KS3 Prefixes and Suffixes | Learn the Letters Added to Words

English Quiz - Prefixes and Suffixes 01 (Questions)

Some words in English are formed using both prefixes and suffixes, for example: "unhelpful". The original word, "help", is called the "base word". Many words will take extra letters both at the beginning and the end to create a new meaning.

Linguistic creativity is responsible for the number of words with prefixes and suffixes. Words can be invented by analogy. If you can "make" or "unmake" a bed, "load" or "unload" a dishwasher, why can't you "befriend" or "unfriend", or "follow" and "unfollow" someone? "Unfriend", in case you hear anyone complaining that it isn't a "real word", was first used in 1659. "Unfollow" hasn't made it into the dictionary, although "unfollowed" has existed as an adjective since 1508, but we immediately understand it because it is created by attaching the un- prefix to the well-known verb, "follow".

Just to make language even more interesting, in English words can be changed in such a way both by adding prefixes to the beginning of a word and suffixes to its ending. Often, as in this quiz, words have both!

Test your knowledge of prefixes and suffixes by playing this quiz.

Select the correct affixes (an affix = prefix or suffix) for the following word.
.......appoint.......

[ ]	Dis.......ment
[ ]	In.......ful
[ ]	Per.......ment
[ ]	Un.......ful

Select the correct affixes (an affix = prefix or suffix) for the following word.
.......reason.......

[ ]	Dis.......ed
[ ]	In.......able
[ ]	Per.......ed
[ ]	Un..............able

Select the correct affixes (an affix = prefix or suffix) for the following word.
.......interested.......

[ ]	Dis.......ness
[ ]	In.......able
[ ]	Mis.......able
[ ]	Un.......ness

Select the correct affixes (an affix = prefix or suffix) for the following word.
.......resource.......

[ ]	In.......ful
[ ]	Per.......ment
[ ]	Pre.......ment
[ ]	Un.......ful

Select the correct affixes (an affix = prefix or suffix) for the following word.
.......allow.......

[ ]	Dis.......able
[ ]	In.......ed
[ ]	Mis.......able
[ ]	Per.......able

Select the correct affixes (an affix = prefix or suffix) for the following word.
.......manage.......

[ ]	In.......able
[ ]	In.......ship
[ ]	Un.......able
[ ]	Un.......ship

Select the correct affixes (an affix = prefix or suffix) for the following word.
.......distinguish.......

[ ]	Dis.......ment
[ ]	In.......able
[ ]	Mis.......able
[ ]	Un.......ment

Select the correct affixes (an affix = prefix or suffix) for the following word.
.......arrange.......

[ ]	Dis.......hood
[ ]	Mis.......hood
[ ]	Per.......ment
[ ]	Pre.......ment

Select the correct affixes (an affix = prefix or suffix) for the following word.
.......speak.......

[ ]	In.......able
[ ]	Post.......ing
[ ]	Pre.......ing
[ ]	Un.......able

10.

Select the correct affixes (an affix = prefix or suffix) for the following word.
.......hope.......

[ ]	Dis.......ful
[ ]	Dis.......less
[ ]	Un .......ful
[ ]	Un.......less

English Quiz - Prefixes and Suffixes 01 (Answers)

Select the correct affixes (an affix = prefix or suffix) for the following word.
.......appoint.......

[x]	Dis.......ment
[ ]	In.......ful
[ ]	Per.......ment
[ ]	Un.......ful

Disappointment

Select the correct affixes (an affix = prefix or suffix) for the following word.
.......reason.......

[ ]	Dis.......ed
[ ]	In.......able
[ ]	Per.......ed
[x]	Un..............able

It would be unreasonable to make any other choice!

Select the correct affixes (an affix = prefix or suffix) for the following word.
.......interested.......

[x]	Dis.......ness
[ ]	In.......able
[ ]	Mis.......able
[ ]	Un.......ness

Disinterestedness. Remember that "disinterested" does not have the same meaning as "uninterested"

Select the correct affixes (an affix = prefix or suffix) for the following word.
.......resource.......

[ ]	In.......ful
[ ]	Per.......ment
[ ]	Pre.......ment
[x]	Un.......ful

Don't be unresourceful!

Select the correct affixes (an affix = prefix or suffix) for the following word.
.......allow.......

[x]	Dis.......able
[ ]	In.......ed
[ ]	Mis.......able
[ ]	Per.......able

Disallowable

Select the correct affixes (an affix = prefix or suffix) for the following word.
.......manage.......

[ ]	In.......able
[ ]	In.......ship
[x]	Un.......able
[ ]	Un.......ship

This quiz is not unmanageable

Select the correct affixes (an affix = prefix or suffix) for the following word.
.......distinguish.......

[ ]	Dis.......ment
[x]	In.......able
[ ]	Mis.......able
[ ]	Un.......ment

The correct answer was indistinguishable from those which were incorrect

Select the correct affixes (an affix = prefix or suffix) for the following word.
.......arrange.......

[ ]	Dis.......hood
[ ]	Mis.......hood
[ ]	Per.......ment
[x]	Pre.......ment

Prearrangement

Select the correct affixes (an affix = prefix or suffix) for the following word.
.......speak.......

[ ]	In.......able
[ ]	Post.......ing
[ ]	Pre.......ing
[x]	Un.......able

Her performance was literally unspeakable!

10.

Select the correct affixes (an affix = prefix or suffix) for the following word.
.......hope.......

[ ]	Dis.......ful
[ ]	Dis.......less
[x]	Un .......ful
[ ]	Un.......less

They were unhopeful about their chances