Prefixes and Suffixes
A prefix is a letter or group of letters added to the beginning of a word to change its meaning.
A suffix is a letter or group of letters added to the end of a word to change its meaning.
A suffix is a letter or group of letters added to the end of a word to change its meaning.
1. When adding a prefix, do not change the spelling of the original word.
EXAMPLES
- un + important unimportant
- mis + spell misspell
2. When adding the suffix –ness or –ly, do not change the spelling of the original word.
EXAMPLES
- careless + ness carelessness
- love + ly lovely
If a word ends in y, you may need to change the y to i before adding –ness or –ly. For most words that have two or more syllables and end in y, change the y to i before adding –ness or –ly.
EXAMPLES
- messy + ness messiness
- happy + ly happily
3. Drop the final silent e before adding a suffix that begins with a vowel.
4. Keep the final silent e before adding a suffix that begins with a consonant.
A silent e is not pronounced when you say the word.
EXAMPLES
- imagine + able imaginable [The suffix –able begins with a vowel, so the final silent e is dropped.]
- awe + some awesome [The suffix –some begins with a consonant, so the final silent e is not dropped.]
5. For words ending in y preceded by a consonant, change the y to i before adding any suffix that does not begin with i.
EXAMPLES
- steady + ly steadily [The suffix –ly does not begin with i.]
- classify + ing classifying [The suffix –ing begins with i.]
6. For words ending in y preceded by a vowel, keep the y when adding a suffix.
EXAMPLE
- employ + ment employment [The y follows the vowel o.]
7. Double the final consonant before adding a suffix that begins with a vowel if the word both
(a) has only one syllable or has the accent on the final syllable and
(b) ends in a single consonant preceded by a single vowel.
(a) has only one syllable or has the accent on the final syllable and
(b) ends in a single consonant preceded by a single vowel.
EXAMPLES
- swim + ing swimming [Swim has only one syllable and ends in a single consonant preceded by a single vowel. The final consonant is doubled.]
- break + able breakable [Break has only one syllable, but it does not end in a single consonant preceded by a single vowel. The final consonant is not doubled.]