AFFIXES || ENGLISH 7 || MATATAG Curriculum VIDEO LESSON | QUARTER 1 | LESSON 3

Introduction

This tutorial provides a comprehensive overview of affixes in the English language, focusing on prefixes, suffixes, infixes, and circumfixes. Understanding these components is essential for vocabulary expansion and enhancing language skills. This guide will help you easily grasp the concept of affixes and their applications.

Step 1: Understanding Affixes

Affixes are word elements that modify the meaning of a root word. They can be categorized into four types:

• Prefixes: Added to the beginning of a word (e.g., "un-" in "undo").
• Suffixes: Added to the end of a word (e.g., "-ness" in "happiness").
• Infixes: Inserted within a word (less common in English, e.g., "abso-bloody-lutely").
• Circumfixes: Surrounding a word with affixes (not common in English).

Practical Tip

To enhance your understanding, practice identifying affixes in words you encounter in reading or conversation.

Step 2: Exploring Prefixes

Prefixes alter the meaning of the base word. Here are some common prefixes and their meanings:

• un-: not (e.g., "happy" becomes "unhappy")
• re-: again (e.g., "do" becomes "redo")
• dis-: opposite of (e.g., "agree" becomes "disagree")
• pre-: before (e.g., "view" becomes "preview")

Actionable Exercise

Create a list of five prefixes, then write down five base words and transform them using those prefixes.

Step 3: Exploring Suffixes

Suffixes also change the meaning of words, often indicating tense, number, or part of speech. Here are some common suffixes:

• -ing: action or process (e.g., "run" becomes "running")
• -ed: past tense (e.g., "play" becomes "played")
• -ly: manner (e.g., "quick" becomes "quickly")
• -ness: state of being (e.g., "happy" becomes "happiness")

Actionable Exercise

Pick five suffixes and find or create five base words to apply them to, noting how the meaning changes.

Step 4: Understanding Infixes and Circumfixes

Infixes and circumfixes are less common in English. However, knowing about them can enhance your linguistic knowledge.

• Infixes: Typically used in informal language or specific dialects. Example: "un-freaking-believable."
• Circumfixes: Rare in English; more common in languages like German. Example: "ge-...-t" in "gegangen" (gone).

Practical Tip

Familiarize yourself with examples from other languages that use infixes and circumfixes to appreciate their structure.

Conclusion

Affixes play a crucial role in the English language, enabling you to expand vocabulary and enhance comprehension. By practicing prefixes and suffixes, you can significantly improve your language skills. Next, try to incorporate new words with affixes into your everyday conversation to reinforce your learning.