, joyful | English |
| -ic | -ique | - | - | angelic, phonetic, unique | Greek |
| -id | - | - | - | humid, vivid, lucid | Latin |
| -ile | - | - | - | servile, fragile, juvenile | Latin |
| -ine | - | - | - | feminine, canine, feline, divine | Latin |
| -ish | - | - | like | somewhat, boorish, reddish, girlish | English |
| -ive | - | - | - | attentive, active, sportive | Latin |
| -lent | - | - | - | corpulent, indolent,turbulent | Latin |
| -less | - | - | free from, without | fearless, shameless, hopeless, boundless | English |
| -ly | - | - | like | manly, Godly, sprightly | English |
| -ose | -ous | - | - | verbose, dangerous, onerous | Latin |
| -some | - | - | with the quality of | wholesome, meddlesome, quarrelsome | English |
| -ward | - | - | inclining to | forward, wayward, toward | English |
| -y | - | - | with the quality of | wealthy, healthy, windy, slimy, greedy, needy, thirsty, dirty | English |
SUFFIXES
SUFFIXES USED TO FORM ADVERBS:
| Suffix | or | Denoting | Meaning | Examples | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| -ly | - | - | like | boldly, wisely | English |
| -long | - | - | - | headlong, sidelong | English |
| -ward | -wards | - | turning to | homeward, backwards | English |
| -way | -ways | - | - | straightway, anyway, always | English |
| -wise | - | - | manner, mode | likewise, otherwise | English |
SUFFIXES
SUFFIXES USED TO FORM VERBS:
| Suffix | or | Denoting | Meaning | Examples | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| -ate | - | - | - | assassinate, captivate | Latin |
| -en | - | - | (a causative, forming transitive verbs) | weaken, sweeten, gladden, deaden, strengthen | English |
| -er | - | - | (an intensive, or frequentative) | chatter, glitter, glimmer, fritter, flutter | English |
| -esce | - | - | - | acquiesce, effervesce | Latin |
| -fy | - | - | - | simplify, purify, fortify, sanctify, terrify | Latin |
| -ish | - | - | - | publish, nourish, punish, banish | Latin |
| -ize | - | - | - | sympathize, civilize, criticize | Greek |
| -se | - | - | make | cleanse, rinse | English |
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