❖ PREFIX

A prefix is a syllable added to the beginning of the root of a word. The prefix can change the
meaning of the root word.

The most commonly used prefixes are negative prefixes. They all mean “not.”

Negative Prefixes

Prefix Word Meaning

dis- disloyal not loyal

in- incapable not capable

im- impatient not patient

ir- irregular not regular

mis- misplace not placed correctly

non- nonresident not a resident

un- unable not able

Prefix Meaning Word Actual Meaning

a- without apolitical without an interest in politics

ante- before anteroom waiting room

anti- against anti-war pacifist

bi- two, twice bicoastal on the East Coast and the West Coast of
theUnited States

bio- life biography an account of a person's life

circum- around circumscribe to limit

co- together cochairman shared chairmanship

contra- opposing contradict assert opposite information or a opinion

counter- opposing counterattack an attack designed to reply to another

 attack

de- removal of debug get the mistakes out (usually a computer

something program)

e- from emit to give off

en- cause to be encourage to give emotional support to

em- cause to be empower give authority to

ex- from expedite to speed up a process

ex former ex-president no Ionger resident

fore- before foremost first in rank or knowledge e

in- not invaluable priceless; cannot have a monetary value

placed

in- in inbound Headed toward a city, port, etc.

im- not impartial Unbiased ; fair

im- in impress To affect of influence

ir- not irregular Without symmetry or pattern

inter- between interview A meeting in which one person asks

questions of another

intra- within intramural Consisting of students from the same

school

macro- big macroeconomy General aspects of an economy

mal- wrong malfunction Failure to function correctly

mega- big megacorporation A large company formed by acquisition of

smaller ones

micro- small microeconomy Particular aspects of an economy

mid- middle midstream Halfway across a stream

mis- wrong misgivings Doubts or apprehension

mono- one monotonous Lacking variety

multi- many multimedia Use of several media in combination

non- not nonprofessional Not trained in a particular profession; an

amateur

over- More than overpass A bridge or elevated walkway

para- beside parameter Within a specified limits

poly- many polyphasic Doing several things at the same time

post- after postpone To defer or delay

pre- before prevent To keep from happening

pre- already prearranged Arranged in advance

pre- preliminary preschool Classes before elementary grades

pro- supportive pro-business Biased toward business

pseudo- false pseudonym Pen name; alternative name used by a

writer

re- again recite To quote a literary passage

re- restore replace Put back

re- backward retract withdraw

semi- Half. part semiannual Twice a year

sub- under subclass A division of a class

super- over supersede To replace in authority

sur- over surpass To exceed

trans- across transfer To change from on person or place to

another

ultra- extremely ultraclean germ-free

un- not unfocused Lacking direction or purpose

PROBLEM : The prefix or root does not match the context.

SOLUTION : Choose the appropriate prefix and root.
EXAMPLES
Incorrect : Gina refers using a computer to a typewriter.
Correct : Gina prefers using a computer to a typewriter

noun verb gerund Noun phrase Prep phrase

Gina prefers using a computer To a typewriter

Explanation : Refer (back—to carry: to carry back) means to direct someone to someone or
something.
I referred John to you because I thought you could help him. Prefer (before-carry;
to carry in front) means to choose someone or something more than something
else. Gina would rather use a computer than a typewriter.

Incorrect : The audience left early because they were immobile.

Correct : The audience left early because they were impatient.

Noun phrase verb adv conj. pron. verb adj.

The audience left early because they were impatient

Explanation : The prefix im- means not. Immobile means not mobile. If the audience was
immobile, they could not move and, therefore, could not leave early. They left early because
they had exhausted their patience.

EXERCISES

Incomplete Sentences

Choose the one word or phrase that best completes the sentence.

1. Even though he usually tells the truth, this story was

(A) unbelievable
(B) unavailable
(C) uncomfortable
(D) unsuccessful

Text Completion

Read the passage and choose the one word or phrase that best completes each sentence.

Hi Martha,
It's that time of year again when everything gets hectic around here. With my busy schedule
there will be a number of odd jobs around the office that I will be ...(1)... over to you.

Here are a few priorities for this week:

Our old printer is broken, and it's time to ...(2)... it. It will be cheaper to buy a new one than to fix
the old one. We need to do this soon. We have to print copies of the annual report in time for
our yearly board meeting.

In addition, I need you to write up a welcome newsletter for the new board members. Include
any .. .(3)... information about the company such as business hours, contact names and
numbers, and rules and regulations. Think of it as a mini version of our company manual.

Bill

A. controlling
B. decreasing
C. handling
D. transferring

A. replay
B. replace
C. display
D. displace

A. extraordinary
B. introductory
C. contrary
D. precautionary

❖ SUFFIX

A suffix is a letter, syllable, or group of syllables added to the end of the root of a word. The
suffix can change the grammatical structure of the root word.
Look at these suffixes and their meanings :

Suffix Added to Forms Meaning Example

-ability adjective noun State of the capability

adjective

-able verb adjective Describe affect lovable

-age Noun, verb, noun state marriage
adjective

-al noun adjective relationship national

-al verb noun action burial

-ance verb noun action attendance

-ant verb noun Occupation accountant

-ant verb noun effect pollutant

-arian noun noun association vegetarian

-ary Noun, verb adjective Describe momentary

characteristic

-ary noun noun occupation notary

-cy Adjective, noun noun Describe quality consistency

-cy noun noun occupation consultancy

-ee verb noun occupation trainee

-en Noun, adjective verb process darken

-en noun adjective Describe wooden

characteristic

-ence verb noun action existence

-ence adjective noun quality confident

-ent verb Adjective, noun Person, process student

-er verb noun person walker

-er verb noun thing computer

-ery verb noun action robbery

-ery Adjective, noun noun behavior bravery

-ery Verb, noun noun place bakery

-ess noun noun person waitress

-ful noun noun amount handful

-ful noun adjective characteristic beautiful

-hood noun noun states childhood

-ian Noun, adjective noun job physician

-ibility adjective noun state feasibility

-ible verb adjective characteristic accessible

-ic noun adjective characteristic idiotic

-fy (root) verb process amplify

-ion verb noun state decision

-ish adjective adjective Small largish

characteristic

-ish noun adjective characteristic childish

-ism Noun, adjective adjective concepts consumerism

-ist Noun, adjective noun person capitalist

-ist noun noun field scientist

-ity adjective noun condition equality

-ize noun verb action criticize

-ize Noun, adjective verb process colonize

-less noun adjective without flawless

-less Noun, verb adjective Cannot be countless

measured

-let noun noun Smaller example booklet

-ly adjective adverb manner clearly

-ly Noun, adjective adjective characteristic costly

-ly noun adjective frequency monthly

-ment verb noun Result of assignment

process

-ness adjective noun quality illness

-or verb noun person editor

-ous (root) adjective quality curious

-some Noun, verb adjective characteristic lonesome

-ular noun adjective characteristic angular

-ure verb noun action enclosure

-y noun adjective characteristic dirty

Familiarity with suffixes can help you understand the meaning of words. However, it is
best for you to learn words in context. Knowing the suffixes will help you determine a word’s part
of speech in a sentence.

PROBLEM : The suffix does not match the required part of speech or the meaning of the root
does not match the context.
SOLUTION : Choose the appropriate suffix and root.

EXAMPLES

Incorrect : Check the schedule to see how frequency the trains run.
Correct : Check the schedule to see how frequently the trains run.

understood verb Noun infinitive conj adv Noun verb

subject phrase phrase

(You) check The to see how frequently The trains run

sched
ule

Explanation :
Frequency is a noun formed by adding -cy to the adjective frequent. The sentence requires an
adverb. Adding -ly to the adjective frequent gives us the adverb frequently.

Incorrect : The accountant was terminated because of her effectiveness

Correct: The accountant was terminated because of her carelessness.

Noun phrase Passive verb prep Noun phrase

The accountant was terminated because of her carelessness.

Explanation : An accountant would not be fired because she was too effective. Effectiveness
does not match the context.
EXERCISES

Incomplete Sentences
Choose the one word or phrase that best completes the sentence.

The ____ for the job filled out the wrong form.
(A) defendant
(B) applicant
(C) occupant
(D) assistant

Text Completion
Read the passage and choose the one word or phrase that best completes each sentence.

March Is Food Awareness Month

..(1)... research studies have shown that it is better for your health to eat less meat. The
evidence is overwhelming. It is clear that vegetarians are healthier people than meat eaters:
Doctors today suggest aiming for a ...(2)... meal.

Parents have the added responsibility of making sure that their children eat healthy foods. In the
past, dietitians recommended a balance of the major food groups. Today, we know that meat
does not provide the same ...(3)... as green, red, and yellow fruits and vegetables. However,
some meat or other form of protein is still required.

A. Count
B. Countless
C. Countable
D. Undercounted

A. larger
B. more colorful
C. strictly vegetarian
D. balanced

A. nourished
B. nourishment
C. nutritious
D. nutritional

❖ WORD FAMILIES

Word families are created by adding endings to a word. These endings will change the word into
a noun, verb, adjective or adverb
Common Word Endings

noun verb adjective adverb

-ance -en -able -ly

-ancy -ify -ible -ward
-ence -ize -al -wise
-ation -ful
-ian -ish
-ism -ive
-ist -ous
-ment
-ness
-ship
-or
-er

Common Word Families

noun verb adjective adverb

thing person

Application Applicant Apply Applicable

Competition Competitor Compete Competitive Competitively
Criticism Critic Criticize Critical Critically
Decision Decide Decisive Decisively
Economy Economist Economize Economica Economically
Finale Finalist Finalize Final Finally
Interpretation Interpreter Interpret Interpretive
Maintenance Maintainer Maintain Maintainable
Management Manager Manage Managerial
Mechanism Mechanic Mechanize Mechanical Mechanically
Nation Nationalist Nationalize National Nationally
Negotiation Negotiator Negotiate Negotiable
Politics Politician Politicize Political politically
Production Producer Produce Productive Productively
Prosperity Prosper Productive Prosperously
Repetition Repeater Repeat Prosperous Repetitively
Simplification Simplify Repetitious Simply
theory Theoretician Theorize Theoretical Theoretically

PROBLEM : The word may be the wrong part of speech.

SOLUTION : Check the ending of the word to determine the part of speech.

EXAMPLES
Incorrect : The manager read the report careful.
Correct: The manager read the report carefully

Explanation :
Careful is an adjective. Adverbs modify verbs. How did the manager read the report?
Change the adjective careful to the adverb carefully to modify the verb read.

Noun phrase verb Noun phrase adverb

The manager read the report carefully.

Incorrect : That process is not economize in the factory.

Correct : That process is not economical in the factory.

Explanation : Economize is a verb. The sentence requires an adjective to modify process.

Change the verb economize to the adjective economical to modify process.

Noun phrase verb adjective Prep phrase

The process Is not economical In the factory.

EXERCISES
Incomplete Sentences
Choose the one word or phrase that best completes the sentence.

The director of purchasing can ____ the best price.

(A) negotiable
(B) negotiate
(C) negotiator
(D) negotiation

Text Completion

Read the passage and choose the one word or phrase that best completes each sentence.

Springfield News—Wednesday Edition F1-FINANCIAL NEWS

Workers at the Springfield Furniture Factory went on strike yesterday.

All .(l)... at the factory has stopped. Employees promise that they will not return to work until
they ...(2).. a new contract with the factory owners.
The Springfield economy has been strong since last February when three new factories opened.
Unemployment is at an all-time low. Due to an increase in job .. .(3). workers can now demand
higher pay.

A. produce
B. producer
C. production
D. productive

A. negotiate
B. negotiator
C. negotiable
D. negotiation

A. training
B. requirements
C. availability
D. loss

❖ SIMILAR WORDS

It is easy to confuse words that have similar meanings, similar spellings, or similar sounds.
However, these words CANNOT be interchanged.

Common Similar Words

Accept except accede expect

advise advice advisory advisable
affect effect affection effective
borrow lend loan lease
develop expand elaborate enhance
lose loose loss lost
money cash currency coin
obtain earn win Achieve
raise rise elevate ascend
say tell speak talk
travel commute go journey

PROBLEM : The meaning or usage of a word may be incorrect for the sentence.
SOLUTION : First try to understand the meaning of the sentence. Then determine the correct
word, in meaning, usage, and spelling, for that sentence.

EXAMPLES
Incorrect : Mr. Chang said his secretary to schedule a meeting.
Correct : Mr. Chang told his secretary to schedule a meeting.

Explanation :
Say is followed by a direct object. Tell is followed by an indirect object. Use say when you just
say something. (Mn Chang saidto schedule a meeting.) Use tell when you say something to
someone else. (Mr. Chang told his secretary to schedule a meeting.)

Noun phrase verb Direct object

Mr. Chang said To schedule a meeting

Noun phrase verb Noun phrase indirect Direct object

object

Mr. Chang told His secretary To schedule a meeting

Incorrect : The vice-president will commute to Tahiti on her vacation.

Correct : The vice-president will travel to Tahiti on her vacation.

Explanation :
Commute means to travel to and from work every day. It cannot be used for other trips. Change
commute to travel, which can be used for vacations and other trips.

Noun phrase verb Prep phrase Prep phrase

The vice-president Will travel To Tahiti On her vacation

Incorrect : My typewriter ribbon is lose.

Correct : My typewriter ribbon is loose.

Explanation : The spelling of a word can change it into a different word. To lose something
means that you cannot find it. Check the spelling; lose should probably be loose, which means
not tight.

Noun phrase verb adj

My typewriter ribbon is loose

EXERCISES

Incomplete Sentences
Choose the one word or phrase that best completes the sentence.

New employees ____ only a small salary during the first six months
(A) win
(B) gain
(C) reach
(D) earn

Text Completion
Read the passage and choose the one word or phrase that best completes each sentence.

To : [email protected]
From : [email protected]
Re : Shopping

Sam,

....(1)... extra money this month because I worked overtime. I'm going to the bank today to cash
my check. Then I'm .(2).. Would you like to come?

I know that you hate going to the mall when you don't have any money. I'd be happy to .(3)...
you some money. You could pay me back as soon as you get paid. Call me and tell me what
you think. I need some new clothes, and you know I hate shopping alone!

Sarah

l. (A) added
(B) gained
(C) earned
(D) won

2. (A) getting my haircut

(B) going shopping
(C) going back to work
(D) looking for a new job

3. (A) lend
(B) borrow
(C) lease
(D) rent

CUMULATIVE REVIEW EXERCISES :

Prefixes, Suffixes, Word Families, and Similar Words

Incomplete Sentences

In sentences 1—5, decide which part of speech is necessary in the sentence. Then, choose the
one word or phrase that best completes the sentence. In sentences 6—10, choose the one
word or phrase that best completes the sentence.

Sentences 1—5

l. The manager should _____ the procedure to reduce errors.

(A) noun (E) simple
(B) verb (F) simplify
(C) adjective (G) simplicity
(D) adverb (H) simplification

2. Arguing over the use of the copy machine is very ____

(A) noun (E) fool
(B) verb (F) fooled
(C) adjective (G) foolish
(D) adverb (H) foolishly

3. We could print newspaper ads to ____ our new restaurant.

(A) noun (E) publicity
(B) verb (F) publicize
(C) adjective (G) public
(D) adverb (H) publication

4. The _____ will be announced on Friday.

(A) noun (E) decision
(B) verb (F) decide
(C) adjective (G) decisive
(D) adverb (H) decisively
(E)

5. Our research facility is better _____ to manage this project.

(A) noun (E) qualify
(B) verb (F) qualification
(C) adjective (G) quality
(D) adverb (H) qualified

sentences 6-—10

6. The project was separated into ____ parts

(A) equal
(B) same
(C) match
(D) likable

7. He was _____ pleased by the results of the team effort.

(A) specialist
(B) especially
(C) specialty
(D) special

8. Everyone left the building _____ the security guard

(A) except
(B) excess
(C) access
(D) accept

9. Airline ticket prices ____ when the cost of fuel increases.

(A) raise
(B) grow
(C) rise
(D) elevate

10. Mr. Arnold can _____ a pen from Ms. Lee.

(A) lend
(B) give
(C) offer
(D) borrow

Text Completion
To : [email protected]
From : [email protected]
Re: Offices

I need a favor. My office is being painted, and I was hoping I could use your office this
afternoon while you at your client's reviewing their account. I need to ….(1).... several people for
the job opening in our department. Sorry this is such a last-minute request. I just found out
myself about the painters coming in.

I thought Ots you because I overheard you telling George that you would be out of the office for
some meetings late this atletmoon. There are four ...(2)..., and I have appointments with all of
them after lunch.
I don't know if you were even planning on coming back to the office after your …. (3) …. If not,
then you won’t even notice that I’m here. Either way, it won't take long. I can easily finish before
3:30. Then you can have your office back.

Before you leave for the afternoon can you make sure to clear any confidential papers on your
workspace? Thank you in advance.

Hank

1. (A) review
(B) preview
(C) interview
(D) overview

2. (A) applications
(B) applicants
(C) applicable
(D) appliance

3. (A) meetings
(B) accounting class
(C) luncheon
(D) interview