Grammar: Word classes: Nouns: Noun formation
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Prefixes and suffixes |
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Introduction
Prefixes and suffixes can be added to some nouns to create
new meanings. Not all of these will be relevant for teaching purposes; however,
it is useful to point out the meaning associated with an prefix or suffix when it is
encountered in the classroom. Note that some prefixes require a hyphen. Note
also that the addition of a suffix sometimes requires a change in the spelling (diverse
- diversity, happy - happiness)
Prefixes with a negative meaning
| prefix |
meaning |
example |
| dis- |
negative |
disability, disobedience |
| mal- |
negative |
malnutrition, malfunction |
| mis- |
negative |
misconduct, misbehaviour |
| non- |
negative |
nonentity, non-smoker |
Prefixes indicating degree or size
| prefix |
meaning |
example |
| co- |
together |
coexistence, co-operation |
| mini- |
small |
minibus, mini-skirt |
| super- |
more than |
superman, supermarket |
Prefixes indicating position
| prefix |
meaning |
example |
| fore- |
in front |
forearm, foreground |
| sub- |
under |
submarine, subsection |
Prefixes indicating number, time and order
| prefix |
meaning |
example |
| bi- |
two |
bicycle, bilingualism |
| tri- |
three |
triangle, tricycle |
| mono- |
one |
monologue, monorail |
| ex- |
former |
ex-husband, ex-President |
| fore- |
before |
forecast, foreknowledge |
Prefixes indicating relationships
| prefix |
meaning |
example |
| auto- |
self |
autobiography, automobile |
| tele- |
distant |
telephone, telescope, television |
| vice- |
deputy |
vice-chairman, vice-president |
Suffixes: abstract nouns
| suffix |
meaning |
example |
| -age |
collection of |
baggage, mileage |
| -dom |
extent of influence |
kingdom, officialdom |
| -ery |
location of |
bakery, rockery |
| -ful |
amount |
glassful, spoonful  |
| -hood |
period or extent |
brotherhood, neighbourhood |
| -ing |
activity |
gardening, shopping |
| -ism |
practice of |
Buddhism, racism |
| -ship |
extent of influence |
dictatorship, friendship |
Suffixes: concrete nouns
| suffix |
meaning |
example |
| -eer |
engaged in |
engineer, mountaineer |
| -er |
with dominant characteristic |
Londoner, teenager, villager |
| -ess |
feminine marking |
actress, waitress |
| -ette |
compact |
diskette, kitchenette |
| -let |
small |
booklet, leaflet, piglet |
| -ling |
minor |
duckling, sprinkling |
| -ese |
relating to race or nationality |
Chinese, Japanese |
| -an / ian |
relating to race, etc |
Indonesian, Republican, |
| -ist |
engaged in |
Communist, violinist |
Suffixes: creating nouns from verbs
| suffix |
meaning |
example |
| -ant |
involved in |
contestant, participant |
| -ee |
'object of verb' |
employee, refugee |
| -er/-or |
person or thing which does |
computer, writer, actor, survivor |
| -age |
instance of |
breakage, wastage |
| -al |
action or result of |
dismissal, refusal |
| -ation |
process or state of |
exploration, starvation |
| -ing |
result of |
building, opening |
| -ment |
result of |
amazement, arrangement |
Suffixes: creating nouns from adjectives
| suffix |
meaning |
example |
| -ity |
with this quality |
diversity, respectability |
| -ness |
with this quality |
happiness, friendliness |
For a PrimeTeach teaching activity which provides
KS2 students with practice in using singular and plural nouns, see:
Witches and vampires
