Lesson 1: Attaching Prefixes, Attaching the Prefix UN or IN, Attaching Suffixes: The Usual Rule, Attaching Suffixes to Words Ending in Y, Attaching Suffixes to Words Ending in Silent E

Let's start by building new words! When you attach a prefix to the beginning of a word, you just stick it on without changing any letters.

Key Words

• When you add the prefix re- to the word view, you simply combine them to get review. No letters are lost or changed.
• To show something is not possible, you can add the prefix im-. Wait, that one has a special rule! But for a simple one like un- + believable, you get unbelievable.
• Combining the prefix dis- with the verb connect gives you disconnect, which means to break a connection.

Think of prefixes as building blocks that you snap onto the front of existing words. The main rule is incredibly simple: do not change the spelling of either the prefix or the root word. You keep all the original letters from both parts and join them to form a new, longer word. For example, dis- plus similar becomes dissimilar.

Ready to turn words into their opposites? Prefixes like UN- and IN- are your go-to tools for creating negative meanings.

Key Words

• A statement that is not logical is described as illogical. The prefix in- changes to il- to match the l at the start of the root word.
• Someone who is not patient is impatient. Here, the prefix in- becomes im- because the root word begins with p.
• A decision that is not reversible is irreversible. The prefix in- transforms into ir- before a word starting with r.

To give a word a negative meaning, you can often add un- or in-. While un- is straightforward, the prefix in- is a chameleon! It changes its spelling based on the first letter of the word it joins. It becomes il- before l, im- before b, m, or p, and ir- before r. This makes the new word easier to say.

Now let's add endings to words! Just like with prefixes, the most common rule for adding a suffix is to just attach it without any other changes.

Key Words

• To describe an action done in a quick manner, you add the suffix -ly to form the adverb quickly.
• A person who shows great skill on the violin could be called a violinist. You just add the -ist suffix.
• Adding the suffix -ness to the adjective stubborn creates the noun stubbornness, which describes the quality of being stubborn.

When adding a suffix (an ending) to a word, the default rule is to keep all the letters of both the original word and the suffix. This is known as the “usual rule.” For instance, accidental plus -ly becomes accidentally. While this rule is very common, be aware that there are important exceptions, especially for words ending in y or a silent e.

Words ending in -y can be tricky! The spelling rules for adding a suffix depend on the letter before the -y and the suffix you're adding.

Key Words

• To change the verb try to the past tense, you change the y to i and add -ed to get tried. (This follows the consonant + y rule).
• If you want to say something is more funny than something else, you change the y to i and add -er to make funnier.
• When adding -ing to the verb worry, you just add the suffix to get worrying. The y stays because the suffix is -ing.

When a word ends in -y, pause and check the spelling rules. If adding -ing, you just attach it. For most other suffixes, if the word ends in a consonant + y (like happy), you must change the y to an i before adding the suffix (making happiness). But if the word ends in a vowel + y (like delay), you usually just add the suffix (delayed).

You can unlock a much larger vocabulary by learning how to change a single word into different parts of speech.

Key Words

• Start with the adjective angry. You can make it an adverb, angrily, or a noun, anger.
• The adjective easy can become a comparative (easier), a superlative (easiest), an adverb (easily), and a noun (easiness). Notice how the y changes to i.
• Take the adjective sad. You can form the noun sadness or the adverb sadly.

Many adjectives are the base for a whole family of related words. By adding common suffixes like -er, -est, -ly, and -ness, you can create comparatives, superlatives, adverbs, and nouns. This is a powerful skill for expressing your ideas more precisely. Pay close attention to spelling rules, as words ending in -y or a silent -e often change.

That silent letter at the end of a word is a big clue! Whether you keep or drop the final -e depends on the first letter of the suffix you're adding.

Key Words

• When adding the suffix -able (which starts with a vowel) to the word love, you drop the silent -e to get lovable.
• When adding the suffix -ment (which starts with a consonant) to the word state, you keep the silent -e and get statement.
• To describe something that is full of courage, you add the suffix -ous. Because the root word ends in -ge and the suffix starts with o, you keep the e to make courageous.

Here’s the main rule for words ending in a silent -e. If the suffix begins with a vowel (like -ing or -able), you drop the final e. If the suffix begins with a consonant (like -ful or -ness), you keep the final e. This simple trick will help you spell hundreds of words correctly.