English Language Learners’
Reference Guide
from the Writing Center
Affixes in English
There are two kinds of affixes in English: prefixes, which attach to the beginning of words, and suffixes, which attach to the end of words.
Understanding common affixes can help decode meaning or identify the part of speech to narrow in on the role of a word in a sentence. In
reverse, you can use common affixes to build words but, be careful, affixes can’t attach to every word. The following chart of affixes has been
adapted from O’Grady et al (119).
Affix
-able
-ing
-ive
Affix
-al
-ant
-(at)ion
-er
-ing
-ment
Affix
Changing Verbs to Adjectives
Verb
To relate
To howl
To abuse
Changing Verbs to Nouns
Verb
To refuse
To defend
To inform
To teach
To shoot
To judge
Changing Nouns to Adjectives
Noun
-(i)al
-(i)an
-ic
-less
-ous
-ish
The president
Italy
Pessimist
Penny
Fame
Boy
Affix
Making New Adjectives
Adjective
-ish
InUnAffix
-ate
-en
-ize
Affix
-ize
Affix
-ity
-ness
Affix
-ly
Affix
AntiExAffix
DeDisMisRe-
Green
Competent
Happy
Changing Adjectives to Verbs
Adjective
Captive
Hard
Modern
Changing Nouns to Verbs
Noun
Energy
Changing Adjectives to Nouns
Adjective
Abnormal
Good
Changing Adjectives to Adverbs
Adjective
Happy
Making Nouns with New Meaning
Noun
Anxiety
Husband
Making Verbs with New Meaning
Verb
Stabilize
Obey
Identify
Write
Adjective
A relatable story
The howling wolf…
An abusive relationship
Noun
A refusal…
A defendant…
Information…
A teacher…
The shooting…
The judgment
Adjective
Presidential
Italian
Pessimistic
Penniless
Famous
Boyish
New Adjective
Greenish
Incompetent
Unhappy
Verb
Captivate
Harden
Modernize
Verb
Energize
Noun
Abnormality
Goodness
Adverb
Happily
New Noun
Anti-anxiety
Ex-husband
New Verb
Destabilize
Disobey
Misidentify
Rewrite