What is Word Formation by Affixation?
Word formation through affixation is how languages create new words by attaching prefixes and suffixes to root words, allowing speakers to expand vocabulary without inventing entirely new terms.
Affixation is the process of adding morphemes—prefixes (before) and suffixes (after)—to root words to form new words and change meanings, as in unhappy, darkness, and quickly.
- 1↓Root wordBase form (happy, dark, quick)
- 2↓Prefix (optional)un-, re-, dis-, pre- placed before
- 3↓Suffix (optional)-ness, -ment, -ly, -ing placed after
- 4New wordunhappy, darkness, quickly, remaking
Step-by-step worked examples
Add a prefix to 'happy' to make it negative.
Root: happy Prefix un- means not Result: unhappy (not happy)
Add a suffix to 'dark' to make it a noun.
Root: dark Suffix -ness creates nouns from adjectives Result: darkness (state of being dark)
Add a suffix to 'quick' to make it an adverb.
Root: quick Suffix -ly creates adverbs Result: quickly (in a quick manner)
Flashcards
Quick quiz
Q1.Which is the prefix in 'unhappy'?
Q2.What does the suffix -ness do?
Q3.Identify the suffix in 'slowly'.
Q4.Which word has both a prefix and suffix?
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Common mistakes
Thinking prefixes and suffixes are the same. — Correct: Prefixes attach before roots; suffixes attach after.
Confusing root words with morphemes. — Correct: A root is a standalone word; a morpheme is any meaningful unit.
Believing all word formation uses affixation. — Correct: Other methods exist: compounding, blending, and borrowing.
Assuming any prefix/suffix combination makes a valid word. — Correct: Some combinations violate language rules and don't produce real words.
FAQ
What is word formation by affixation?
It's the process of adding prefixes and suffixes to root words to create new words with different meanings and grammatical functions.
What is the difference between a prefix and a suffix?
A prefix attaches to the beginning of a root (un-happy), while a suffix attaches to the end (dark-ness).
How many prefixes and suffixes exist in English?
Hundreds; common ones include un-, re-, dis-, -ness, -ment, -ing, -ly, and -tion.
Can a word have multiple affixes?
Yes — unhappiness has un- (prefix) and -ness (suffix), both attached to 'happy'.