Word Formation (prefix, root word, suffix, and affix)

Prefixes are added to the beginning of an existing word in order to create a new word with a different meaning. Suffixes are added to the end of an existing word. An affix literally “fix”es itself to a root word or a stem word. An affix changes the meaning of a word. An affix may be attached to the beginning or the end of a root or stem word. If an affix is attached to the beginning of a word, it is called a prefix. If an affix is attached to the end of a word, it is called a suffix. Some root or stem words may have both an affix and a suffix or multiple affixes and suffixes in order to make new words and to change the meaning of the root or stem word. Example: No Prefix Root word Suffix 1 Un Happy Ly Unhappily (Affix) 2 Un Develop Ed Under Develop Ment - Develop Er - Develop Able - Develop Mental - Develop Ing 3 - Act Ive - Act Ivism - Act Ivity - Act Inism - Act Ionable - Act Ivated - Act Ing - Act Ion - Act Or - Act Ress - Ac...