Word Structure

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Susan Ebbers 2005 2

Basic Termsroot form: a word with no prefix or suffix added; may also be referred to as a base word inspector, thermal

affix: meaningful part of a word attached before or after a root or base word to modify its meaning

prefix: an affix which is placed before the stem of a word re-, un-, dis-

suffix: an affix which is placed after the stem of a word -able, -ive, -ly

derivation-a word formed from an existing word, root, or affix: electric, electricity

20 Most Frequent Prefixes in School Texts

1. unable 2. reviewinedible (impotent, illegal,

irresponsible)

distrustenlighten

(empower)nonsense

inside, implant

overcome

misguided submarine prefix interrupt forewarn

derail transfer supersonic semicircle antitrust

midterm underfedAnalysis: White, Sowell,

and Yanagihara 1989Susan Ebbers 2005 3

Prefixes: Meaning and Connotation

Often Negative

dis-, de-

non- sub-

in- un- mis-

mal-anti,

contraa-

Somewhat Positive

pro- co- bene-

super- com- be-

en-, em-

ad-

Susan Ebbers 2005 4

Derivational Suffixes

Derivational suffixes change the part of speech

• words ending with –tion are often nouns• words ending with –ive are often adjectives• words ending with –ish are often adjectives• words ending with –ity are often nouns

What about -ment, -ous, -ness?

Susan Ebbers 2005 5

Susan Ebbers 2005 6

Greek Combining Forms

hydro graph geo

pyro polis neuro

ortho scope photo

therm crat psych

chron phobe pseud

onym crypt helio

logy sphere the, theo

Susan Ebbers 2005 7

Counting in Greek and Latin

mono uni di

bi du, duo tri

tetra quadri penta

hexa sept oct

nove deca deci

cent milli poly

multi semi hemi