1. Prefixes: These are affixes that are added to the beginning of a word.
* Examples:
* un- in *unhappy*
* pre- in *prehistoric*
* re- in *rewrite*
2. Suffixes: These are affixes that are added to the end of a word.
* Examples:
* -ing in *walking*
* -ly in *quickly*
* -ness in *happiness*
Within prefixes and suffixes, there are further subcategories:
1. Prefixes:
* Derivational prefixes: These prefixes change the meaning of the base word, often creating a new word with a different meaning. Examples:
* un-: *happy* (positive) -> *unhappy* (negative)
* re-: *write* (one time) -> *rewrite* (again)
* Inflectional prefixes: These prefixes change the grammatical function of the word, usually marking tense, number, or case.
* These are less common in English but are more prominent in other languages like German or Latin.
2. Suffixes:
* Derivational suffixes: Similar to derivational prefixes, these suffixes change the meaning of the base word and often create a new word with a different grammatical category. Examples:
* -er: *teach* (verb) -> *teacher* (noun)
* -ful: *care* (noun) -> *careful* (adjective)
* Inflectional suffixes: These suffixes change the grammatical function of the word, marking tense, number, case, or gender. Examples:
* -ing: *walk* (present tense) -> *walking* (present participle)
* -s: *cat* (singular) -> *cats* (plural)
* -ed: *walk* (present tense) -> *walked* (past tense)
Other types of affixes:
* Infixes: These are affixes that are inserted within a word, usually breaking up a base morpheme. These are relatively rare in English but are common in other languages like Tagalog. Example:
* -um- in *damnit* (inserted within the base word *damn*)
* Circumfixes: These are affixes that surround a base word, with parts added both at the beginning and end. These are less common than prefixes and suffixes. Example:
* ge- ... -t in German (e.g., *gesungen* "sung" from the base word *singen* "to sing")
Understanding the different types of affixes can help you analyze the structure of words, understand their meanings, and even create new words!