| ENGLISH PREFIXES & COMBINING FORMS | |||
| by TruAlfa and IndoDic.com | |||
| Sample Usage | Prefix | Meaning / Effect | |
| asocial; atypical; amoral | a- | (1) | forms adjectives with sense of without; not; un- |
| amass; ascend | a- | (2) | forms verbs denoting an increase; additional |
| ashore; afar; away; aloud | a- | (3) | forms adverbs with sense of "on, in, into, to, toward" |
| afresh; anew | a- | (4) | forms adverbs with a sense of redoing or renewal |
| abnormal; aberration | ab- | denotes being away from; deviating | |
| adjoin; admixture | ad- | forms nouns & verbs indicating direction, tendency or addition | |
| anticlimax; antiseptic | anti- | forms nouns & adjectives with sense of "against; opposed to" | |
| automobile; automatic | auto- | forms nouns & adjectives with sense of "self action" | |
| bicentennial | bi- | (1) | forms nouns with sense of "every other one" |
| biweekly; biannual | bi- | (2) | conveys sense of occurring twice in a certain time period |
| bicycle; bicameral | bi- | (3) | denotes two |
| biological; biodegradable | bio- | denotes life or living things | |
| bystander; bypass | by- | conveys sense of being near, next to, by | |
| copilot; coauthor | co- | conveys sense of "together; auxiliary" | |
| counteract; counterbalance | counter- | conveys sense of "against; contrary; reciprocating" | |
| dehumidify; decapitate | de- | (1) | denotes removal; separation |
| degrade; defame | de- | (2) | denotes negation; descent |
| deactivate; declassify | de- | (3) | denotes reversal |
| disown; dismount | dis- | (1) | denotes apart; away |
| disrobe; disinfect | dis- | (2) | denotes reversing |
| dislike; disbelief | dis- | (3) | denotes negative |
| enshrine; entomb; enslave | en- | (1) | forms verbs with the sense "cause to be" |
| entwine; encircle | en- | (2) | forms verbs with the sense "to restrict" |
| entrust; enliven | en- | (3) | forms transitive verbs |
| expatriate; exfoliate | ex- | denotes former; previous; from | |
| extraordinary; extracurricular | extra- | denotes beyond; outside of | |
| forehead; forecast | fore- | denotes before; in front of | |
| gigabyte; gigahertz | giga- | denotes a billion | |
| illiterate; illegal | il- | denotes negative; not | |
| immoral; impossible | im- | denotes negative; not | |
| inexpensive; inorganic | in- | denotes negative; not | |
| interbank; intermingle | inter- | (1) | denotes between; among |
| interact; interlock | inter- | (2) | denotes mutually; reciprocally |
| intramural | intra- | denotes within | |
| introduction; introspection | intro- | denotes inwardly | |
| irresponsible; irreverent | ir- | denotes negative; not | |
| malcontent; malpractice | mal- | denotes bad; wrongful; not | |
| megabyte; megawatt | mega- | (1) | denotes units of measure that are equal to one million of the units |
| megapolis; megaphone | mega- | (2) | conveys a sense of being very many or much |
| microscope; microfilm | micro- | conveys a sense of extreme smallness | |
| miniskirt; minibus | mini- | conveys a sense of smallness | |
| midway; midnight | mid- | conveys a sense of being intermediate; middle | |
| misprint; misjudgment | mis- | denotes being wrong; mistaken; not | |
| monotone; monorail | mono- | denotes being single; one | |
| multicolor; multimedia | multi- | denotes being more than two; multiple | |
| nanosecond | nano- | being extremely small; one billionth | |
| neocolonial; neoclassic | neo- | conveys a sense of being new; recent | |
| nobody; nowhere | no- | denotes being without; not | |
| nonactive; nonstop | non- | denotes absence; not having or not doing | |
| outside; outcast | out- | (1) | denotes exclusion; being not included |
| outdo; outbid | out- | (2) | conveys a sense of surpassing; going beyond |
| overhang; overlap | over- | (1) | denotes being above; on top of |
| overcrowded; overweight | over- | (2) | conveys a sense of surpassing; too much |
| paraphrase | para- | (1) | denotes being beside; side by side |
| paranormal | para- | (2) | denotes being beyond what is normal |
| paramedic; paralegal | para- | (3) | conveys a sense of being subsidiary; assisting |
| polygon; polyglot | poly- | denotes being multiple; many | |
| postgraduate; postscript | post- | conveys a sense of being after; later | |
| preschool; prepayment | pre- | conveys a sense of being before; prior to | |
| prodemocracy | pro- | (1) | conveys a sense of favoring; supporting |
| prologue; proactive | pro- | (2) | conveys a sense of being prior; before |
| redo; repay | re- | conveys a sense of repetition; doing again | |
| retroactive; retrofit; retrograde | retro- | conveys a sense of being backward; going back | |
| self-esteem; self-reliant | self- | without help; in and of itself (usually hyphenated) | |
| semiannual; semicircle | semi- | (1) | denotes being half |
| semiconductor; semiformal | semi- | (2) | conveys a sense of being partial; somewhat |
| subconscious; subscript | sub- | (1) | conveys a sense of being under; below; beneath |
| subcommittee; subordinate | sub- | (2) | conveys a sense of being secondary |
| supersede; supernatural | super- | (1) | conveys a sense of being beyond; exceeding |
| superscript; superimpose | super- | (2) | conveys a sense of being above; over |
| telescope; television | tele- | conveys a sense of being far; distant | |
| topcoat; topless | top- | (1) | conveys a sense of being covering; over |
| topnotch | top- | (2) | conveys a sense of being best |
| transcontinental; transfusion | trans- | (1) | denotes being across; through |
| transform; transfigure | trans- | (2) | conveys a sense of changing |
| triad; triangle | tri- | denotes being three; triple | |
| ultrasound; ultraviolet | ultra- | conveys a sense of being extreme; exceeding | |
| unfair; unseen | un- | (1) | conveys a sense of being negative; not |
| undo; untie | un- | (2) | conveys a sense of being opposite; denotes reversal |
| underdog; underpass | under- | conveys a sense of being below; lesser | |
| uplift; upheaval | up- | denotes a lifting up; a raise; moving higher | |
| ENGLISH SUFFIXES & COMBINING FORMS | |||
| by TruAlfa and IndoDic.com | |||
| Sample Usage | Suffix | Meaning / Effect | |
| enjoyable; lovable; suitable | -able | forms adjectives from verbs with sense of "capable or susceptible of being" | |
| annual; historical | -al | (1) | forms adjectives with sense “of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form or character of" |
| refusal; denial; arrival | -al | (2) | forms nouns of action from verbs |
| appearance; clearance | -ance | forms nouns from verbs with sense “characterized by or serving in the capacity of ” | |
| contestant; servant | -ant | (1) | forms nouns with a sense of being someone |
| lubricant; deodorant | -ant | (2) | forms nouns with a sense of being something |
| distant; dormant; pleasant | -ant | (3) | forms adjectives with a sense of doing or being something |
| burglar; scholar | -ar | (1) | forms various nouns including occupations |
| circular; singular | -ar | (2) | forms adjectives with sense “of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form or character of" |
| populate(v); consulate(n); elaborate(adj) | -ate | forms verbs, nouns & adjectives with various meanings | |
| once; twice; thrice | -ce | forms numeric terms indicating a multiplying effect | |
| delicacy; piracy | -cy | forms abstract nouns from adjectives | |
| counted; worked | -ed | (1) | forms past tense and past participle of verbs |
| winged; bearded | -ed | (2) | forms adjectives from nouns indicating attributes |
| wooden | -en | (1) | forms adjectives from nouns indicating attributes |
| broken; rotten | -en | (2) | forms adjectives from verbs indicating attributes |
| children; oxen | -en | (3) | forms plurals for some nouns |
| abstinence; difference | -ence | a noun suffix equivalent to "-ance", corresponding to the suffix "-ent" in adjectives | |
| different; absorbent | -ent | (1) | forms adjectives with a sense of doing or being something |
| deterrent; adherent | -ent | (2) | forms nouns with a sense of being something |
| older; faster | -er | forms adverbs & adjectives of comparison | |
| fishery; perfumery; shrubbery | -ery | forms abstract nouns from other nouns | |
| stewardess; actress; waitress | -ess | forms feminine nouns | |
| oldest; hottest; sexiest | -est | forms superlatives | |
| doubtful; peaceful; beautiful | -ful | (1) | forms adjectives with a sense of "characterized by" |
| cupful; spoonful | -ful | (2) | forms nouns with a sense of "fullness" |
| beautify; simplify | -fy | forms verbs with a sense of "to make, to become, cause to be" | |
| neighborhood; brotherhood; falsehood | -hood | (1) | forms nouns of things with sense of "character, nature, condition, etc." |
| priesthood; womanhood | -hood | (2) | forms nouns of persons of a class or character |
| childhood; adulthood; boyhood | -hood | (3) | forms nouns indicating a time period in life |
| credible; horrible; contemptible | -ible | forms adjectives (equivalent to "-able" suffix) | |
| poetic; scientific; artistic | -ic | forms adjectives with sense of “aptitude, characteristic of, in the style of ” | |
| electrical; historical | -ical | forms adj similar to "-ic" suffix, with sense of “having ability or characteristic of ” or “in the style of ” | |
| docile; volatile | -ile | forms adjectives with sense of capability or characteristic | |
| smiling; crying | -ing | (1) | forms present participle verbs that may be used as adjectives |
| building; sewing | -ing | (2) | forms nouns from verbs expressing the action of the verb or its result, product, etc. |
| contrition; suspicion; creation | -ion | forms nouns denoting condition, process, action, etc. | |
| yellowish; childish, British | -ish | forms adjectives with sense of "somewhat, rather so, characteristic of" | |
| consumerism; alcoholism | -ism | forms nouns denoting action or practice, state or condition | |
| dentist; conformist; conservationist | -ist | forms nouns that denote a person that is concerned with something or holds certain principles | |
| capability; diversity; disability | -ity | forms abstract nouns expressing ability, state or condition | |
| active; corrective; restive | -ive | forms adjectives & nouns expressing tendency, disposition, function, condition, etc. | |
| customize; fantasize | -ize | forms verbs with a sense to make, convert into, subject to; give a special character or form | |
| booklet; droplet; eyelet | -let | forms nouns with a sense of smallness or triviality | |
| duckling; hatchling; underling | -ling | forms nouns with a sense of smallness or being diminutive | |
| casually; carefully; gladly; hourly | -ly | forms adverbs with sense of "how done or when done" | |
| agreement; judgment; ailment | -ment | forms nouns denoting an action, condition, product, result, etc. | |
| kindness; correctness | -ness | forms abstract nouns denoting quality, state or condition | |
| actor; creditor; juror | -or | (1) | forms nouns denoting a person who does something or who has some particular function |
| error; pallor; squalor | -or | (2) | forms nouns denoting action, state or condition, quality or property |
| dangerous; glorious | -ous | forms adjectives with a sense of having a certain quality | |
| bravery; jewelry | -ry | forms abstract nouns from other nouns & adjectives | |
| friendship; censorship | -ship | forms nouns denoting condition, character, office, skill, etc. | |
| decision; invasion | -sion | forms nouns denoting condition, process, action, etc. | |
| birth; death | -th | (1) | forms nouns of action |
| length; depth; width | -th | (2) | forms abstract nouns denoting quality or condition |
| fourth; sixth | -th | (3) | forms ordinal numbers |
| alteration; location | -tion | forms abstract nouns | |
| loyalty; purity | -ty | (1) | forms adjectives denoting quality, state, condition, etc |
| twenty; sixty | -ty | (2) | forms numerals denoting multiples of ten |
| departure; failure | -ure | forms abstract nouns denoting action, result, agent, instrument or apparatus | |
| cloudy; dreamy; juicy | -y | forms adjectives with sense of "characterized by, inclination, condition" | |
| Forming Plurals with "s" | |||
| books {book+s} | -s | forms plural nouns | |
| ashes {ash+es} | -es | forms plural nouns | |
| armies {arm(y)+ies} | -ies | forms plural nouns | |
| calves {cal(f)+ves} | -ves | forms plural nouns | |
| Forming 3rd Person Singular Verbs with "s" | |||
| makes; creates | -s | forms 3rd person singular verbs | |
| touches; finishes | -es | forms 3rd person singular verbs | |
| defies; cries | -ies | forms 3rd person singular verbs | |