Some Rules of using Suffix and Prefix For SSC
Prefixes are word parts you add to
the beginning of a word to change its meaning ;suffixes are word parts you add
to the end of a word to change its meaning. Because many useful words are
created by adding prefixes and suffixes to root words, you can save a lot of
time wondering “Did I spell this sucker correctly?” by knowing how to add prefixes
and suffixes. Let’s take a look at the guidelines.
Attaching Prefixes: Front-End
Collision
The rule here is simple: Don’t add or
omit a letter when you attach a prefix. Keep all the letters—every one of them.
Here are some examples.
Prefix Word New Word
dis + satisfied = dissatisfied
mis + spell = misspell
un + acceptable = unacceptable
re + election = reelection
inter + related = interrelated
You Could Look It Up
Prefixes are word parts you add to
the beginning of a word to change its meaning; suffixes are word parts you add
to the end of a word to change its meaning.
Attaching Suffixes: Rear-End
Collision
Keep all the letters when you add a
suffix … unless the word ends in a y or a silent e. We’ll talk about them
later. The following chart and guidelines show you how to master the suffix
situation.
Word Suffix New Word
accidental + ly = accidentally
drunken + ness = drunkenness
ski + ing = skiing
foresee + able = foreseeable
1. If
the letter before the finally is a consonant, change the y to i and add the
suffix. Study these examples.
Word Suffix New Word
hurry + ed = hurried
greedy + ly = greedily
o Hurry
doesn’t follow the rule: hurry + ing = hurrying. Here are some other
exceptions: dryly, dryness, shyly, shyness, babyish, ladylike.
2. If
the letter before the final y is a vowel, do not change the y before attaching
a suffix.
Word Suffix New Word
play + ing = playing
destroy + ed = destroyed
o Here
are some exceptions: laid, paid, said, mislaid, underpaid, unsaid.
3. If
the suffix begins with a vowel, drop the silent e. Here are some examples.
Word Suffix New Word
write + ing = writing
love + able = lovable
use + age = usage
o When
the word ends in ce or ge, keep the e if the suffix begins with a or o:
noticeable, manageable, advantageous. Here are some common exceptions: acreage,
mileage, singeing, canoeing, hoeing.
1. If
the suffix begins with a consonant, keep the silent e. Here are some examples.
Word Suffix New Word
excite + ment = excitement
care + ful = careful
fierce + ly = fiercely
o Of
course there are some exceptions: argument, duly, truly, wholly, and ninth.
2. If
the word ends in ie, drop the e and change the i to y. Check out these
examples.
Word Suffix New Word
lie + ing = lying
die + ing = dying
tie + ing = tying
3. Add
ly to change an adjective to an adverb. Here are some examples.
Word Suffix New Word
brave + ly = bravely
calm + ly = calmly
o If
the adjective ends in ic, add al before ly.
Word Al Suffix New
Word
drastic + al + ly = drastically
scientific + al + ly = scientifically
o If
the adjective ends in ble, change ble to bly.
Word New
Word
able ably
noble nobly
4. In
a one-syllable word, double the final consonant before a suffix beginning with
a vowel.
Word Suffix New Word
plan + er = planner
big + est = biggest
o Don’t
double the final consonant if it comes after two vowels or another consonant.
For example: failed, stooped, warmer, lasting.
5. In
a word of two or more syllables, double the final consonant only if it is in an
accented syllable before a suffix beginning with a vowel. Here are some
examples:
Word Suffix New Word
defer + ed = deferred
resubmit + ing = resubmitting
o Don’t
double the final consonant if it comes after two vowels or another consonant.
For example: obtained, concealed, abducting, commendable.
6. If
a words ends in ic, insert a k after the c.
Word Suffix New Word
mimic + ing = mimicking
traffic + ing = trafficking
7. There’s
only one hint for adding able or ible: an adjective usually ends in -able if
you can trace it back to a noun ending in -ation. Sensible is the exception.
Noun Adjective
adaptation adaptable
commendation commendable
But there are many words that don’t
fit this rule, so this isn’t the rule to have tattooed on your palm.
Go for the Gusto
In the space provided, spell each
misspelled word correctly.
1. disorganized 6. unatural
2. diservice 7. suddeness
3. disagreable 8. costlyness
4. lazyness 9. mislayd
5. acrage 10. Truly
MD.Al-Amin
BBA (Hons)
National University
