prefixes and suffixes

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• mavo
• Leerjaar 4

Hi M4E!

Today's plan:

• Test week study material
• prefixes and suffixes 
• Explanation and practice
• writing test

Goal: After this lesson you know what prefixes and suffixes are and how they can change a base word

Prefixes and suffixes are sets of letters that we add to the beginning of a word (prefix) or to the end of a word (suffix or affix). They change the meaning of a word or the part of speech.

Prefixes

Prefixes (voorvoegsels) change the meaning of a word. We do the same in Dutch:

legaal > illegaal

gewild > ongewild

regelmatig > onregelmatig

alfabeet > analfabeet

Prefixes

non-/un-/im-/il-/in-/ir- 

non-profit/illegal/impossible

Re-

return / revisit/ replay

Mis-

miscommunication  

Dis-

disappear

Give an opposite meaning to a word.

Again

Negative meaning

Opposite or negative meaning

Suffixes / affixes

-er

slower, faster, easier 

-ness

kindness, happiness

-ing

painting

-ment

payment

Comparison / a person or thing that does a certain action.

To turn an adverb/adjective into a noun.

To turn a product, material or a verb into a noun.

To change a verb into a noun.

non- / un- / im- / il- / ir- / in- mean not

Geven een woord een tegenovergestelde betekenis.

welcome   --> unwelcome 

patient       --> impatient

logical       --> illogical

complete   --> incomplete

re- 

betekent 'opnieuw' of 'terug of her-

redo 

recall

rebuild

reminder

recycle

recover

mis- geeft een woord een negatieve betekenis.

dis- geeft een tegengestelde/negatieve betekenis

mistake                                     disbelief

misbehave                                dislike

misheard                                   disrespect

misplace

pre- = before 

pro = for / forward

preview                                           proceed (go forward)

prefix                                               proactive

prepay                                             provide

preschool                                      progress

Are there any rules?

Not really. You can only study prefixes by studying the words they belong to. 

Sometimes it is easy, because you already know a lot of them. Sometimes you have to look them up in a dictionary.

It takes practice!

Are there any rules?

There are minor rules for spelling though.

ir- is always followed by an r

im- is always followed by an m or p

a- is always followed by a consonant (medeklinker)

This does not work the other way around.

Also remember

Not every word with a prefix is negative:

discuss

illuminate

important

involve

Studytip:

Make flashcards & practice

Worksheet

Do the exercises on the worksheet

Work quietly